Astronaut Tim Peake ‘launches’ our new NIHR Clinical Research Facility

We recently held a celebration event officially launching the new National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) GOSH Clinical Research Facility in its new home on the 8th Floor of the Southwood Building.

We were thrilled to have astronaut Tim Peake join the event where he met with patients, families, staff and children from the GOSH nursery.

Tim spoke with us about his time in space and the research that he carried out into rare diseases. We were also joined by Steve McCarthy, the artist who designed the space themed artwork for the Facility, in collaboration with patients and families.

Tim and Steve ran Lego and colouring in sessions for our young visitors in the new play area and colleagues from the Royal Observatory Greenwich also came along to deliver a range of space-themed interactive activities. The Lego designs made on the day will form part of a permanent display in the Facility.

We want to say a huge thank you to the children, young people and families who were part of the design and conception of the new Facility and of course the GOSH staff who make our research possible!

Professor Steve Marks, Director of the NIHR GOSH CRF said: "It was wonderful to launch our new NIHR GOSH Clinical Research Facility with Tim Peake who escalated the Discovery Unit from the basement to the 8th floor.

Thanks to all the CRF team who made the launch possible, as well as the big move over many months. It was lovely to finally unveil the new space and see the smiles on the children’s faces being amazed by the artwork, our feedback rainbow and of course a real-life astronaut!"

Jenson, a GOSH patient who has been taking part in a trial for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for the past two years, was one of the children who attended the event and officially ‘opened’ the facility by cutting the ribbon with Tim. He dressed in a space suit to mark the occasion and was accompanied by his Dad who continued the space theme dressed in a rocket outfit.

The celebration continued at an evening event where we hosted GOSH staff and invited members from our community including the Mayor of Camden and the Deputy Mayor of Islington. After taking guests on a tour of the new Facility we hosted presentations at GOSH’s Data Research, Innovation and Virtual Environments (DRIVE) unit highlighting some of our brightest research and innovation projects.

Mat Shaw, Chief Executive of GOSH said: “It was wonderful to be able to launch our new NIHR Clinical Research Facility across these two events and showcase the amazing research and innovation that takes place at GOSH.

This work, and the new Discovery Unit, is crucial to our mission to improve care for children and young people with rare or complex conditions."

We want to thank everyone who was involved in the launch of our new Facility!