The NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre is based at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality; a purpose built site that brings together the NHS, Newcastle University and industry dedicated to improving health care for older people.

The University’s Campus for Ageing and Vitality is sited on the former Newcastle General Hospital site and brings together academics, health care, the voluntary sector, business activities and the public to work together to generate innovative solutions to problems and identify opportunities inherent in our ageing population.

NIHR Biomedical Research Building

The NIHR Biomedical Research Building is an integral part of the Campus and is home to the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre as well as a number of ageing research labs, businesses and one of the countries first Clinics for Research and Service in Themed Assessments (CRESTA). The CRESTA clinic provides one-stop, multi-disciplinary clinics centred on the needs of older patients, as well as a prime source of research inspiration for clinical academics engaged in valuable research as part of the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre.

The Clinics for Research and Service in Themed Assessments (CRESTA), were created by theme lead for dementia research, Professor David Burn, to improve the healthcare provision of elderly people with a range of complex disorders. They provide a unique value, as they eliminate the need for older patients to attend different clinics on various days for their multiple conditions. Patients might see a specialist nurse, then a consultant, and may receive a full assessment using the latest technology. Some patients may be identified as suitable for trials in the adjacent Clinical Ageing Research Unit and Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre.

For clinicians and basic scientists working on research in the Biomedical Research Building, these clinics provide an excellent platform for creative interaction and a hub for new research ideas.

Being located at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality means that we in the NIHR Newcastle BRC can put patients at the heart of our research, to ensure that the work that we’re doing is genuinely delivering patient and public benefit.

A bright future for CAV

In 2019, Newcastle University announced an ambitious plan to further redevelop the former General Hospital site, following an agreement to purchase the campus from the Newcastle Hospitals Trust. The proposal is for a mixed-use development covering the 29 acre site incorporating elderly care, research facilities and a residential zone for housing and business development.

Development of the vision is being led by Newcastle University working in collaboration with Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle City Council. The plans include a proposal to build on the existing mixed-use approach with the creation of a ‘Discovery Crucible’, which would house laboratories alongside cutting edge clinics. This would allow more NHS patients to be seen by experts across all disciplines and as part of University research projects, providing teams with the opportunity to learn from expertise outside their field and breed new and innovative solutions.