It's our 20th birthday!

NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Sheffield

It's our 20th birthday! Celebrating 20 years of research excellence

This month, our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is celebrating its 20th birthday, marking two decades of supporting world-class clinical research and improving patient care.

Since opening on 2 September 2006 and welcoming our first patients shortly afterwards, our CRF has supported more than 49,000 patients and research participants. Over the last 20 years, research delivered within the facility has contributed to life-changing outcomes across a wide range of health conditions, helping to develop new treatments, improve standards of care and shape the future of healthcare.

The success of the CRF is reflected not only in research achievements, but also in the experiences of those who take part in studies, with participants consistently rating their care and experience within the Sheffield CRF as excellent.

Professor Jim Catto, CRF Director and Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"The CRF has offered our patients access to world-leading care in Sheffield and helped many, many more through the findings from the studies we have run. The benefits from our CRF are long-lasting and felt by many patients and their loved ones. We are hugely proud of what we have accomplished over 20 years and look forward to discoveries in the next.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Chris Newman, who provided stellar leadership for 19 years as CRF Director and leaves a tremendous legacy."

Karen French, CRF Head of Operations, said:

"We are incredibly proud of the role the CRF has played in advancing clinical research over the last two decades. During this time, research undertaken within the CRF has contributed to life-changing outcomes for patients across a wide range of health conditions, helping to advance treatments, improve care and shape the future of healthcare.

The impact of this work is reflected not only in research breakthroughs, but also in the experiences of those who take part in our studies, with participants consistently rating their experience within the CRF in Sheffield as excellent. We are extremely proud of all we have achieved, which is a testament to the passion and care of our staff and the trust shown by our patients."

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), celebrating the establishment of an organisation that transformed modern UK health research and supported the development of Clinical Research Facilities across the country, with Sheffield among the first to be established.

As we celebrate this milestone, we would like to thank everyone who has been part of our journey over the last 20 years. The dedication, expertise and commitment of our staff, partners and supporters have helped create a legacy of innovation and impact that continues to benefit patients today and will do so for years to come.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to all of our patients and research participants. Without your willingness to take part in research, the advances and breakthroughs achieved over the last two decades would not have been possible.

For more information, and to read the official Sheffield Teaching Hospitals news article, please visit the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals news page or in the Sheffield Star

(September 2026)

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