Our aims

Conditions affecting the brain and spine affect large numbers of people. These injuries often have a significant impact on their quality of life.

We aim to support solutions that improve the quality of life of those affected and make these technologies accessible across the NHS.

We will:

  1. Identify which solutions will address unmet needs in the care pathway.
  2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions with experts and communities.
  3. Implement evaluated solutions into the care pathway.

To ensure the relevance of our work, we will involve patients and the public at every step.

Our aims

Conditions affecting the brain and spine affect large numbers of people. These injuries often have a significant impact on their quality of life. We aim to support solutions that improve the quality of life of those affected and make these technologies accessible across the NHS.

To ensure the best solutions are implemented, the selection process is carried out in 3 stages:

  1. Identify which solutions will address unmet needs in the care pathway.
  2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions with experts and communities.
  3. Support the implementation of evaluated solutions into the care pathway.

To ensure the relevance of our work, we will involve patients and the public at every step.

Our themes

To ensure we cover each stage of the brain injury pathway, we focus on 5 themes. Each theme is headed by world-leading experts, supported by other key researchers within our network.

To see more detail about each theme, click the buttons below.

A person wearing a helmet with a brick falling towards his head

Prevention and Education

Prevention and Education

Identifying and addressing driving factors of brain injury in at-risk groups.

Brain with a EGC blip

Acute Care and Monitoring

Acute Care and Monitoring

Improving techniques used in the critical period to enhance neuro protection.

Person walking upstairs

Restoration and Rehabilitation

Restoration and Rehabilitation

Supporting solutions for enabling long term recovery and reintegration into communities.

Find out more
Find out more
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Person in an MRI scanner, a vial and a clipboard

Diagnostics

Diagnostics

Navigating the commercial and regulatory landscape to improve assessment.

Child holding hands with an elderly person

Life course

Life course

Taclking the challenges of brain injury at the extremities of age.

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A person wearing a helmet with a brick falling towards his head

Prevention and Education

Identifying and addressing driving factors of brain injury in at-risk groups.
Find out more
Brain with a EGC blip

Acute Care and Monitoring

Improving techniques used in the critical period to enhance neuro protection.
Find out more
Person walking upstairs

Restoration and Rehabilitation

Supporting solutions for enabling long term recovery and reintegration into communities.
Find out more
Person in an MRI scanner, a vial and a clipboard

Diagnostics

Navigating the commercial and regulatory landscape to improve assessment.
Find out more
Child holding hands with an elderly person

Life Course

Taclking the challenges of brain injury at the extremities of age.
Find out more

About us

Core team

Professor Peter Hutchinson
Professor Peter HutchinsonDirector
Professor Peter Hutchinson is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Head of Academic Neurosurgery at the University of Cambridge. He is an Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital with a sub-specialist interest in neuro-trauma, specifically traumatic brain injury. He has a research interest in brain injury, utilising monitoring technology to increase our understanding of the pathophysiology, and the investigation and treatment of concussion. He leads the international RESCUE studies evaluating the role of decompressive craniectomy. In 2015, he was awarded the Herbert Olivecrona award.
Dr Alexis Joannides
Dr Alexis JoannidesCo-Director
Dr Alexis Joannides is an Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Addenbrookes specialising in neuro-oncology and CSF disorders. He is the Head of Bioinformatics for Cambridge University Hospitals Trust and Director of Clinical Medicine at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Through his research, he has supported the development of new devices and technologies for improving patients’ quality-of-life following brain injury. His brain care transformation work includes clinically leading programmes REVERT, RAPID, DAMSEL and IRMA.
Mita Brahmbhatt
Mita BrahmbhattCentre Manager
Since 2007, Mita has been working in healthcare to influence health and wellbeing services. She has worked professionally with the World Health Organisation, the Department of Health, NHS authorities and strategic initiatives, and volunteers with Freemind. Since 2013, Mita has led the establishment of NIHR healthcare innovation centres, currently focusing on the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury.
James Piercy
James PiercyPPIE Lead
James is a brain injury survivor and experienced public engagement and involvement professional. He is an honorary lecturer at the University of East Anglia and trustee of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum. James is passionate about the role of lived experience in improving outcomes for others.
Isabel Stewart
Isabel StewartCentre Coordinator
Since working in healthcare, Isabel has found a passion for improving wellbeing services through supporting innovation. She has volunteered with a national charity which improves the experiences provided to young people. She has filled a variety of roles on different committees and helped organize local and national events.

Core team

Peter Hutchinson

Professor Peter Hutchinson

Director

Professor Peter Hutchinson is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Head of Academic Neurosurgery at the University of Cambridge. He is an Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital with a sub-specialist interest in neuro-trauma, specifically traumatic brain injury. He has a research interest in brain injury, utilising monitoring technology to increase our understanding of the pathophysiology, and the investigation and treatment of concussion. He leads the international RESCUE studies evaluating the role of decompressive craniectomy. In 2015, he was awarded the Herbert Olivecrona award.

Alexis Joannides

Dr Alexis Joannides

Co-Director

Dr Alexis Joannides is an Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Addenbrookes specialising in neuro-oncology and CSF disorders. He is the Head of Bioinformatics for Cambridge University Hospitals Trust and Director of Clinical Medicine at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Through his research, he has supported the development of new devices and technologies for improving patients’ quality-of-life following brain injury. His brain care transformation work includes clinically leading programmes REVERT, RAPID, DAMSEL and IRMA.

