Celebrating 12 years of work to improve trauma care and outcomes for patients, through translational research built on military, NHS and scientific partnership.
Since its launch in 2011, the NIHR Surgical Reconstruction Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC) has tackled some of the biggest questions in trauma research. This month the SRMRC has showcased some of its most impactful research findings, as funding for the Centre now draws to a close. But it won’t be the last we hear of trauma research in the region. Researchers also previewed some new results from yet to be published studies, so there is certainly more to come.
Hosted by the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, with projects led by the University of Birmingham and its wealth of research expertise, the unique Centre has been ideally located on a vibrant campus. Benefitting too from a diverse local population and its connections with military casualties through the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, which is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"The SRMRC was incredibly important to my research. It gave me the opportunity to meet clinical staff and patients and use my expertise to address real-world problems. From the work that started by the SRMRC, the team has created a range of products that have moved from concept to first-in-human studies using funding from across UKRI and the NIHR." Professor Liam Grover, School of Chemical Engineering.
Prior to the SRMRC I had only worked in elderly trauma, namely hip fracture. The SRMRC allowed me to expand my research to understand the impact of major trauma in young adults. Importantly the research revealed that whilst there are major differences in how the body responds to an injury with age, our research identified one change that was seen in adults of all ages, namely a rapid fall in the hormone DHEA. This led to a trial of DHEA supplementation aimed at preventing muscle loss and improving immunity after a trauma. Without SRMRC this study would never have happened.
During its time the Centre has been influenced by a strong partnership with the military at a key time with conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq running alongside the Centre’s lifespan. The Centre has also had the opportunity to respond and learn from both the Ebola crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SRMRC has focused its research efforts around four key aims:
Over the years the work has been shaped by a close partnership with patients, the public and communities to deliver meaningful and inclusive involvement and engagement activities, to improve outcomes for trauma patients.
I am proud to live in Birmingham and be part of the SRMRC. Somehow, I feel part of this big team, having my voice and expertise heard. Attending meetings, showcases, discussions with nurses, doctors, students, academics. We work together to turn a simple idea into something much bigger for patients worldwide. We're not just part of the research, we're at the heart of research.
The SRMRC has been jointly funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Ministry of Defence, the British government department in charge of putting into place the Government’s defence policy and the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham match funded the Centre’s work.
Emeritus Professor of Immune Cell Biology
Staff profile for Professor Janet Lord, Emeritus Professor of Immune Cell Biology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham.
Professor of Trauma Neurosurgery
Staff profile for Professor Tony Belli, Professor of Trauma Neurosurgery, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, the Unviersity of Birmingham
Professor in Biomaterials Science
Staff profile for Professor Liam Grover, School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Staff profile for Dr Jon Hazeldine, Post-doctoral research fellow for the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham.
Senior Lecturer
Staff profile for Dr Paul Harrison, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, The University of Birmingham
Professor of Neuroscience
Staff profile for Professor Zubair Ahmed, Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medicine and Health.
Professor in Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain
Staff profile for Professor Fang Gao, Professor in Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Department of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medicine and Health.
