Metabolic Research Facilities

A small blue circle within larger red circle within even larger white circle

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
Brightly coloured children's play room with circular table, two chairs beanbags and toys
Kitchen with metal worktops, an oven, sink, cooking equipment and mixer.
Dining room with a food trolley and chairs around two tables laid with plates, cutlery and glasses

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 
Calorimeter Room with door half open showing an exercise bike inside
Patient lying down on their back under machine preparing for a bone density scan with a member of staff observing
Young girl on a treadmill with breathing mask over her face with a member off staff monitoring results on a computer
patient room with a single bed and equipment each side including a Pea Pod

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)

For MRS scanning, we support and collaborate with a metabolic research physicist, based in the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre Annexe, which is nearby on the campus.

Patient lying down preparing to enter the MRI scanner with staff member by her side

Cambridge Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is the largest, single site NIHR CRF. It is located in the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe.

The NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is part of the NIHR and hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Contact Us

NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility
Cambridge Clinical Research Centre
Keith Day Road
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0SL

01223 254642

Email: cuh.crfenquiries@nhs.net