Metabolic Research Facilities
In these dedicated facilities, complex metabolic and eating behaviour research studies are conducted.
Operates 7 days per week, 24 hours per day
In the Wellcome Metabolic Translational Research Facility, staff with expertise in complex measurements (energy intake and expenditure, circadian physiology, stable-isotope and spectroscopic metabolic pathway analyses) undertake studies in obesity, diabetes and endocrine disorders. Studies requiring bespoke diet design are supported by our nutritionist.
- 8 inpatient, bariatric beds with en-suite bathrooms
- 2 consulting rooms
- 1 procedure room
- Eating behaviour observation suite, including separate adult and child lounges and dining rooms
- Play room
- Diet kitchen for preparation and storage of ready-meals of defined composition at scale
- Sample processing room
A separate Metabolic Research Area contains facilities for measurements of body composition, with a specialist team led by our Research Physiologist.
For energy expenditure assessments:
- 2 calorimeter rooms equipped for 24-hour gas exchange measurement
- 4 portable indirect calorimeters for measurements of basal metabolic rate
- Exercising gas exchange system
- Diet kitchen
Body composition assessments:
- GE Lunar iDXA scanner
- BodPod®
- PeaPod®
Exercise testing suite:
- Cycle ergometry
- Treadmill
- Sub and maximal testing
- Physical activity monitoring
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
For MRS scanning, we support and collaborate with a metabolic research physicist, based in the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre Annex, which is nearby on the campus.
Cambridge Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is the largest, single site NIHR CRF, in the heart of Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It is the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe.
