Name: Rare Disease Day
Start: 2026-02-28T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-28T23:59:59+00:00

International Women’s Day 2023 – Cherry May Sanchez

December 8, 2023

Patient and Public Involvement Network – next meeting 24 January

November 29, 2023

Do you work at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in a Patient and Public Involvement role or are you working to involve the public in your practice or research?

Would you like to meet others working in similar roles?

For the past 5 years, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre has hosted a network for people interested in PPI across the Biomedical Campus. The network provides an opportunity for colleagues across the campus to come together, share ideas and challenges and explore ways to support each other with involving the public in research.

If you work at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus you can attend the next meeting on 24 January, 14:00-15:00, please contact CUH.PPI@nhs.net to register and for further details.

Research nurses “the key to study delivery”

November 28, 2023

The publication of a small research study completed during his Master’s in the early noughties was enough to give Dr Adrian Boyle the research bug.

The Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Addenbrooke’s said: “It was a small study and in fact not even very exciting, but it made me want to discover new ways of looking after patients.

“I saw the benefits of research on patient care, and wanted my department to take part in big multi-centre trials.”

His initial attempts met with failure: “In 2005, the international study CRASH-2 opened, looking at the effect of the generic drug tranexamic acid (TXA) on mortality in bleeding trauma patients.

“I wanted our department to join but the logistics were too difficult, the processes were too complicated, and this really important study was done without us.”

Launch of NIHR

Then in April 2006 the NIHR (which was then called the National Institute for Health Research) was created under the government’s health research strategy, Best Research for Best Health.

Adrian said: “The launch of the NIHR and its funding for dedicated research nurses was a game-changer.

“Yes, it took some time to embed our research nurses and initially they were employed on short-term contracts.

“But we got interesting results from the studies we took part in, which built up our reputation.

Changing standard of care

“Then when CRASH-3 started in 2012, we were in a position where we could take part, and we recruited more than 150 patients, one of the best recruiting sites worldwide.

“This trial showed that giving TXA to people with head injuries actually saved lives.

“As a result this is now a standard of care around the world, and in the UK TXA is given to everyone with a major head injury.”

Embedding a research team

The Emergency Department at Addenbrooke’s currently has three research nurses, with a combined working full-time equivalent of 2.2 nurses.

Kerry Meynell is one of the research nurses. She said: “I love the research we do, and what we achieve, and working in a team who are all trying to make a difference to healthcare.” The role’s flexibility is also a big plus for Kerry: “My husband’s in the army and we have three children, so I really need a role that not only gives me job satisfaction but also work/life balance so I can fit it around my family life.”

Another key member of the team is the administrator, Audrey.

Kerry said: “With research there’s a huge amount of paperwork, record-keeping and associated tasks to complete. The research nurses used to do them all but having Audrey on board means we can spend more time on educating staff and patients/families about the research and on recruitment.”

Adrian added: “When I look back over the last two decades, research delivery has improved beyond all recognition. When I started as a consultant at Addenbrooke’s, it was very much a case of here’s a study, here’s some money, now go and recruit a research nurse to do that study.

“And this was a really time-consuming, inefficient process.

“Now we have support from embedded research nurses, we also have regular access to our local NIHR Portfolio Support Manager, who’s been invaluable in terms of planning and supporting our studies.

Successful model

“We’ve shown the model works. You don’t have to shift the dial very much in terms of either the money or the support to create an embedded team in the clinical team.

“And that leads to more research capability. In the emergency department we’ve grown from having just one or two studies open to six to eight studies open at the same time, including a head injury study, chest studies around pneumothoraces and an infection study screening for severe infections.

Preventative research

The research that takes place in the Emergency Department is not all to do with major health events such as trauma, heart attacks and strokes; it can also be preventative and the embedded research nurses are ideally placed for this kind of research. Kerry explained: “One of the first trials I worked on was the CoSTED trial. While patients were in the waiting room, I approached them to discuss their smoking status.

“It was a good opportunity to prompt positive behaviour change. The patient’s in Emergency Department, they’re thinking about their health and the consequences of their lifestyle, so it can be an ideal time to talk about stopping smoking and the help which is available.”

Transforming research delivery

Adrian said: “The step change in research delivery has been a career highlight for me.

“We’re now at that level of organisation and support where we can run big studies very quickly and efficiently, as was seen in the pandemic, when we ran diagnostic studies trialling new technologies for COVID-19 tests.

“This just wouldn’t have been possible without that built-in research nurse structure.

“This is good for UK science, it’s good for investment, we already had the access to patients and we now have an infrastructure which can do a lot of the research delivery.

“But the key to delivering any study are the research nurses. If we want to further transform research delivery in this country, investing in research nurses is absolutely the way to do it.”

