Celebrating Two Years of Coral Reef

The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC) is celebrating the second anniversary of its pioneering Clinical Research Facility (CRF), known as the Coral Reef, which has rapidly become one of the most active hubs for paediatric clinical research in the UK.

Since opening in 2024, the Coral Reef team has supported approximately 50 complex interventional clinical trials, involving almost 2,500 participants from across the region directly within the Coral Reef facility itself or elsewhere in the hospital.

The facility, which has been supported and fundraised for by Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, is now recognised as having some of the most clinically active research units in the UK, with a particular focus on paediatric and translational research aimed at improving outcomes for children with complex and rare conditions.

Prof. Athimalaipet V. Ramanan, Consultant of Paediatric Rheumatology and Head of the Clinical Research Facility at BRHC, which is part of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), said:

“Research teams at the Coral Reef work at the forefront of innovation, enabling access to novel and cutting edge therapies across the South West and South Wales. Through the CRF, children with refractory arthritis, complex seizure disorders and other rare diseases have been able to take part in trials offering treatments that would not otherwise be available.”

The facility plays a vital role within the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, which is celebrating its 25th birthday this year. As the CRF marks its second anniversary, teams and partners, came together to celebrate and look ahead to the next phase of delivering world-class research that transforms children’s lives.

Maria Kane, Chief Executive of Bristol NHS Group, a partnership between UHBW and North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), said:
“I am delighted to celebrate the second birthday of Coral Reef, our Clinical Research Facility. Since its opening, around 1,200 children and young people have benefitted from the research team’s expertise, innovation, and dedication to offering cutting-edge treatments each year.
“It is our ambition that we provide every person in our care the opportunity to benefit from research. I’m so pleased the Coral Reef team are already offering new and potentially life-changing treatments and therapies to young people who need them.”

Partner UHBW charity, Bristol & Weston Hospital Charity launched the South West Children’s Research Appeal in May (2023) and raised over £700,000 to build the Coral Reef.

Sarah Pryer, Director of Fundraising and Marketing for Bristol & Weston Hospital Charity, said:
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the people of Bristol and the South West, the Coral Reef has helped give hope to thousands of families over the past two years. Our supporters raised an incredible £460,000, bringing our total to £700,000 to provide a dedicated space for patients, their families and the staff who care for them.
“This pioneering paediatric clinical research facility at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is not only enabling groundbreaking work, but has been thoughtfully designed with children and young people, for children and young people. We’ve created a welcoming environment that helps families feel comfortable and supported during what can be incredibly challenging times.
“The impact is already profound. It is transforming treatments, accelerating the discovery of new cures for poorly children, and improving countless lives — today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
“We are deeply grateful to every single supporter who made this possible.”