Month: March 2022

Funding boost to help improve ovarian cancer survival rates

Written by Louise Stanley on 09/03/2022. Posted in Cancer outcomes, Early diagnosis and detection, Health inequalities.

BHP’s newest member NHS Trust has been given a charity grant of £100,000 to help improve survival rates of women with ovarian cancer.

The Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre, based at SWBH’s City Hospital, is working jointly with University of Cambridge to boost the uptake in genetic testing, especially in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities (BAME) where survival rates are low.

The project, called the Demonstration of Improvement for Molecular Ovarian cancer testing (DEMO), will create information about genetic testing in various languages both in leaflet and video format. The project will also improve the quality of the sample taken to aid diagnosis when there is suspicion of ovarian cancer by establishing a guidance document for all healthcare professionals involved in the process.

Dr Elaine Leung, Clinical Lecturer and Specialist Registrar at the Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Centre which is run by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said: “This is a much-needed project reaching those diverse communities in the area.

“With the support of our patient representatives, the materials we co-create will be in an easy-to-understand format in both written and video form, which will give women a better understanding of the link between cancer and genetic testing.

“It’s important to ensure women know that genetic testing is similar to early detection and can help prolong life – we have already seen evidence of this through other studies.

“It helps to provide tailored treatments for patients and ultimately can mean surviving an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

“The lack of informed decision-making resources for women whose first language is not English could be a contributor to the low rates of testing within these communities. The team will co-produce information in multiple languages, as well as exploring why some groups of women are more likely to decline genetic testing.”

The project has been funded by health charity Ovarian Cancer Action and is part of a wider national initiative which includes funding for five other NHS cancer centres.

The Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Network delivers cancer care to more than two million people in the West Midlands.

The project also builds on the team’s previous experience with the genetic testing studies, looking at BRCA testing in women with a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer before it became mainstream practice.

Lisa Bird, a former cancer patient who is part of the project, said: “When I was in my thirties I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which was a large shock. My first line treatment successfully got me into remission but I wanted to know what options would be available to me if I came out of remission.

“I investigated treatment options and found that there were some treatments only available to those that have the BRCA 1 and 2 genes. I also wanted to know if other family members were at an increased genetic risk of also getting ovarian cancer, so that I could warn them of the symptoms and ensure that they received better monitoring by their GPs.

“I’m really pleased to be part of the DEMO project team that will encourage more patients to have these same tests. I’m passionate that anyone affected by ovarian cancer should be able to have this genetic knowledge so that their healthcare teams can give them the best treatments available to them as quickly as possible. I really believe that the results of this project will help to provide patients with ovarian cancer, with a greater chance of an extended life.”

Brave little girl having blood collection for tests

Continuation of funding secures Birmingham’s Clinical Research Facility

Written by Louise Stanley on 04/03/2022. Posted in Experimental medicine.

The Birmingham Health Partners NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has been successful in its renewal funding bid from the National Institute for Health Research.music

The NIHR Wellcome Trust CRF was established in 2000 as one of the original 5 ‘millennium’ facilities, based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. It incorporated a facility at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s hospital in 2008. This new award of £12.9million will continue to allow BHP founder-members UHB and BWC NHS Foundation Trusts to provide patients with opportunities to participate in experimental medicine research projects alongside their routine clinical care, in our ageless approach to care – from newborns through childhood, adulthood, maternity to old age. In addition to this, the CRF is a vital facility enabling healthy volunteer studies and first in human trials for the advancement of new treatments and will continue to deliver this important work over the next five years.

The CRF supports both research and education, ensuring it maximises opportunities for staff development including all learners whether students on placement or healthcare professionals pursuing a clinical academic career.

Joanne Gray, CRF Clinical Manager said: “This is fantastic news for UHB and BWC patients and staff, allowing continuation of an established research facility leading to direct patient benefits and new technologies supporting patient care pathways.

“I am so happy to have received this news following our bid for funding at a time of such challenging times for the NHS. It is great news for not only the CRF team but for the whole of the Birmingham region as we continue to offer research to Birmingham patients in an area the size of Scotland with the diversity of the world.”

Dr Dhruv Parekh, Programme Director, explained: “Experimental research is crucial and the stepping-stone to finding new treatments that may benefit patients. We are grateful for the on-going funding from the NIHR for the next 5 years to ensure the Birmingham Clinical Research Facility continues its excellent track record of ensuring new discoveries are translated to benefit our diverse populations across a wide range of diseases and ages.”

Professor Jeremy Kirk, Research and Innovation Director at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said:

“We are delighted that the funding of the Birmingham Clinical Research Facilities has been renewed. This continued funding is a reflection of the very high-quality research being performed within Birmingham, including at the Children’s Hospital, the first paediatric unit of its kind in the UK.

“The early phase studies being performed within the CRF will ensure that our patients have access to the best and most promising therapies both now and in the future.”

Prof Simon Ball, UHB Chief Medical Officer added: “We are delighted to receive ongoing support for the Birmingham Clinical Research Facility from NIHR. It is a testament to our world-class facilities and professionals, the strength of the Birmingham Health Partners strategic alliance, and the relationship we have with our patients and population. We look forward to ensuring early phase clinical research is accessible to all the communities we serve.”

Matthew Boazman, Chief Officer for Strategy and Innovation at BWC said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received confirmation of funding and the ongoing support of the NIHR for the Birmingham Clinical Research Facility.

“This recognition is testament to the outstanding track record and expertise we have across the whole of our partnership for the delivery of early phase clinical trials and will enable us to continue to support experimental medicine and the advancement of new treatments from childhood through to old age over the next five years.”

Professor Lorraine Harper, Director of the CRF, added: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding award which reflects the world-class staff and facilities we have within our CRF.

We now look forward to offering opportunities to take part in early phase clinical research to a broader range of our diverse communities reflected within our Birmingham Health partnership”

Christopher Hodson, CRF patient/public representative, commented: “The CRF is a centre of excellence, providing vital input into early clinical and medical trials from a wide range of disciplines both from UHB and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. It is supported by a first class medical, nursing and laboratory team with a can-do ethic. It is a privilege to be associated with it.”

Sandra Haynes, also a patient representative, added: “Involvement in the CRF and the funding means that patients get the very real opportunity to influence how research impacts on them, and make it relevant for all of us without medical backgrounds to have a say. We are the voice of those with lived experience, helping to guide researchers and experts to put patients at the centre of all they do.”