To celebrate the work and impact of the NHS research workforce, the NIHR has been running its Shape The Future campaign throughout November – find out more here: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/campaigns/nhs-75/

World-leading Quantitative Genetics Professor to share his insights in lunchtime lecture

November 16, 2023

One of the world’s leading statistical and quantitative genetics researchers will be talking about some of his work in a lunchtime lecture on 1 December at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute.

Aimed at staff and researchers working on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Professor Peter Visscher’s talk will look at “Exploiting within-family segregation variance to study complex traits,” and show unpublished results from an analysis of more than 100,000 siblings pairs with GWAS and trait data.

Professor Visscher is known for his research investigating the genetic basis of complex human traits, including common diseases. His research focuses on the causes and consequences of human trait variations and he was one of the first to propose, advocate and show that genome and trait data can be used to predict individuals who are genetically at high risk of disease. The use of “polygenic risk scores” in health care is now being trialled worldwide.

The talk will take place from noon on Friday 1st December at Room R109/101, VCP Heart & Lunch Research Institute. No booking is required and a light lunch will be available afterwards.

Professor Visscher is in the process of moving his Lab from the University of Queensland to the Big Data Institute, University of Oxford.
If you’d like to meet with Professor Visscher, please contact Michael Inouye (mi336@cam.ac.uk mi336@cam.ac.uk) cc Nicole Staudt (ns639@medschl.cam.ac.uk ns639@medschl.cam.ac.uk), who are helping to coordinate his schedule.

Top research award for Neuroscience Theme co-lead Prof Hutchinson

November 8, 2023

Congratulations to our Neuroscience theme TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) co-lead Professor Peter Hutchinson, who has been awarded the Vilhelm Magnus Medal from the Norwegian Neurosurgical Association in Oslo, following delivery of the prestigious Vilhelm Magnus Lecture.

The award, which is often described as the “Nobel Prize of Neurosurgery”, was given to Prof Hutchinson and his team for their work on TBI, including a number of studies addressing the concept of “Rescuing the Injured Brain.”

It is the latest in a long list of acclaimed work by Prof Hutchinson, who is also Director of the National Institute of Health and Care Research Global Health Research Group on Acquired Brain and Spine Injury, and the National Institute of Health and Care Research Brain Injury Medtech Co-operative.

The photo shows Prof Hutchinson (right) receiving the medal from Professor Tor Ingebrigtsen.

Watch Professor Hutchinson and Neuroscience Theme Lead Professor Chinnery talk about the theme’s research in this short video:

Shaping the future for women with prolapse

November 6, 2023

Cambridge physiotherapist Claire Brown believes a physiotherapist-led pessary service for women with prolapse could be life-changing – and has embarked on a year-long research fellowship as a first step to investigating this.

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common and distressing condition which can affect all adults but particularly women who have had children.

Symptoms include bladder and bowel problems, pelvic organ prolapse (where organs slip down from their normal position into the vagina) and pain, affecting patients’ quality of life and limiting their life choices.

Claire, a clinical specialist pelvic health physiotherapist at Addenbrooke’s, said: “As a physio I work closely with my specialist network group, Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP), and three years ago we worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team to launch clinical guidelines for best practice in using vaginal pessaries for prolapse.

“These are simple devices that you pop inside the vagina to support the internal walls and reduce the symptoms of a vaginal prolapse.

A vaginal pessary is a mechanical device (not a hormonal pessary) inserted inside a vagina to relieve prolapse symptoms. There are many different types, materials and sizes of pessaries. This is a ring pessary.

“But the guidelines were not backed up by sufficient evidence to show pessaries were effective in the younger age groups we wanted to target, which may explain why they haven’t been widely adopted.

“That’s incredibly frustrating for us as clinicians, and even more for the women with prolapses because this treatment could work.”

So Claire is now on a mission to collect the evidence needed to convince health practitioners to adopt clinical guidelines for vaginal pessaries for younger women; this autumn she started a full-time research fellowship, during which she will conduct qualitative interviews with women patients who have vaginal prolapse and with the GPs, nurses and physiotherapists who look after them.

The research is funded by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and the Evelyn Trust, and facilitated through the NIHR Cambridge BRC’s Training and Professional Development team.

Claire said: “This will provide the pilot data that I need for my research, including finding out what makes access to treatment easier – and harder?

“Another key part of my research will be forming a PPI steering group, this will be invaluable because the direction we take will be steered by members’ direct experience of prolapse treatment – and how easy or difficult it was to access.

Getting the evidence

Claire wants to concentrate on collecting the data – or evidence – to show that pessaries can help women with prolapses.

She said: “The women who could benefit aren’t getting the treatments, partly because doctors aren’t offering pessaries to women because there is an age bias.

