Director of the NRBRU Professor Alan Knox said: "The new unit will bring together both the clinical and research strands of our work to provide a great facility to test new medicines for asthma and COPD. Recruiting for clinical trials is a great example of how the local community in Nottingham can help to make a positive impact on the future health of the city and its inhabitants."

Among the research being carried out at the NRBRU that will benefit from the new clinical trials unit is a study being led by Dr John Anderson looking whether a tablet originally produced for people with diabetes could be used to treat mild asthma.

Dr Anderson said: "Studies like ours rely on the goodwill of patients who give up their time, often for no monetary reward, to help develop our understanding of respiratory conditions such as asthma and to explore new options for treatments.

"We have found that although, it may not benefit their own health in the short term, patients are often keen to take part in clinical trials because they like the idea that their involvement could in the future give relief to others who suffer from the same debilitating conditions."

Source: University of Nottingham