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Author: Louise Stanley

Attendees at the Clinical Academic Research Retreat 2025

Supporting clinicians to pursue research journey alongside clinical practice

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

Clinical academic trainees from across the West Midlands recently gathered in Birmingham to share their experiences and connect with peers for support in this challenging yet rewarding career pathway.

The participants, mostly academic resident doctors and dentists, were given protected time away from both their universities and clinical duties to reflect on their career aspirations and journey to date. The retreat programme included skills development workshops, along with guest speakers on topics of relevance to the future of clinical research such as AI and commercialisation.

The annual retreat is now in its third year and it continues to evolve and improve. This year for the first time, trainees from Aston University’s new NIHR Clinical Academic training programme were invited.

The event is a collaboration between BHP members the University of Birmingham and Aston University, working with regional partners the University of Warwick and Keele University – enabling attendees to learn from the experiences of peers at other institutions and to explore cross-institutional research collaborations. 

 Dr Angharad De Cates, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Birmingham, said: “The ICAT retreat didn’t disappoint – it was a fantastic chance to catch up with existing colleagues and get to know new ones from other specialties and institutions. These events are particularly important for academic trainees like me who are in a specialty with relatively few others – supporting feelings of both inclusion and a sense of community.”

Highlights from the three days included a highly interactive session on clinical research career development this year, facilitated by Medical Leadership and Development Coach Alexis Hutson, sessions on industry engagement, inclusive research, public involvement and designing clinical trials.

Professor Kristien Boelaert, ICAT Academic Lead and Professor of Endocrinology, University of Birmingham, said: “We hope the attendees leave with new ideas and strategies to support their professional and personal development. All of the participants have extremely busy work lives, taking care of patients whilst at the same time advancing our understanding of how best to treat them. This is why carving out time to focus on how to get the most out of the clinical academic career pathway is so important, and prioritising time for learning and reflection opportunities, such as the retreat, can be so beneficial.”

Birmingham Health Partners offers a comprehensive suite of workforce education and training programmes aimed at facilitating increased opportunities for NHS workers to pursue a career in academic research. Our clinical academic training programmes also support the national agenda to increase the capability of non-medical professionals to contribute to the improvement of patient outcomes and innovations in healthcare.

The BHP Starter Fellowship – Joseph’s story

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

The BHP Starter Fellowship – Joseph’s story

Dr Joseph Sturman is a a Kidney Research UK (KRUK) Clinical PhD Fellow investigating how Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) leads to altered immunometabolism and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Ultimately, his aim is to understand how we can modulate immunometabolism to improve the control of infectious diseases in this vulnerable population, using Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as a model pathogen. His PhD funding application to KRUK was successful thanks to the excellent supervisory support and fundamental preliminary data he collected during his BHP Starter Fellowship in 2023 – 2024.

What attracted you to apply for the BHP Starter Fellowship?

I knew I wanted to be actively involved in research after enjoying my intercalated degree in biomedical sciences, but I wanted to focus on acquiring my clinical competencies when I first graduated from medical school. Once I obtained my specialty training number in renal medicine, I decided it was a good time to explore research again, and the BHP Starter Fellowship offered an ideal opportunity to pursue these interests.

What were the benefits of the fellowship?

The BHP Starter Fellowship offered the protected time and opportunities to participate in meaningful research which would otherwise not be possible for a full-time clinical trainee like myself who did not have the privileges of an academic clinical fellowship earlier in their career. The fellowship was therefore an essential springboard for launching my academic career and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity.

Were there any challenges during the fellowship?

The main challenge was the very steep learning curve to acquire new laboratory, bioinformatic and statistical analysis skills rapidly in order to produce meaningful outcomes within 12 months. Nevertheless, the fellowship was extremely well supported, and the supervision was excellent which meant meeting this challenge was achievable and enjoyable.

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

During my 12-month fellowship, I did not undertake any clinical work. With so many research skills to acquire, I am glad that I took the time away from clinical commitments as the fellowship was a unique opportunity to gain skills that I wouldn’t get again. Re-entering clinical work after 12 months was challenging but also well supported. Now I have acquired essential research skills, I feel more comfortable undertaking some clinical commitments to ensure I do not lose my clinical skills during my PhD. I currently contribute ~20% of my time to the on-call renal registrar rota while undertaking my PhD.

Did the fellowship help with your clinical practice?

I think the fellowship has helped me become a more well-rounded doctor by developing my analytical and decision-making skills. It has also opened opportunities to write reviews on clinical conditions and case reports which has directly furthered my clinical knowledge base.

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

Absolutely! The fellowship has been essential to my career development and I am in no doubt that without it, I would not have been able to embark on a PhD. The fellowship has opened up so many opportunities for collaboration and research both locally and nationally, and I look back on the BHP Starter Fellowship as a pivotal moment in my career.

