Our Facilities - NIHR Norfolk CRF

What is a CRF?

A Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is a purpose-built environment for volunteers and patients taking part in clinical trials and other research projects.

They are dedicated facilities where specialist clinical research and support staff from universities and NHS Trusts work together on patient-orientated commercial and non-commercial experimental medicine studies. CRFs are designed to support high-intensity studies and overnight stays.

There are around 50 CRF across UK and Ireland in total, part of UKCRF network. The National Institute for Heath and Care Research supports around 28 of these for experimental medicine to help speed up the translation of scientific advances for the benefit of patients.

Our accredited NIHR Norfolk CRF focuses on early phase research (phase 1 and 2 clinical trials) and translational and experimental medicine research, bringing cohesion across these dedicated research facilities and operational efficiency under the management and governance framework.

The Clinical Research Facility (CRF) in the state-of-the-art Quadram Institute is home to a host of research initiatives to aid the development of new treatments and improve patient care.

The facility, which is run by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), brings together researchers and scientists from the hospital, Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), University of East Anglia (UEA) and across the Norwich Research Park.

The CRF is home to a host of research studies into a range of health conditions, involving patients and volunteers.

Because of its close association with the NNUH Endoscopy Centre and links with QIB and UEA, the CRF is perfect for doing research into food and nutrition. The results of these trials will lead to new strategies and treatments for improving health and preventing related disease.

The NNUH-run CRF is the hospital’s primary facility for all clinical trials that do not need to be located within the main hospital building.

It provides a mixture of outpatient clinical and laboratory space as well as a food-preparation area for diet-related studies.

• For direct enquiries, please contact Felicia Rowe, Clinical Research Facility Operations Manager, email felicia.rowe@nnuh.nhs.uk

Reception space

The  CRF has a reception area to manage and welcome patients and participants into the unit

Clinical space

• The CRF has six clinical rooms with clinical equipment and computers
• A multi-function clinic room with 6 bariatric phlebotomy couches
• Two en-suite rooms for use in bariatric and paediatric participants
• Short-term use of document, sample and food storage, subject to availability

Laboratory

There is a dedicated CRF laboratory for immediate sample processing. There are also fridges and freezers for short-term storage prior to sample transfer to researchers’ own laboratories or the Norwich Research Park Biorepository with which the CRF maintains a close liaison.

The laboratory is equipped with ultracold -80C freezer, four bench top centrifuges, sample fridge, sample -20c freezer, microfuge, vortex, and one set of pipetmen kits. The laboratory is also be stocked with basic laboratory  supplies.

Catering/Kitchen facilities

The CRF has a general kitchen for the preparation of meals and refreshments for study participants and patients, with a serving hatch opening directly into the participants’ lounge/dining room and also a research kitchen equipped to commercial standards for batch preparation of food products and standardised test meals.

Research food storage facilities

The CRF has access to an on-site -40°C walk-in food storage freezer, along with several domestic food fridges and freezers located within the CRF.

Participants’ Lounge and Diner

The lounge and diner will be available for the provision of study test meals, breakfasts for fasted study participants and general refreshments for participants and patients accompanying guests.