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Birmingham BRC receives £30m boost to improve treatment of inflammatory diseases

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Birmingham Health Partners, Clinical trials, Early diagnosis and detection, Experimental medicine, Inflammation and chronic disease.

Increased funding for the renewed NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre will enable continuation of major developments around inflammatory diseases and new technologies and systems

The NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has been awarded more than £30 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, a major funder of global health research and training, to support world-leading research into inflammation – including the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments for those with cancer, liver and heart disease, and many more illnesses.

The centre brings together multiple BHP members – including leading NHS providers led by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and academic institutions led by the University of Birmingham – as well as other organisations working closely with charities and businesses. Its aim is to support research into inflammation which causes or worsens many common long-term illnesses including arthritis, liver disease and cancer.

This new investment represents an almost threefold increase in funding for the NIHR Birmingham BRC and will enable researchers to focus on eight areas of illness including heart disease, women’s health, and common complications from inflammation. Researchers will also be empowered to consider new tests and biomarkers for disease, health technologies including stem cells and gene therapy, patient experiences and data science.

Professor Phil Newsome, Director of the NIHR Birmingham BRC, said: “Inflammation plays a central role in many health conditions, with millions of people in the UK alone experiencing inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and bronchitis. This significant increase in funding will enable us to provide an outstanding environment for world-leading clinical research and allow us to make a step-change in our work tackling different forms of cancer, trialling new drugs for liver disease, and dealing with antimicrobial resistance.”

Patients will benefit from the increased funding thanks to the BRC’s collaborative research that has seen nearly 1,000 clinical trials and informed UK clinical guidelines.

Researchers will look at eight themes to continue to understand and help patients manage inflammation-based diseases including cancer, arthritis, and liver disease. The investment of the NIHR funding in biomedical research will enable clinicians, researchers, patients and supporters to find new treatments such as the development of new immunotherapies, which are types of cancer treatments to support the body to fight cancer.

Professor David Adams, Director of BHP, commented: “The investment from NIHR is hugely important for researchers working across the BRC partner institutions, to continue to tackle some of the critical health themes that affect our region. The funding will allow us to deliver new therapies and diagnostic tests for a range of chronic inflammatory diseases for which we currently have few effective treatments.”

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR, said: “Research by NIHR Biomedical Research Centres has led to a number of ground-breaking new treatments, such as new gene therapies for haemophilia and motor neurone disease, the world-first treatment for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, a nose-drop vaccine for whooping cough, and the first UK-wide study into the long-term impact of COVID-19.

“This latest round of funding recognises the strength of expertise underpinning health and care research across the country and gives our nation’s best researchers more opportunities to develop innovative new treatments for patients.”

The Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre is made up of the following BHP member organisations:

  • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
  • University of Birmingham
  • Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
  • Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
  • Aston University

Working closely with partners:

  • Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Keele University
  • University of Oxford
Exterior photo of Aston University campus

Aston University joins Birmingham Health Partners

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Birmingham Health Partners.

Birmingham Health Partners, the second city’s University-NHS partnership, has further expanded its membership by welcoming Aston University on board as its seventh member. Aston is the second University to join the partnership which now includes four NHS members (University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals and most recently the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), with the University of Birmingham (UoB) and West Midlands Academic Health Sciences Network (WMAHSN) completing the alliance.

Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston was granted University status after receiving a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth II in 1966. The institution provides education to more than 18,000 students from over 120 countries across its three Colleges including the College of Health and Life Sciences which is home to Aston Medical School.

Aston hosts a range of research institutes and its mission aligns directly with BHP’s – to deliver research that changes lives for the better. For over 70 years, the University has pushed boundaries at the heart of the second city and empowered researchers with access to cutting-edge facilities and investment opportunities.  Like BHP, it aims to magnify the impact of its research beyond academia, to the benefit of all.

Prior to formally becoming part of BHP, Aston has collaborated with other member organisations on research in areas as diverse as concussion and spinal cord injury; rare and complex paediatric syndromes; advanced therapies; atrial fibrillation; and cystic fibrosis.

Aston University will be represented at board level by Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, while Professor Anthony Hilton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences will join the executive group of BHP.

Professor Hilton said: “We are excited to join BHP because it gives Aston University the chance to develop cross-institutional collaborations under one umbrella. It provides an important forum for engagement with our regional NHS trusts and beneficiaries for both research, education and knowledge exchange.