Mita Brahmbhatt

Mita Brahmbhatt

Center Manager

Since 2007, Mita has been working in healthcare to influence health and wellbeing services. She has worked professionally with the World Health Organisation, the Department of Health, NHS authorities and strategic initiatives, and volunteers with Freemind. Since 2013, Mita has led the establishment of NIHR healthcare innovation centres, currently focusing on the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury.

James Piercy

James Piercy

PPIE Lead

James is a brain injury survivor and experienced public engagement and involvement professional. He is an honorary lecturer at the University of East Anglia and trustee of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum. James is passionate about the role of lived experience in improving outcomes for others.

Isabel Stewart

Isabel Stewart

Center Coordinator

Since working in healthcare, Isabel has found a passion for improving wellbeing services through supporting innovation. She has volunteered with a national charity which improves the experiences provided to young people. She has filled a variety of roles on different committees and helped organize local and national events.

Map of the UK with green dots where the Brain Injury HRC partners are located

The network

HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) are centres of expertise which drive life-changing research into health technologies. They bring together patients, clinicians, researchers, commissioners and industry. The NIHR has awarded £42 million over five years to 14 HRCs across England.

Each centre has a different focus. Ours is brain injuries. We also look at the impact spinal injuries can have on neurological function and other neurological disorders caused by injuries to the nervous system.

Since 2012, we have built a network across the UK and supported international innovators to integrate their medical technologies into the UK.

Our established network of expertise seeks to develop medical technologies to improve outcomes for people with brain and spinal injuries. We believe the best way to do this is to facilitate collaboration with patients, carers, NHS trusts, charities, universities, inventors, SMEs, and medical technology companies.

We are part of a broader network of NIHR infrastructure. For more information on how to access other support networks within the NIHR, click here.

The network

HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) are centres of expertise which drive life-changing research into health technologies. They bring together patients, clinicians, researchers, commissioners and industry. The NIHR has awarded £42 million over five years to 14 HRCs across England.

Each centre has a different focus. Ours is brain injuries. We also look at the impact spinal injuries can have on neurological function and other neurological disorders caused by injuries to the nervous system.

Since 2012, we have built a network across the UK and supported international innovators to integrate their medical technologies into the UK.

Our established network of expertise seeks to develop medical technologies to improve outcomes for people with brain and spinal injuries. We believe the best way to do this is to facilitate collaboration with patients, carers, NHS trusts, charities, universities, inventors, SMEs, and medical technology companies.

Our network reaches across the UK. From North to South, these include:

Newcastle:

  • NIHR HRC in Diagnostics and Technological Evaluation

Leeds:

  • NIHR HRC in Accelerated Surgical Care

Manchester:

  • NIHR HRC in Emergency and Acute Care
  • Northern Healthcare Alliance NHS Trust

Sheffield:

  • NIHR HRC in Paediatrics and Child Health
  • NIHR HRC in Long Term Conditions

Nottingham:

  • NIHR HRC in Mental Health (MindTech)
  • NIHR HRC in Rehabilitation

Birmingham:

  • NIHR HRC in Device, digital and Robotics

Norwich:

  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • University of East Anglia

Oxford:

  • NIHR HRC in Device, DIgital and Robotics

Cambridge:

  • NIHR HRC in Brain Injury
  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Trust
  • University of Cambridge

Colchester:

  • University of Essex

London:

  • NIHR HRC in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine
  • NIHR HRC in InVito Diagnostics
  • NIHR HRC in Brain Health
  • Imperial College London

Bristol:

  • University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS
  • University of the West of England, Bristol

Exeter:

  • NIHR HRC in Sustainable Innovations
Map of the UK with green dots where the Brain Injury HRC partners are located

Our network reaches across the UK. From North to South, these include:

Newcastle:

  • NIHR HRC in Diagnostics and Technological Evaluation

Leeds:

  • NIHR HRC in Accelerated Surgical Care

Manchester:

  • NIHR HRC in Emergency and Acute Care
  • Northern Healthcare Alliance NHS Trust

Sheffield:

  • NIHR HRC in Paediatrics and Child Health
  • NIHR HRC in Long Term Conditions

Nottingham:

  • NIHR HRC in Mental Health (MindTech)
  • NIHR HRC in Rehabilitation

Birmingham:

  • NIHR HRC in Device, digital and Robotics

Norwich:

  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • University of East Anglia

Oxford:

  • NIHR HRC in Device, DIgital and Robotics

Cambridge:

  • NIHR HRC in Brain Injury
  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Trust
  • University of Cambridge

Colchester:

  • University of Essex

London:

  • NIHR HRC in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine
  • NIHR HRC in InVito Diagnostics
  • NIHR HRC in Brain Health
  • Imperial College London

Bristol:

  • University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS
  • University of the West of England, Bristol

Exeter:

  • NIHR HRC in Sustainable Innovations

We are part of a broader network of NIHR infrastructure. For more information on how to access other support networks within the NIHR, click here.

Partner Organisations

We have a large network of partner organisations with whom we work to support innovators and their projects.

Our Strategic Partners