Find out why and how to become an NIHR Newcastle BioResource Volunteer.
Information on using the BioResource.
Are you interested in having your existing patients sampled?
NIHR BioResource Centre Newcastle
What is the BioResource?
The NIHR BioResource is a panel of more than 100,000 people who have volunteered to take part in research studies.
The BioResource Centre Newcastle is one of 13 BioResource centres in the UK. We are working hard across the region to collect information from people in the North East. This information contributes to a national initiative designed to fight against common conditions, as well as rare diseases that are affecting people throughout England.
In Newcastle, the BioResource specialises in ageing and multiple long-term conditions, but we also coordinate recruitment for other national BioResource programmes.
The NIHR BioResource – Rare Diseases 
This BioResource researches over 50 rare diseases areas. These include immunity, neuroscience, haematology, rheumatology, cardiovascular disease, and many more.
We use modern technologies to study the DNA of participants (whole-genome sequencing). We tie that genetic information to clinical information about the participants. These clinical characteristics are the participants ‘phenotype’.
The NIHR BioResource-Rare Diseases, recruits affected participants and, in some cases, their relatives.
Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMID) BioResource
Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMID) BioResource
IMIDs are a range of diseases that lack a defined cause but share responses of inflammation. They cause a significant burden of disease in the UK population.
The IMID BioResource focuses on three common IMIDs: psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
We support research into the causes of these conditions and understand the factors that determine severity of IMID and response to treatment.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) BioResource
NAFLD is the most common cause of liver disease in Western countries, affecting approximately 30-40% of the UK population. It refers to a group of conditions where excess fat builds up in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol.
We support research into the causes of NAFLD, to help understand the factors affecting the severity and responses to treatment. By doing this, we can begin to identify better treatments to reduce the effects of NAFLD or provide a cure.
Contact us
We would be very happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below:
- Email: NewcastleBioResource@ncl.ac.uk
- Phone: 0191 208 5001
Watch our short video about the NIHR Newcastle BioResource Centre