“We are keen to see how the alliance will support the funding of future research, enabling us to share innovation at the boundaries of each institutional expertise. By having a unified West Midlands approach, we can harness key skills, expertise and our resources to have an impact on health in the region.”

Managing Director at BHP, John Williams said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Aston University to be part of Birmingham Health Partners.

“Alongside our NHS partners we will make use of our shared capabilities as employers, educators and researchers to positively impact the health and economic growth of our region.”

BHP is committed to achieving health and economic impact through harnessing the combined strength and expertise of its members.

The BHP Starter Fellowship – Amy’s story

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Birmingham Health Partners.

Dr Amy Coulden is a Specialist Registrar in Endocrinology and Diabetes, currently at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, and a Clinical Research Fellow within the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research. She’s a recent alumna of the BHP Starter Fellowship, having completed it between 2021 and 2022, and is now taking time out of clinical training to undertake a Metchley Park Clinical research fellowship investigating the role of ganglioside GM3 in acromegaly – a rare endocrinological disorder characterised by a growth hormone secreting tumour in the pituitary.

What attracted you to apply for the fellowship?

I have also been interested in research, ever since I did an intercalated BSc during my medical degree which involved four months of experience in the laboratory that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have also enjoyed clinical research and being involved in projects that can help instigate change, such as audits I did in my early training after qualifying. I was not aware of the fellowship before it was alerted to me by one of my consultants who thought I would be a good fit.

I knew that I was interested in doing a PhD or MD at some point during my registrar training (in Diabetes and Endocrinology), but I was unsure what I would want to study or whether or not it would be a large undertaking given that my research background was pretty limited. I thought a one-year fellowship would be a perfect way to experience research life for a year, while not taking a large amount of time out of clinical training.

The project that I have is excellent with a fantastic opportunity to work with some world renowned researchers, which definitely attracted me to doing the fellowship.

What were the benefits of fellowship?

It’s allowed me a ‘taster’ what both clinical and basic science research is, as well as giving me a qualification of an MSc at the end. It has reassured me that the research world and career is definitely for me and I am currently applying for funding to convert my MSc into a PhD!

I have learnt so much! Firstly, skills in the lab, from tissue culture, to using ELISA and qPCR. I have learnt skills in writing- both for publication but also for grants/ fellowship application and interview skills- all of which have been invaluable.

I have learnt how to organise my time, especially as research often does not go to plan. Balancing different projects and learning how to use the downtime when there is not much going on in the lab has been a challenge but has improved my organisational skills.

Were there any challenges during the fellowship?

My challenges are probably very common! Firstly, research takes time – often much longer than you expect and this should be factored in when planning. There are often delays, for example many of my reagents that I need for experiments have taken far longer to arrive than anticipated which delays the project. Sometimes the results you get aren’t what you are expecting, and this often means changes to your protocols and additional repeats. And sometimes things go wrong!

While these have been frustrating, they have taught me so much about planning and execution of research as well as troubleshooting.

How much clinical work did you do while undertaking your fellowship?

I have not done too much clinical work, mostly because the focus of this year was to be a pure research year. I have attended a couple of clinics a month but also regular MDTs and endocrinology meetings as well as the regular teaching training days. I have opted to do ad hoc locum shifts in General Internal Medicine every few months to ensure I don’t deskill.

Did the fellowship help with your clinical practice?

I have done many additional projects this year outside my main fellowship project such as case reports, poster presentations and reviews. This has allowed me to research and review certain clinical conditions and as a result I’ve improved my knowledge around these. The clinical work that I have done during the fellowship (such as fortnightly pituitary MDTs and clinics) have helped me in clinical practice.

Do you feel that the fellowship has helped you with your career development and aspirations?

Absolutely! I knew that I wanted to explore research but I was nervous about taking a large amount of time out of training of do a PhD or MD if it wasn’t suited to me. This fellowship has confirmed my love of research and how I want my future career to look. I am now starting an academic clinical lecturer post in August and applying for PhD fellowship this Autumn- neither of which would have been possible without this fellowship.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of applying for a BHP fellowship?

If you are interested in research, but don’t have much experience or you are unsure if you want to embark on a longer degree but would like a ‘taster’ of research, this is for you!

Fourth NHS member for Birmingham Health Partners extends specialist expertise

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Birmingham Health Partners.

