Clinical Research Facilities

The National Institute for Health Research / Wellcome Trust Birmingham Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at Birmingham Children's Hospital supports the delivery of academic and commercial clinical research studies, enabling children and young people to take part in high quality, safe and ethically approved clinical research. This might include supporting a clinical trial for a potential new medicine or research to learn more about how a childhood disease progresses over time. 

How we support your research

The CRF’s team of nurses, study coordinators, data managers and administrators work together with researchers and commercial sponsors to deliver the research protocol.

Our facilities are purpose-built for specialist clinical research and designed to support high-intensity studies and overnight stays. Our support allows patients to take part in high quality, safe and ethically approved clinical research. In supporting clinical research we aim to improve clinical care and the lives of children, young people and their families.

The facility is equipped for both outpatient and inpatient visits, with four clinic rooms and a six-bed ward. The facility also has a Bone Densitometer (DXA) scanner to measure the structure of the body, a minor procedures room, a sensory room and a seminar room.

How we are funded

The paediatric CRF has a sister CRF at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust which supports the delivery of research studies involving adults. The two CRFs are funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and are governed by Birmingham Health Partnership (BHP), a strategic alliance between University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, University of Birmingham and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.