Royal Surrey leads £4.6 million research grant win | News

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is investing £4.6 million in new research technology across the South East thanks to a successful bid, which was led by Royal Surrey.

The bid will enable the purchase of new research equipment at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust.

Royal Surrey led the bid in its capacity as the host trust for the NIHR’s Clinical Research Network for Kent Surrey and Sussex. The trust and its patients will see the benefits of the funding over the next two years, particularly in areas such as radiotherapy, ophthalmology, and robotic surgery.

The new funding is intended to help NHS organisations boost their research capabilities to attract more investment for research. The grant will be used to add new capacity, as well as upgrade and replace older equipment.

Equipment that will be purchased with the grant includes a new bone density scanner, a low-field strength scanner, and a new CT scanner, which will increase the Trust’s capacity to deliver therapeutic cancer research.

The Trust will also be purchasing a second Varian ETHOS radiotherapy machine, which will use artificial intelligence to tailor treatment to patients’ needs as they change over time. This will enable Royal Surrey’s cancer patients to participate in cutting-edge international research trials.

A new Da Vinci Surgery Robot will also be installed as part of the redevelopment of the St Luke’s Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre.

Associate Director of Research, Dr Stephen Barnett coordinated the bid. He said:

“I am delighted to see this investment coming in to boost the Trust’s research capability. This is obviously a significant benefit for the Trust and our patients, it enables us to support new clinical research at the Trust and supports research colleagues at the University of Surrey and at other NHS trusts across the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex regions.

“We recently opened the NIHR Royal Surrey Clinical Research Facility, a joint venture between Royal Surrey and the University of Surrey. This capital investment will also support the growth of that facility, which focuses on experimental medicine and first-in-human clinical trials.”