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

This is a golden opportunity for anyone who wants to be involved with research but hasn’t completed an academic clinical fellow job earlier in their training. I advise contacting potential supervisors at least a year before applying to give you time to work on a project idea and to get your CV in the best possible shape. To be successful, you need to be able to demonstrate a clear commitment to research, and a cohesive project plan with supervisors who are willing to support you, so give yourself time to work on this. I started by approaching potential supervisors, who gave me some small projects to help me demonstrate my commitment to research, and the project plan came together in discussion with them. All this takes time so start thinking about this early. 

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BHP New Consultant scheme – Mark’s story

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

BHP New Consultant Scheme – Mark’s story

Dr Mark Openshaw is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at BHP founding member University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. His BHP New Consultants award, which commenced in 2024 and will be completed in 2026, is supporting him to deliver his research into the development of circulating tumour DNA for colon cancer.

What attracted you to apply for the BHP New Consultant’s Award?

Having protected time for research – and formal recognition of its value – is essential to progressing my work on circulating tumour DNA. The BHP scheme offered a strong initial opportunity to secure dedicated research time, alongside support from experienced academic clinicians, which made it an ideal platform to help sustain and grow my research career.

What are the main benefits of this award to you?

The award provides a unique combination of structured research time and financial support, including funding for consumables. The three-year allocation of a protected research day enables me to carry out hands-on lab work and fully engage in grant writing, collaboration, and strategic research meetings – activities that are vital to advancing my research programme.

How challenging has it been to protect your research time?

Balancing research with clinical responsibilities is always a challenge. That said, with support from my Clinical Service Lead, I’ve been able to formally include a full research day in my job plan by reducing some clinical duties. It does require discipline to ensure that clinical work doesn’t spill over into research time, but having it clearly defined in the job plan makes a significant difference.

Do you feel that the award is supporting your career development and aspirations?

Absolutely. Without this dedicated research time, I would not have the capacity to meaningfully progress my research. The award has been instrumental in supporting my academic development and enabling the pursuit of longer-term research goals.

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

Start by refining your research question and connecting early with a supportive senior academic who shares your interests. Speak to previous awardees to understand the process and expectations. If possible, begin developing your project now – laying that groundwork can make a huge difference when the fellowship starts.

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Research patient recruitment reaches record high at Good Hope

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Clinical trials.

The research team at Good Hope Hospital – operated by BHP founder-member University Hospitals Birmingham – has marked a major milestone, achieving a phenomenal 1,000% increase in patient recruitment over the past six years.  

In 2019, only 50 patients were successfully recruited to research studies at the hospital. In 2024-2025, this has soared to a remarkable 573, testament to the hospital’s growing research capabilities supported by the wider Trust. 

The expansion began in August 2019, when Good Hope Hospital appointed its first research nurse with a vision to build a diverse non-cancer research portfolio. At the time, the hospital had a limited research presence, with just 1.5 full-time equivalent research nurses who were focused solely on cancer studies. 

Since then, the team has grown to include three research nurses – Heather Willis, Abi Roberts and Asha Clement – and a portfolio support officer, Daniel Lenton. 

L-R: Daniel Lenton, Portfolio Support Officer; Abi Roberts, Clinical Research and Development Nurse; Heather Willis, Senior Clinical Research and Development Nurse; Asha Clement, Clinical Research and Development Nurse

With an expanded team and a stronger research infrastructure, the hospital has developed a broad research portfolio, increasing opportunities for patient participation across various specialties. 

The team faced setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic as the hospital had to rapidly establish COVID-related studies – which while raising public awareness of research’s importance caused the normal research portfolio to be temporarily paused, as staff were redeployed. 

Since then, research activity has continued to thrive post-pandemic, and the team has been recognised by study sponsors for their high levels of recruitment. 

With research now a significant part of Good Hope Hospital’s long-term strategy, the team has ambitious plans, including creating a designated research facility on-site, developing a commercial research portfolio and ensuring research remains self-sustaining and not a cost burden. 

As the hospital moves forward with its strategy, its commitment to fostering a future-proof research workforce and expanding patient access to life-changing clinical studies remains key. 

Possible new disease targets for children with arthritis revealed by first-of-its-kind study

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Experimental medicine, Inflammation and chronic disease.

Groundbreaking research by a team from BHP’s Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the University of Birmingham – working with UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital – has revealed important clues into what is driving disease in children with arthritis.

Cutting-edge techniques have allowed scientists to uncover the unique architecture of cells and signals inside the joint as inflammation takes hold, for the first time.

Published in Science Translational Medicine, the study investigated juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children – caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking joints – which affects more than 10,000 children in the UK. It causes swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints over years or decades, leading to damage of the joints and long-term disability. While there are pain management treatments available, which in some cases achieve remission, there is no cure – and it can take time to find which treatment works for each person. Treatments don’t work in the same way for every child, suggesting there are hidden differences between individuals that we are yet to fully understand.

