New £4M centre enables more patients to take part in clinical trials in Northern Ireland
Health Minister Edwin Poots MLA today (18/09/13) opened a new £4M clinical research hub in Belfast that will enable more patients than ever before to take part in clinical trials in Northern Ireland. The Wellcome Trust-Wolfson Foundation Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility (NICRF), will concentrate on four main research themes; cancer, nutrition and metabolism, vision science and respiratory research. The facility will also benefit those with rare conditions, who, until now, have had to travel to England to participate in trials. It is a joint venture between Queen’s University Belfast, The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, The University of Ulster and Health and Social Care Research and Development (HSC R&D), a division of the Public Health Agency (PHA) and is based in Belfast City Hospital. Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots MLA carries out a Visual Imaging test during a tour of the new Clinical Research Facility at the City Hospital. Photo/Paul McErlane