Birmingham Health Partners (BHP), the second city’s University-NHS partnership, has further expanded its membership by welcoming the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (ROH) on board – its fourth NHS member. The ROH joins fellow Trusts University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals as BHP’s NHS members, with the University of Birmingham (UoB) and West Midlands Academic Health Sciences Network (WMAHSN) completing the alliance.

The ROH is one of Europe’s largest specialist orthopaedic units, offering a comprehensive range of treatments including joint replacement, orthopaedic oncology, spinal surgery, as well as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, pain management and a range of musculoskeletal services. Its dynamic portfolio of clinical trials and research programmes includes exploration of advanced therapies to regenerate diseased bone tissue; new prosthetics to restore normal joint function; and new pharmaceutical treatments which reduce the need for invasive surgery and speed up recovery.

It is also a renowned teaching and training trust, hosting students from Birmingham Medical School on placements since 1891, and was already an established collaborative partner of BHP organisations prior to formally joining the alliance. Most recently, a team from the ROH, UoB and the University of Bath identified a new and specific cell population that influences how arthritis affects the body and the levels of pain individual patients experience, paving the way for more precise pain-relieving therapeutics.

BHP Director Professor David Adams, who is Head of UoB’s College of Medical and Dental Sciences, explained: “Birmingham is home to a concentration of leading centres of excellence, and a particular area of expertise – both in patient care and research – is orthopaedics and trauma. UHB hosts the renowned Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and also, in partnership with UoB, the NIHR Surgical Reconstruction Microbiology Research Centre which improves trauma and orthopaedic care and outcomes for patients through translational research built on military, NHS and scientific partnership. Extending the partnership of BHP to the ROH – the longest-established hospital of its kind in the UK – is therefore a natural progression, and all partners are committed to collaborating on research that matters to patients: specifically in areas such as inflammation, arthritis, bone and soft tissue cancer, and trauma.”

Jo Williams, Chief Executive of the ROH, commented: “We’re excited to join BHP because it provides us with an opportunity to collaborate and innovate. As a specialist Trust, ROH is a knowledge leader in orthopaedics, and we look forward to being part of such a distinguished network of peers and the impact this will have in the future.”

BHP is committed to achieving health and economic impact through harnessing the combined strength and expertise of its members.

Professor Peter Brocklehurst responds to the Women’s Health Strategy

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Birmingham Health Partners, Maternal health.

The Chair of the Birmingham Health Partners Commission which led the Healthy Mum, Healthy Baby, Healthy Future report has welcomed the first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England to tackle the gender health gap.

The commission set out a raft of recommendations for the UK to lead the development of safe, effective and accessible medicines for use in pregnancy. The key ambitions in the Women’s Health Strategy which are aligned to the recommendations from the Healthy Mum, Healthy Baby, Healthy Future report include:

      • Boosting participation of pregnant women in clinical research, particularly clinical trials, key components to improving maternal health outcomes for women and their babies
      • A greater use of routine health data to improve outcomes for pregnant women
      • Improving the safety of medicines in pregnancy to ensure women have access to high quality and updated information about medicines that they may need to take during pregnancy

Commenting on the Women’s Health Strategy, Professor Peter Brocklehurst, Professor of Women’s Health and Director of Research and Development for the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (BCTU), said:

“I am really pleased to see that women’s health is being given the prominence it needs and I find the plans outlined in the Women’s Health Strategy encouraging. It is vital that women are treated as equal partners in the delivery of their care and that they have the option to be included in research and clinical trials that affect them. Over 50% of respondents to the initial call for evidence felt that pregnancy should be included in the strategy, providing a clear message that healthy pregnancies are a health priority for women, their families and society.

“The focus on the importance of research to continue to improve health is also very encouraging, however, there is little mention of the research needed to ensure that new therapies, particularly safe and effective medicines, are developed for many of the women’s health problems highlighted in the report. Investment in discovery science and the need for close collaboration with other groups, particularly the pharmaceutical industry, is essential if we are to continue to improve health outcomes for women.  I look forward to building on these plans with colleagues in Government and across sectors to reduce the gender health gap, place women’s voices at the heart of research, increase participation in research and ultimately improve maternal health outcomes for women and future generations.”

Baroness Thornton – the Shadow Women and Equalities Minister, recently spoke about the Healthy Mum, Healthy Baby, Healthy Future report during her statement to the House of Lords on the Women’s Health Strategy. The full debate can be watched here. (Baroness Thornton’s speech starts at 16:07:05 and is answered by Baroness Penn at 16:23:45, she ends her point on the report at 16:25:15).

