The Bristol Health Research Charity, originally known as Southmead Hospital Research Foundation, was established in 1966 by a group of clinicians at Southmead Hospital. The objectives of the charity remain the same: “the promotion and development of clinical research at hospital clinics or other establishments under the control of North Bristol NHS Trust, and for the furtherance of postgraduate medical education” Increasingly the healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, have appointments at both the major Trusts within Bristol mainly the North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and the United Hospitals Trust. Others have dual appointments between NBT and the community. Hence, a range of research interests will be the business of this charity.