Deepening the scientific and clinical community’s understanding of the condition is vital if more effective treatments are to be found, and undertaking biopsies in young children provides a new way forward. The study’s potential has been advocated for by families of children with arthritis, who agreed that the procedure would be acceptable to families, especially compared to living with a chronic inflammatory disease.

In a world first, tiny tissue samples were collected from the joint lining when children were having medicine injected into the joint, which were then analysed with advanced imaging and gene-profiling technologies. The fine resolution maps of the joints revealed differences between children of different ages and cell changes in those with more severe disease – creating unique cellular ‘fingerprints’ which may help researchers understand why some drugs work better for some children, and not others. The joints of children with arthritis also looked significantly different to those with adults, demonstrating the need to understand arthritis in children better.

Mapping out the networks of cells in the joint revealed a barrier layer (pink), with immune cells (navy) flooding in through blood vessels (light blue), which increase in number as the disease continues

Professor Adam Croft, Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Birmingham and chief investigator of the study, said: “We know how frustrating it can be for families and young people to find a drug that best works for their arthritis. Finding ways to better predict which medicines will be beneficial for a particular child would mean we were able to treat the disease more rapidly and effectively. To achieve this goal, we first needed to understand what cells make-up the lining of the joint where the inflammation occurs. Equipped with that knowledge, we can now start to tackle the next challenge, determining how these cellular fingerprints within the joint tissue can help us predict which drug will work best, ensuring we give the right drug, to the right child, at the right stage of their disease.”

Professor Lucy Wedderburn, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Consultant of Paediatric Rheumatology at Great Ormond Street Hospital said: “This study represents a real step change in our work with children and young people who live with arthritis, and has been a huge team effort. Rather than having to rely on blood tests which often do not tell us accurately what is happening in the joint, we can now directly analyse the joint lining, across different types of childhood arthritis and different ages. Our findings show that younger children have different types of immune cells invading their joints compared to older children. Samples from children with arthritis looked different to adult samples, with a different make up of immune cells, blood vessels and distinct connective tissue cells. This suggests that treatments may need to vary depending on age and shows why we can’t just extend studies from adult studies to understand arthritis in children.”

The study was funded by the Medical Research Council, Versus Arthritis, National Institute of Health and Care Research, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, amongst others, and delivered through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Instrumental to driving this research forward was Dr Eslam Al-Abadi, a study investigator from the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who sadly passed away before publication. His incredible efforts in seeking to improve the care of children with this disease are gratefully acknowledged.

Integrated clinic pilot shows potential to cut costs while improving care for children in deprived areas

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

New research suggests that integrating health and early years support could ease pressure on NHS services while delivering better outcomes for families.

Undertaken by the Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) Evaluation Service, a detailed assessment of the Sparkbrook Children’s Zone (SCZ) in Birmingham found indications that integrating health care with early years and family support in deprived communities may be a cost-effective alternative to standard primary care.

The model-based economic analysis shows that children and young people accessing the SCZ clinic were less likely to attend A&E and require social care support compared to those receiving standard care, with an average cost saving per patient of £44 – achieved mainly by reducing referrals to children’s social care and emergency health services.

Sparkbrook, one of Birmingham’s most deprived neighbourhoods, is the first area to pilot this joined-up approach. The clinic brings together primary care, early years services, and family support under one roof, aiming to provide more holistic and preventative care.

Dr Mark Monahan, Lecturer in Health Economics at the University of Birmingham, explained: “Rising rates of child poverty, mental health issues and emergency hospital use show that our current systems aren’t working well enough for children and families in deprived areas. This pilot shows real promise in delivering better outcomes at lower cost, but we urgently need further evaluation to build the evidence base.”

The analysis showed a lower proportion of emergency department visits among SCZ patients (1.7%) compared to those in standard primary care (2.9%), driven by earlier intervention and integrated support, with SCZ patients were 40% less likely to attend A&E than those in standard care. This reduced reliance on emergency and social care services translated into significant potential savings, even with the limited data currently available. Early Help services embedded in the clinic were a key driver of cost-effectiveness by addressing complex family needs earlier.

While these findings are based on preliminary modelling, the results support NHS England’s ambition to develop more community-based, joined-up care models for children and young people.

The study also highlights the need for more robust and long-term data to support the national roll-out of similar models. It calls on policymakers, researchers and practitioners to work together to address evidence gaps and ensure these innovations are scalable, sustainable and capable of tackling entrenched health inequalities.

The Birmingham Health Partners Evaluation Service was established in 2022 to provide time-sensitive, formative evidence on innovations in healthcare and capacity building. It carries out rapid and effective service evaluations, often running in parallel with service implementation; helps spread learning to other sites; and helps build local capacity for in-house evaluations.