York Teaching Hospital and University of York join together to create the ‘York Clinical Research Facility’

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University of York are joining forces to collaborate in the York Clinical Research Facility (CRF).

Clinicians from the NHS Trust and medical researchers from the University will work together in the York CRF on a wide range of Early Phase research, including Phase I clinical trials, studies that aim to identify novel biomarkers, and fundamental research into how the human body functions in health and disease.

The York CRF will boost clinical research in the city, giving todayfs patients more options, and tomorrowfs better treatments

York Hospital already conducts many clinical trials, both among its patients, and with healthy volunteers who help in the earliest phases of research.

Specialised research staff and cutting-edge pharmacy facilities make York Hospital an ideal place to introduce laboratory innovations into healthcare with the assurance of essential NHS safeguards.

Investments at the University, attracting world-class bioscience, mean that the treatments of the future are being developed to the best scientific standards.

The York CRF will combine the resources of the two institutions, meaning scientific progress can flourish into real developments in healthcare for everybody.

New treatments developed by pharmaceutical companies will be tested by the CRF using clinical space at the Hospital, and University laboratories. It is expected that the integrated resources will make York a one-stop city for vital innovations in health care.

York CRF Co-ordinator Wasif Rashid said: eeThese are exciting times for both the Trust and the University. The York CRF will give local patients new treatments, sooner, and enhance our international reputation for conducting high quality Early Phase research.ff @@

Hull York Medical School professor, Charles Lacey of the Universityfs Centre of Immunology and Infection, said: "We are committed to maintaining excellence in our translational research, and expanding our activities to drive healthcare innovation forward."

An event will be held at the York CRF in York Hospital on Thursday 12 September to celebrate the collaboration and showcase what it offers to researchers from the University, the Trust and the pharmaceutical industry.

Journalists and photographers wishing to attend should contact Holly Kernot to confirm.

Holly Kernot, assistant media and communications officer on 01904 7215233 or holly.kernot@york.nhs.uk

11 September 2013

12 September 2013