The award puts NBT third in terms of RCF among 258 NHS trusts and organisations in England.

Helen Lewis-White, deputy director, research & development said: ‘This funding announcement is an amazing success story for our trust, reflecting our commitment to advancing medical research and improving patient care. It also underlines the Bristol area's capability, capacity and vision to deliver top-class research that benefits patient care in our area and beyond, with our strong regional partnerships playing a vital role in achieving this.'

NBT and Bristol NHS Group partner, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, have a combined RCF of £2.4m, with NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB in first place nationally.

NBT research achievements for the 2024-25 financial year include:

•           opening 106 new studies, including 38 commercial studies – a total 52% increase from the previous year
•           increasing the number of commercial studies opened by 53%
•           being awarded combined grants totalling £9.2m, with a 75% success rate for NIHR research grant submissions.

Rebecca Coad, research development and grants manager said: ‘We've worked hard to build on our existing broad NIHR research grant portfolio, focusing on developing and mentoring new researchers from all staffing groups to enable them to develop and deliver high quality research studies. This funding news is a result of the talent and dedication of all those involved in research at NBT – our research development and grants team, the clinical and non-clinical staff who develop and lead these grants, our dedicated support staff and our amazing patient representatives and external collaborators.'