The BHP Starter Fellowship – Pip’s story

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Birmingham Health Partners.

Pip Nicholson is a clinical lecturer in haematology at BHP founder-member the University of Birmingham, and completed his BHP Starter Fellowship between 2015 and 2016. His research is currently focused on translating tyrosine kinase inhibitors to be used as anti-platelet drugs, and investigating the mechanisms of vaccine-induced thrombocytopaenia with thrombosis. He holds research grants from the British Heart Foundation, Wellcome Trust Translational Discovery Fund, the NIHR and a number of pharmaceutical companies, and is also chair of the HaemSTAR Network. He spoke to BHP about how his experience of the fellowship had led him to this point in his research career.

What attracted you to apply for the fellowship?

The fellowship was announced at a really opportune time for me. I’d just had a discussion with my now supervisor about the idea for the research and we’d been puzzling over how we could fund my salary to allow me to be released from my clinical duties. One of the limitations with other fellowships is that they require such detailed background and large amount of preliminary data. This means that doctors without a research background are effectively excluded from getting their foot on the first rung of the research ladder. While competitive, the BHP fellowship (or ITM fellowship as it was known then), didn’t require such extensive background information and the preliminary data required was a reasonable amount that could be generated by someone without any dedicated research time.

What were the benefits of fellowship?

The fellowship didn’t come with any significant strings attached such as teaching requirements. This meant that I could get on with the job of learning techniques and quickly generating further data to submit for larger, prestigious fellowship applications to support a full PhD.

Were there any challenges during the fellowship?

The main challenge was getting a full research fellowship application written and submitted in time for the various deadlines. To a clinician, a year to learn new skills and develop preliminary data seems like a huge chunk of time (my experience is that clinicians in training are happy if they get an hour to work on our own projects!). But the research environment is very different and long periods of time are required to learn skills, iron out issues with laboratory assays, and gain ethical approvals for the work.

While a year is sufficient time to generate data if you are focussed about things, the deadlines for the full research fellowships didn’t fall nicely near the end of the BHP fellowship and meant I had to put in applications before they were really ready. Towards the end of the fellowship I was still left wondering whether I had any ongoing research funding and this led to quite a lot of anxiety. I was fortunate to be placed in a well-funded lab where the brief shortfall in funding between finishing my BHP fellowship and subsequent funding from a British Heart Foundation Clinical Research Training Fellowship could be picked up.

How much clinical work did you do while undertaking your fellowship?

I very much wanted to keep my ‘hand in’ clinically, and so I did continue doing some clinical work. I was worried that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be safe to look after patients when I returned on a more regular basis. So, I undertook in one outpatient clinic a week at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and I also did daytime on-calls at weekends at about a 1 in 5 frequency. In hindsight I think this probably slightly hindered my progress in the lab and actually my clinical skills probably wouldn’t have suffered significantly if I’d just stopped doing any clinical work for that year of the BHP fellowship.

Did the fellowship help with your clinical practice?

It definitely helped me identify the area of subspecialist clinical practice I wanted to do long term (i.e. thrombosis and haemostasis). It also gave me time to delve more into the clinical literature of this sub specialist area in order to better understand the pathophysiology and existing treatments and where the current limitations are in our knowledge.  I also gained experience in dealing with ethics applications and working with NHS Trust Research and Development departments which have been a useful skill.

Do you feel that the fellowship has helped you with your career development and aspirations?

Without a doubt, if it wasn’t for the BHP fellowship I can’t see how I would have got my foot in the door of the clinical academic world. I’m now a clinical lecturer, chair a national research network and am in the process of applying for intermediate clinical research fellowships to support me in a consultant role and as a senior clinical lecturer. I wouldn’t be in this position without that initial year of funding that the BHP fellowship provided.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of applying for a BHP fellowship?

Talk to people who have successfully been award the fellowship and have completed it and moved on to higher research degrees and other fellowships. Ask them to look at their successful applications to use as a template. Talk to them about their experience of the fellowship itself. Identify a supportive research environment and speak to various members of that research group (e.g. PhD students and post-doctoral researchers). They are the ones who will be able to tell you what the research training in that group is really like. Don’t just rely on your impression of the supervisor!