New commercial research collaboration officially launched | News

A new regional hub which will transform patient experience by offering pioneering clinical trials and testing innovative new treatments has been officially launched.

NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) is a collaboration between Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and Conexus Healthcare.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the CRDC will support the rapid set-up of commercial studies so patients can start accessing treatments and undergoing trials as early as possible.

The Mid Yorkshire ‘spoke’ of the CRDC will be run from the Trust’s Clinical Research and Innovation Building (CRIB). The stand-alone building on the Pinderfields Hospital site boasts three clinic rooms, two consulting rooms, space for post treatment observation, as well as a welcoming waiting area and dedicated patient parking. It also houses a dedicated pharmacy and pathology room with temperature monitored fridges and secure storage.

Dr John Ashcroft, Director of Research at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Deputy Director of the Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC, said: “Patients involved in commercial research often have the opportunity to access new and innovative treatments or therapies that are not yet widely available to the public. This can be especially important for those with conditions that are hard to treat with existing options.

“Clinical trials associated with commercial research help advance medical knowledge and technology, which can lead to better, more effective treatments in the future. As these treatments are rigorously tested, they have the potential to be safer and more effective.”

One Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust patient who has already benefitted from being involved in a commercial trial is Liz Morgan, from Featherstone. Liz was the first patient in the UK to take part in an international clinical trial examining different treatments for venous leg ulcers.

She said: “I was under the care of the community nurses, and they mentioned I may be suitable to take part in an upcoming clinical trial. I was keen to try anything that may improve my condition – I didn’t have any reservations at all.

“It’s been a great experience and it’s also rewarding to be able to play a small part in helping find better treatments for others in the future. I would encourage anyone given the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial to give it go.”

Dermatology patient Helen Cox described taking part in a psoriasis commercial research trial at the Trust as being ‘lifechanging’ and urges anyone offered a place on a trial to give it a try.

She said: “Taking part in the clinical trial changed my life, and I cannot thank the team enough. Up until that point I had very little understanding of my condition, and really didn’t think there was anything that was going to help.

“Not only have the team at Mid Yorks transformed my understanding of my condition, through the clinical trial I have accessed a drug that has had an astounding impact on my condition and quality of life.”

The CRDC’s first commercial trial will be a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) study called EMBARK. It will see moderate to severe COPD patients treated with a Tezepelumb injection every four weeks, aiming to reduce the number of exacerbations, hospital admissions, improve lung function and quality of life.

The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.

The funding of the CRDCs is part of a wider £400 million joint public-private investment scheme - the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme. It is a unique partnership between the government and the pharmaceutical industry to boost the global competitiveness of the UK life science sector and stimulate economic growth.