“Most of pessary research is conducted in the older population, however childbirth is one of the biggest risk factors for developing a prolapse.

“But clinically, pessaries work, but we need the hard evidence to back this up, and to show pessaries are acceptable to younger women as a treatment option.”

Claire has a few simple words of advice to others thinking about working in research: “Do it – because if you don’t follow your passions, you’ll regret it. Then keep going!”

What’s next for Claire?

“I plan to apply for the Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (DCAF) scheme, which will enable me to undertake a PhD by research.

“This is funded by NHS England and NIHR, and if successful I will spend approximately 80% on my research and around 20% in clinical practice.

“Thanks to NIHR Cambridge BRC which enabled this research, I will have pilot data and more experience in conducting my own research to underpin my application.

“It’s another fantastic opportunity for me personally but even more, I hope, for the women who will benefit from service improvements as a result of the research.”

This November NIHR is launching its Shape the Future autumn campaign, to celebrate the work and impact of the NHS research workforce. It encourages researchers to learn more about research, explore research careers and how to add research to their practice, learning and development.
If you’re a healthcare proressional in the NHS and are inspired by Claire’s story and are interested in finding out more about pursuing a career in research, visit our Training & Professional Development area on our website for training opportunities and contacts.

November events for your diary: save the dates!

October 3, 2023

Want to find out more on how research improves patients’ outcomes? Or on the problems of the health and social care workforce from different research perspectives?

Two events taking place in November may be just the ticket.

NIHR Cambridge BRC public open evening: What difference does research make in improving hospital care?

It’s a fact – research-active hospitals have better patient outcomes. And in our first in-person public open evening since lockdown, you can find out more about some of our ground-breaking research in cancer, obesity, endocrine tumours and hearing loss.

Taking place at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute on Tuesday 7th November, our researchers in will look at the difference research is making in improving hospital care.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions, and there will be time afterwards for networking. Refreshments will be available on arrival and after the lectures.

Doors open at 5.30pm, with the talks taking place from 6-7.30pm.

Register online for NIHR Cambridge BRC open evening

This event is suitable for members of the public and healthcare staff. Booking is essential. To find out more visit our Open Evening page on our website or go straight to EventBrite to book your ticket.

We need to talk about the workers: Researching the health and social care workforce: online lecture

The 2023 lecture from the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research (CCHSR) will take place online on Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 12.30–1.30pm. Professor Jill Manthorpe CBE from King’s College London will explore the problems of the health and social care workforce from different research perspectives and how solutions seem to rise and fall in popularity.

Themes will include the UK reliance on international recruitment, numerous recruitment initiatives, scant retention interest, and a surprising short-sightedness in preparing for workforce ageing or workforce caring responsibilities. Research interest in the workforce is growing and ideas for approaches and studies will be canvassed.

About the speaker

Jill Manthorpe is Professor Emerita at King’s College London Policy Institute. For 20 years she was Director of the Policy Research Unit in Social Care Workforce and then the Policy Research Unit in Health and Care Workforce.

Register online

To book your free place for Researching the health and social care workforce: online lecture please visit EventBrite.

To book your free place for NIHR Cambridge BRC open evening please register on EventBrite.

Risks from smoking while pregnant more than double previous estimates

September 28, 2023

Cambridge researchers have shown that women who smoke during pregnancy are 2.6 times more likely to give birth prematurely compared to non-smokers – more than double the previous estimate.

The study analysed data collected during the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction (POP) study, which was supported by NIHR Cambridge BRC, and is published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

It also found that smoking meant that the baby was four times more likely to be small for its gestational age, putting it at risk of potentially serious complications including breathing difficulties and infections.

But the team found no evidence that caffeine intake was linked to adverse outcomes.

Women are currently recommended to stop smoking and limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy because of the risk of complications to the baby. For example, smoking during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of fetal growth restriction, premature birth and low birthweight, though it has also been linked to a reduced risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy).

High caffeine intake has also been shown to be associated with lower birthweights and possibly fetal growth restriction. Caffeine is more difficult to avoid than cigarette smoke as is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks, soft drinks, and certain medications.

Studies looking at the links between smoking, caffeine and adverse pregnancy outcomes tend to rely on self-reported data to estimate exposure, which is not always reliable. A more objective measure is to look at levels of metabolites in the blood – chemical by-products created when substances such as tobacco and caffeine are processed in the body.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the Rosie Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, recruited more than 4,200 women who attended the hospital between 2008 and 2012 as part of the POP study. The team analysed blood samples taken from a subset of these women four times during their pregnancies.

To assess exposure to cigarette smoke, the team looked at levels of the metabolite cotinine, which can be detected in blood, urine, and saliva. Only two out of three women with detectable levels of cotinine in every blood sample were self-reported smokers, showing that this measure is a more objective way of assessing smoking behaviour.

