About the Centre for Biomedical Research (CBR)

Our strategy

The Centre for Biomedical Research (CBR) is a major contributor to the research vision at UWE Bristol, as defined through its Transforming Futures Research Strategy 2030. CBR's primary alignment is with UWE Bristol's Health and Wellbeing research beacon. CRIB implements the University and College research strategy through its Research Strategy Implementation Group.

Our purpose

CBR's core purpose is to support, encourage and advocate for its academic staff, researchers, and students in delivering benefits to society by undertaking excellent and impactful biomedical research.

CBR comprises a community of some 60 members spanning several biomedical research domains, all with a focus on improving human health and well-being.

Our people

The core value of CBR is to be found in its people; our academics, researchers, and students. CBR exists to support these in meeting the needs of society through the pursuit of excellent research with impact. CBR particularly values the importance of a vibrant community and in supporting a diverse and inclusive research culture in delivering high quality research.

Please see our thematic research cluster pages for our people involved in those research areas.

Our performance

CBR has a highly respectable track record of research accomplishment as demonstrated through its performance in the Research Excellence Framework Unit of Assessment 3, Allied Health Professions (UoA3).

In REF2021, UoA3, almost 87% of its research was deemed internationally excellent or world-leading. In addition, all of its UoA3 Impact Case Studies were deemed to be of 3* and 4* quality.

CBR maintains a substantial income stream for Research and Knowledge Exchange from national and international funding agencies, charities, and industry.

Our structure and operations

To support its objectives through the implementation of the University’s Research Strategy, the Centre is managed through a Centre Director, who is supported by a management group and advisory panel.

Centre Director

Professor Aniko Varadi

The Centre Director is Professor Aniko Varadi. She is Professor in Biomedical Research and has been CRIB Director since 2018. She works closely with the CRIB management group and, over the years, has reconfigured the physical footprint of CRIB, generating a new Environment lab, created a coherent biosensing research hub, developed a bioinformatics facility, designed a clinical trial room and created new and improved spaces for our growing postgraduate student cohort.

Professor Varadi leads the South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnerships (SWBio DTP) for CRIB and UWE Bristol, which is part of a £170 million investment by the BBSRC/UK Research Innovation to train the next generation of UK bioscientists. SWBio DTP by the BBSRC/UK Research Innovation to train the next generation of UK bioscientists. SWBio DTP includes eleven partner organisations from the South West and one of only 12 DTPs funded by the BBSRC. This funding has enabled CRIB to build on UWE Bristol's world-leading applied biosciences research including biosensing and its applications to bio-diagnostics. This has important applications in agri-food, meat quality and in combatting plant diseases. Our involvement with the SWBio DTP has, to date led to many new collaborations and eight PhD studentships.

Professor Varadi also leads the only fully validated PGCert in Genomics for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals programme in England in collaboration with Health Education England Genomic Education Programme, Macmillan Cancer Support, British Heart Foundation, and Genomics England. Our Generation Genome Team has been nominated by UWE Bristol for the 2024 Advance HE National Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence, which recognises collaborative work with demonstratable impact and change in practice in teaching and learning.

Professor Varadi was co-lead of the REF2021 submission for Unit of Assessment 3 (UoA3) Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy which led to four impact case studies which were all rated as 3/4*, an environment template with 87.5% rated as 3* and an overall submission with 87% rated as 3/4*. 

Professor Varadi is a graduate of the Chartered Management Institute accredited Master of Business Administration (MBA) with distinction. Her literary inspirations include ‘Breaking through’ by the recent Nobel laureate Katalin Kariko, and ‘World class, how to lead, learn and grow like a champion’ by Will Greenwood and Ben Fennell.

Centre Management

The Director is supported in the day-to-day management of the Centre through the Research Strategy Implementation Group (RSIG) which meets quarterly. RSIG aspires to be an inclusive group of horizontal thematic research cluster representation and vertical representation at various stages of career progression to ensure the needs of its members at all stages of career progression are being supported to deliver on excellent research with impact.

The role of our theme leads is to ensure representation across all research disciplines and to catalyse research activity within their clusters. The thematic research cluster leads are: 

Human Health and Disease

Theme Lead:

Deputy Lead:

Biosensing, Analytical and Diagnostics

Theme Lead:

Deputy Lead:

The RSIG is additionally supported by the School of Applied Sciences through its Dean and Head, Dr Lyn Newton, as well as by the School Director of Research and Enterprise, Dr Robin Thorn.

Centre Advisory panel

The overall performance and direction of CBR is monitored and guided by an advisory panel made up of internal institutional stakeholders, as well as external experts in research. The advisory panel is informed about CBR through its annual report and annual conference.

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Projects within the Centre for Biomedical Research (CBR)

Centre for Biomedical Research (CBR) key research projects.