NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre receives £20 million funding

Nearly £800 million in funding has been distributed to 20 biomedical research centres across England by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHCR).

The NIHCR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was awarded £20 million over a five-year period.

Professor Sir Peng Tee Khaw highlighted that the funding is a “critical component” that supports the centre’s mission of using research to improve the lives of people in the UK and across the world.

This is the fourth time that Moorfields and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology have received NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding.

The funding has previously contributed to discoveries in genetics, laser treatments, innovative surgical procedures, drug therapies and artificial intelligence.

Professor Andrew Dick highlighted the exciting nature of the new funding term.

“We can continue to boost cutting-edge research to accelerate treatments and technologies that will mean benefits across the healthcare system, nationally and globally,” he said.

Moorfields chief executive, Dr Martin Kuper, noted that collaboration between Moorfields and UCL is underpinned by plans for Oriel – a national eye care, education and research centre developed in partnership by the two institutions.

Over the past nine years, NIHC Biomedical Research Centres have supported close to 60,000 experimental medicine research studies.

Innovations assisted by the funding include development of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and support for the world’s largest trial of potential treatments for COVID-19.

The funding contributed to the development of a novel gene therapy for haemophilia and a promising new treatment for motor neurone disease.