Record number of patients take part in clinical research at UHNM

A record number of patients have taken part in clinical research trials at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM).

Latest figures from UHNM’s Research and Innovation Department reveal more than 2,000 patients took part in a clinical research trial at either the Royal Stoke University Hospital or County Hospital in Stafford during the period April 2023 to March 2024.

This represents a 25 per-cent increase on figures from the previous year.

In total 2,035 patients agreed to take part in one of 262 studies taking place across UHNM.

Jackie Sears, Clinical Research Matron at UHNM said: “We’re delighted to have exceeded our patient research recruitment target for the past year. This shows our continued commitment to providing the best possible patient care to our local population through innovative research, and I would like to thank our UHNM patients who have taken part for the benefit of others.

“Our Research Practitioners work closely with clinical teams in areas right across UHNM including oncology and haematology, cardiology, and paediatrics, but also acute care such as trauma, stroke, and neurology to gather the evidence needed to transform and improve patient outcomes. We give patients involved with research at UHNM the opportunity to receive treatments they wouldn’t ordinarily receive as part of their standard treatment pathway, for example, in oncology this could be testing a new immunotherapy or therapy drug.”

Forty one new research studies also opened across UHNM during the last 12 months.

One of the patients involved in motor neurone disease drug trials at UHNM is Stephen Barker from Shifnal in Shropshire.

The 67 year-old, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in April 2022 said: “I’m taking part in research at UHNM because it will help add to a body of knowledge. I’ve got children and grandchildren so it might help them in the future.

“I enjoy taking part in the trials and look forward to coming into the Royal Stoke and meeting the team. They always make me feel very welcome and treat me as a human being, not just a number in a computer.”

As a ‘research active’ Trust, clinicians from UHNM work in collaboration with leading professors and research scientists from Keele University, Staffordshire University locally and other universities nationally, as well as conducting studies funded by fellowships and grants awarded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). UHNM also supports national studies and trials run by other NHS researchers.

UHNM supports commercial research, a study that is fully sponsored and funded by a commercial company (independent pharmaceutical or medical technology company). Figures from UHNM’s Research and Innovation Department show the Trust ranks in the top three trusts regionally with 127 patients taking place in commercial research during the last year.

UHNM has also created a Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and AHP Research and Education Excellence (CeNREE), providing support to hundreds of UHNM nurses, midwives and allied health professionals who want to engage with and lead research in their clinical practice through work-based projects and academic and research development across UHNM.

Any enquires about research or CeNREE at UHNM should email research@uhnm.nhs.uk or cenree@uhnm.nhs.uk.