The Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM) is a large multi-disciplinary department that links high quality clinical research with medical application. The underpinning motivation behind all research carried out by NDM is the pursuit of academic excellence and the positive impact of research on the health and wellbeing of the global community.
The Nuffield Department of Medicine is committed to fostering research that moves beyond academia, from bench to bedside.
The Department is structured around several scientifically autonomous sub-divisions, in Oxford and abroad. These clinical medicine Institutes, Centres and Units are supported by a central administrative team, NDM Strategic
In Oxford, NDM maintains research platforms across a number of disciplines including: cellular and molecular physiology, structural biology, structural genomics, human genomics, cancer research, experimental medicine, vaccine development, clinical biomanufacturing, and tropical medicine and global health.
Allied to UK based research in tropical medicine and global health, the Department operates major research programmes overseas, with research units in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Kenya supporting activities at numerous sites in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. NDM also operate extensive epidemiological and clinical trials networks throughout China, India and South America.
NDM’s diverse research platforms, both in Oxford and abroad, have significantly contributed to the depth and breadth of the Department’s medical research outputs.
Over the past 20 years, research from the Department has led to changes in world health policy and clinical practice guidelines on a national and global scale. NDM has also undertaken research, which has led to lasting clinical and medical impacts, such as the development of new vaccines, drugs and clinical technology for the diagnosis, treatment, and control of disease and medical disorders.
NDM is based across multiple local sites, including the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals, and the University of Oxford’s Old Road Campus – one of the largest centres for biomedical research in Europe. With over £200M invested in capital projects and research infrastructure over the past decade, this rapidly growing campus provides a vibrant, highly interactive environment for research development, and career development for young scientists. NDM will contribute to the expansion of this campus with the construction of a major new collaborative research facility the Target Discovery Institute, which recently obtained a £32M development grant from HEFCE.
NDM employs around 1000 scientific research staff within the UK, and a further 1,500 staff overseas. Its researchers also contribute to the teaching of 450 medical students within Oxford University's Clinical School, further solidifying its bench to bedside philosophy.
The Nuffield Department of Medicine owes its existence thanks to the generosity of Lord Nuffield, a philanthropist who donated large sums of his wealth to worthy causes, including funding numerous professorships across the University. Past holders of this title include Professor L.J. Witts (1937-1965), Professor Paul Beeson (1965-1974), Professor Sir David Weatherall (1974-1992) and Professor Sir John Bell (1992-2002).