A total of 914 women were included in the smoking analysis. Of these, 78.6% were classified as having no exposure to smoking while pregnant, 11.7% as having some exposure and 9.7% as having consistent exposure.

Compared to women who were not exposed to smoking while pregnant, those with consistent exposure were 2.6 times more likely to experience spontaneous preterm birth – more than double the previous estimate of 1.27 from a meta-analysis of studies – and 4.1 times as likely to experience fetal growth restriction.

Babies born to smokers were found to be on average 387g lighter than babies born to non-smokers – that is, more than 10% smaller than the weight of an average newborn. This increases the risk that the baby will have a low birth weight (2.5kg or less), which in turn is linked to an increased risk of developmental problems as well as poorer health in later life.

Unlike in previous studies, however, the team found no evidence that smoking reduced the risk of pre-eclampsia.

Professor Gordon Smith, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cambridge, said: “We’ve known for a long time that smoking during pregnancy is not good for the baby, but our study shows that it’s potentially much worse than previously thought. It puts the baby at risk of potentially serious complications from growing too slowly in the womb or from being born too soon.

“We hope this knowledge will help encourage pregnant mums and women planning pregnancy to access smoking-cessation services. Pregnancy is a key time when women quit and if they can remain tobacco free after the birth there are lifelong benefits for them and their child.”

Smoking cessation is offered routinely to all pregnant women and the NHS has local smoking cessation services for anyone, pregnant or not. Further information is available on the NHS website.

To assess caffeine intake, they researchers looked for the metabolite paraxanthine, which accounts for 80% of caffeine metabolism and is both less sensitive to recent intake and more stable throughout the day.

915 women were included in the caffeine analysis. Of these women, 12.8% had low levels of paraxanthine throughout pregnancy (suggesting low caffeine intake), 74.0% had moderate levels and 13.2% had high levels. There was little evidence of an association between caffeine intake and any of the adverse outcomes.

Public Open Evening Tuesday 7 November 2023

September 27, 2023

What difference does research make in improving hospital care?

Doors open at 5.30pm, networking with speakers and researchers until 8.00pm.

Venue: Cambridge Cancer Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre CB2 0RE

Click here to book your ticket on Eventbrite

It’s a fact – research-active hospitals have better patient outcomes.

Join us for an evening with researchers and discover how clinical research on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus is improving patient care.

Speakers include:

Dr James Macfarlane:

How can research improve diagnosis and treatments?-Improving diagnosis of endocrine tumours

Dr Tessa Cacciottolo:

How can research improve diagnosis and treatments?-New treatments for people with severe obesity

Dr Deborah Vickers:

Using virtual reality games to engage children and teenagers with cochlear implants in their hearing rehabilitation.

Dr Richard Baird:

Personalising treatments for patients with cancer – with tumour DNA sequencing

Light refreshments (tea/coffee and nibbles) are available on arrival and during the exhibition / networking.

Please join us, simply register on Eventbrite to book your free ticket – booking is essential.

Further Information

Directions, parking advice and map: These direct you to CAR PARK 5, which is the nearest to the venue and which is free to visitors after 5pm. You can also park in car park 1 or car park 2, but they are further away from the venue. If you do park here, ensure that you collect a “car park pass” from the reception desk in Addenbrooke’s before leaving to benefit from an evening discount rate of £4.80.

Downloadable poster to share with your network

Professor Charlotte Coles receives top honour from Royal College of Radiologists

September 19, 2023

Congratulations to NIHR Cambridge BRC cancer researcher Professor Charlotte Coles, CRUK RadNet Cambridge lead, on being awarded the Gold Medal by the Royal College of Radiologists.

The Gold Medal is the highest honour that the College can give to a Fellow (radiologist or clinical oncologist) for important work that benefits patients.

Charlotte, who is Professor of Breast Cancer Clinical Oncology and NIHR Research Professor at the University of Cambridge, and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, leads practice-changing research on the best way to deliver radiotherapy treatment to breast cancer patients.

Her research aims to provide breast cancer patients with the best chance of cure with least side effects by personalising radiation techniques based on risk of recurrence.

Charlotte’s work has influenced international hypofractionation policy and she is Chair of the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission, an international multidisciplinary team aiming to influence global policy and improve the lives of people at risk of, and living with, breast cancer.

She leads CRUK RadNet Cambridge, one of seven centres of excellence across the UK pioneering new radiotherapy technologies and techniques to provide better radiotherapy treatments for patients with fewer side effects.

On receiving the Gold Medal at a ceremony at Central Hall Westminster last week, she said: “I feel very honoured and privileged to receive this award on behalf of collaborative patient-centred research in breast cancer and radiation therapy research.”

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