UCLH awarded £873,839 to buy cutting edge research equipment

UCLH has received £873,839 in government funding to strengthen research in lung cancer and hearing loss.

The award is from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is part of funding to support NHS trusts across the country in delivering cutting edge research and increase NHS capacity to deliver commercial clinical trials, which bring innovative medicines to patients earlier.

Advancing care and research in lung cancer

Of the funding, £549,000 is for use of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) in lung cancer research.

Bronchoscopy is the procedure used to take biopsies from the lung to detect the presence of lung cancer and other lung diseases.

RAB is a revolutionary advance which makes the process of taking biopsies safer and more precise. It means biopsies can be taken from – and therapy can be delivered to – areas of lung tissue that cannot otherwise be accessed. When paired with a 3D x-ray system, RAB enables precise detection of even the smallest lung cancers.

RAB will enable new studies in early lung cancer detection, into new types of treatment, and into why lung health differs in different parts of society.

Preparing the ground for new clinical trials in hearing loss

£324,839 is for investment in state-of-the-art equipment to support trials of advanced therapies in hearing loss.

The audio-vestibular equipment will enable researchers to deeply understand characteristics of patients’ hearing loss, and prepare the way for clinical trials of advanced therapies by creating ‘trial-ready’ groups of patients.

Commenting on the funding given to NHS trusts across the country, Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR, said: “This significant investment will provide NHS trusts in England with the high-quality equipment, technology and facilities they need to deliver cutting edge research that benefits the public. This will not only benefit patients directly, but also support the economic growth of the country, helping to position the UK as an attractive place for innovative companies to invest in research.”