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Liverpool region awarded
£3.4m to translate the latest science into new medical treatments
AN important milestone for medical
research in Liverpool has been reached after a partnership involving the
University and 2 local NHS Trusts was successful in securing £3.4m in funding
for translational medicine research.
The funding, provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), will
support the infrastructure costs for early translational (experimental medicine)
research to help speed up the translation of scientific advances for the benefit
of patients.
Translational medicine is a rapidly growing discipline in biomedical research
and aims to 'speed up' the discovery of new diagnostic tools and
treatments. This is done by using a multi disciplinary, highly collaborative,
"bench to bedside"
approach that sees research done in the laboratory directly used to develop new
ways to treat patients.
The applications for the funding were made by the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen
University Hospitals Trust, led by Dr Richard Fitzgerald, and Alder Hey
Children's NHS Foundation Trust, led by Professor Michael Beresford, in
partnership with the University of Liverpool.
The Clinical Research Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, which
carries out 30 early phase research studies a year, received ?1.4million
enabling more early phase and experimental medicine research; bringing new
therapies, devices and diagnostics to patients more quickly.
Aidan Kehoe, chief executive of the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University
Hospitals NHS Trust, said:- "We are proud to receive recognition from NIHR
as it shows that our patients are attending a hospital that is at the forefront
of clinical research. We have a strong history of carrying out research which is
vital to improving the quality of lives of patients around the world. This will
be further enhanced with the opening of the new Royal Liverpool University
Hospital and development of the Liverpool Health Campus which will devote
100,000 square metres to life sciences, within the heart of the Knowledge
Quarter."
Trish Pegg, 53, from Neston, volunteered to take part in clinical research at
the Royal after her late husband was given 12 more years of life thanks to
treatment made available after clinical testing.
Trish said:- "By being part of the research, I wanted other families to
benefit like ours did. As well as saying thank you, this was an opportunity to
give something back and be part of the work that goes into finding a life
changing treatment for the illness."
Every year thousands of children at Alder Hey participate in clinical studies to
help find new medicines and treatments for children with both common and rare
childhood illnesses. From the funding Alder Hey has received £2m to help two
specific units supporting research within the brand new Alder Hey in the Park
children's healthcare campus, the Clinical Research Facility and the Institute
in the Park.
Sir David Henshaw, Chair of Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust said:-
"We have great ambitions to improve the health of children everywhere by
creating a unique environment where ideas can flourish and be tried out in a
real-world hospital environment. This recognition of our NIHR Alder Hey Clinical
Research Facility is vital to this mission and we are delighted to have been
selected. "
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, who is Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for
Clinical Research at the University of Liverpool, and Executive Director of
Liverpool Health Partners said:- "Once again these successful funding
applications highlight the strengths of clinical research and the NHS-University
partnerships in Liverpool.
Our translational research is underpinned by a critical mass of expertise and
internationally renowned externally funded centres of excellence, and
world class research facilities that pull research in basic science through to
clinical application. Today's health research is tomorrow's healthcare so I am
delighted that this funding will enable us to further progress more research and
development in this exciting field." |
