What’s it really like to take part in research as a member of the public? In this blog, one of our patient and public involvement (PPI) volunteers recounts their experience at an advanced therapies focus group meeting The Midlands and Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (MW-ATTC) is interested in finding out what the public know and how we feel about cell and gene therapies (collectively known as Advanced Therapies). These treatments are for conditions that … Continue reading “PPI – a day in the life”
Category: Blog
Topical comment and analysis from BHP
MD-TEC stresses importance of usability for medical devices
In a recent BMJ article, Dr Tom Clutton-Brock, clinical director of the ERDF-funded Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre (MD-TEC), commented on new European regulations and the effect they may have on the design of medical devices. Dr Clutton-Brock told a Clinical Human Factors Group (CHFG) meeting in London that new EU medical devices regulation that will come in force in May 2020 form “an excellent basis for much safer design but it remains to … Continue reading “MD-TEC stresses importance of usability for medical devices”
Transforming the therapeutic scene: the story of diabetes drug discovery
Dr Abd Tahrani, Clinician Scientist at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, writes for BHP on the history of drug discovery in Type 2 diabetes; including modern non-pharmacological (lifestyle) interventions. This week marks Diabetes UK’s annual Diabetes Week, with the aim of raising awareness about diabetes mellitus and tackling the stigma felt by many patients with diabetes. Diabetes is very common globally and is a public health challenge in … Continue reading “Transforming the therapeutic scene: the story of diabetes drug discovery”
Birmingham chemists develop DNA ‘barcodes’ to scan for infection
Imagine having a printed barcode and getting it scanned by a hospital doctor who could then tell you very quickly whether you might have a serious infection or illness. Thanks to an approach for visualising DNA sequences pioneered by chemist Dr Robert Neely and his research group, it’s a technique that’s already possible. “We can study genomes very easily and very quickly,” explains Rob Neely, a Senior Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at BHP founder member … Continue reading “Birmingham chemists develop DNA ‘barcodes’ to scan for infection”
Haemophilia patients keen to help researchers
A clinical researcher’s dream is to have a database of patients willing and ready to take part in research and trials, and it could be said that this is exactly what haemophilia research nurse, Elizabeth Dwenger, has built. Elizabeth, originally from Georgia in the USA, trained in the UK and for many years was a specialist cardiac research nurse, before making the move across to haemophilia last year. At that point no haemophilia research was … Continue reading “Haemophilia patients keen to help researchers”