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The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre is a £100M collaboration between Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Oxford to accelerate healthcare innovation. Renewed in 2013, with a 50% increase in funding, the BRC features major neuroscience research themes including cerebrovascular disease and dementia led by Peter Rothwell, and functional neuroscience and imaging led by Peter Brown.

The centre held its third research open day on 19 May. The event attracted over 600 people including patients, the general public, patient representatives and staff.

The neuroscience stands included displays of transcranial direct current stimulation and prism glasses being investigated as potential aids to stroke recovery. Interactive exhibits included methods used to measure pain sensitivity, a demonstration of behavioural tasks used to investigate motor learning, and the use of Doppler ultrasound to screen for carotid plaques.

One of the highlights of the day was an eloquent and moving speech by Jonathan Wyatt, a patient from a gene therapy trial conducted in our Department, explaining his motivation for taking part in research and the remarkable results of the pilot trial. You can read more about this in the choroideremia gene therapy press release.

The event received widespread coverage in the local press and on radio.

Visit the BRC website.