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West Midlands Living Lab: connecting healthcare through technology

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Health inequalities.

A new initiative will see researchers work with digital technology leaders and industry to meaningfully impact healthcare services and improve patient outcomes in the Midlands.

The West Midlands Living Lab will explore the use of digital technology to improve patient communication, enable community care, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, and support a more prevention-based health service.

Working with worldwide technology giant Cisco, BHP founder-member the University of Birmingham will lead the latest of the Lister Alliance Living Labs in the country’s richly diverse second city. With approximately 6.2 million people, and more than 100 languages spoken, the diverse West Midlands population truly reflects the global community. Research conducted in the region will be widely applicable, meaning it provides the ideal test bed.

University Hospitals Birmingham’s Professor Simon Ball, who is also Senior Responsible Officer for the West Midlands Secure Data Environment and co-lead for the living lab said: “The West Midlands is the perfect place to do this innovative work, with our leading researchers bringing together key stakeholders to connect state-of-the-art NHS facilities and uniquely diverse local communities. Working with an industry partner with the capability and reach of Cisco working alongside us is a testament to the scale of our ambition and drive to improve health outcomes using innovative technology and analytics.”

Professor Neil Hanley, Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of College of Medicine and Health, said: “We’re delighted that the University of Birmingham, led by Professor Kotecha, is at the forefront of this collaboration. It was great to attend the recent launch event and inspiring to feel the cross-sector work- the genuine triple helix of universities, public sector and industry – all focussed on stopping readmission to hospital and, in particular, addressing the health inequalities associated with this. Aligning all this with skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation really excites me. And of course, with the make-up of Birmingham and the West Midlands being the demographic of the world, lessons learned and experiences gained will be rapidly translatable across the UK and internationally.”

The West Midlands Living Lab, funded by Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration programme, will take advantage of considerable and unique health data resources, including the West Midlands Secure Data Environment which is connecting health systems across the region, and DaRe2THINK, which provides a national digital clinical trial platform for NHS Primary Care.

Pilot studies are planned to run through community hubs, NHS Primary Care and hospital trusts, looking at how best to break down siloes between existing services and orchestrate better, connected health and social care. Partnerships with community organisations will help address the needs of diverse neighbourhoods and be a blueprint for global benefit.

Professor Dipak Kotecha, School of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, said: “Our new living lab focused on health technology will allow us to bring together health data and industry partners to innovate towards better healthcare for all. This includes exploring technologies for remote monitoring, developing AI tools for prediction, improving how people get discharged from hospital, and integrating health data to keep people informed and well in their own homes.

“For example, our previous research, now adopted into the NHS 10-year plan, has shown that wearable devices for health monitoring can provide information similar to that recorded at hospital visits. These early indications show promise for a less hospital-centric and more personalised approach to care, delivered in the community by using new healthtech.”

Declan Hadley, Healthcare Lead, Cisco UKI, said: “We are looking forward to harnessing the creativity, experience and collective capabilities in the West Midlands to improve routine NHS care through technology but also need to be mindful that we don’t exacerbate existing heath inequalities. Living labs are just as much about finding out what does work as what doesn’t, and we plan to achieve this through co-production with local community leaders.”

International initiative to tackle heart health inequalities in cities to be led from Birmingham

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Health inequalities, Inflammation and chronic disease.

Researchers from BHP founder the University of Birmingham will collaborate with international partners on an ambitious project aiming to help reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in urban environments, as well as reducing the health inequality gap.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for over 20 million deaths per year and costing the EU an estimated €282bn annually. To tackle this, the European Union Innovative Health Initiative has funded the new Cities@Heart consortium which will design, pilot and evaluate a series of city-level strategies to improve cardiovascular health for all.

Addressing cardiovascular disease in urban environments is challenging due to factors like poor access to healthcare and healthy food, exposure to pollution, and lack of safe spaces for physical activity. Urban infrastructure, food systems, and socio-economic disparities also contribute to adverse cardiometabolic outcomes.

While there are many interventions for cardiovascular disease, a lack of effective implementation means these often fail to reach individuals who would benefit most. This is particularly evident in underserved city populations such as those experiencing poverty, and in certain ethnic groups, disabled people, and women.

Addressing these complex issues requires a whole-city, integrated approach that changes health policy through co-production of suitable interventions with communities and community leaders.

The Cities@Heart project, starting in January 2026 and coordinated by the University of Birmingham, the University Medical Center Utrecht (Netherlands) and Novartis (Switzerland), will combine medical, technical, social and policy innovations to achieve a transformation in outcomes for communities experiencing health inequality.

Led by Professor Dipak Kotecha, the project will utilise existing infrastructure from seven city councils across Europe, embedding new health innovations and technologies from industry partners to tackle the challenge of urban cardiovascular disease on a significant scale.

The strategies will target obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes, key drives of common and high-cost cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and vascular dementia. These disproportionately impact underserved and disadvantaged communities in urban areas.

Professor Dipak Kotecha, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Birmingham, researcher at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, through which this project will be delivered, Honorary Professor at the University Medical Center Utrecht and Global Director of Cities@Heart said: “Huge strides have been made to better manage disease of the heart and circulation, but they still remain the world’s biggest killers. We will jointly develop approaches with affected citizens, community leaders, city councils, clinicians, health policy leaders and industry partners to achieve long-term change.”

Collaboration across Europe

The project consortium involves 34 international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) European Healthy Cities Network, World Heart Federation, European Heart Network, European Society of Cardiology, European Public Health Association and multiple European universities.

Birmingham joins another six cities committed to city-wide improvement that will test and implement strategies that can be scaled across the WHO’s network of more than 1,800 cities: Belfast (Northern Ireland), Cork (Republic of Ireland), Łódź (Poland), Izmir (Turkey), Udine (Italy) and Utrecht (Netherlands).

The vision of the consortium is that evidence-based prevention, early detection, and management of cardiovascular disease is universally accessible in urban areas, supported by new health technology developments. The Cities@Heart project aims to reduce the economic burden of cardiovascular disease on society and improve quality-of-life and life expectancy for millions.

Lifesaving programme to prevent post-birth bleeding wins Times Higher Education STEM Award

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

A cost-effective intervention for postpartum haemorrhage, which has reduced maternal deaths worldwide by 60%, has won a major award in UK Higher Education.

The E-MOTIVE programme led by BHP founder-member the University of Birmingham and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with partners around the world, has been awarded Times Higher Education’s 2025 STEM award for best research in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Members of the E-MOTIVE team collect their award

The award was given to the low-cost set of interventions, which are being used to reduce deaths from childbirth-related bleeding – the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. It affects an estimated 24 million women each year and results in around 70,000 deaths – mostly in low and middle-income countries – equivalent to one death every seven minutes.

Professor Adam Devall from the University of Birmingham and an author of the study said: “We are delighted that E-MOTIVE has received recognition from the Times Higher Education awards, demonstrating the high calibre of research undertaken at the University of Birmingham.

“Childbirth-related bleeding is a major risk to life for women around the world, affecting an estimated 24 million women each year. E-MOTIVE is a powerful toolkit that is already being employed globally to dramatically reduce the numbers of women dying from excessive bleeding during childbirth.

“Continued international collaboration could see EMOTIVE prevent up to 20,000 maternal deaths a year, marking a revolution in maternal care.”

Following a landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the WHO has convened a group to draft its first official guidelines on bundled PPH care. It stated that bundled treatments could be provided for less than $1 per package – making them cheap enough to scale in low-income countries.

Four countries have now incorporated E-MOTIVE into their national clinical guidelines, with WHO updating its road map for addressing PPH. The Gates Foundation, which funded the trial, has pledged to invest a further $500 million (£375 million) into the treatments and further research as a result of its success.

Professor Arri Coomarasamy, Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham who led the E-MOTIVE trial said: “E-MOTIVE has the power to radically improve women’s chances of surviving childbirth globally, helping them get the treatment they need when they need it.

“Time is of the essence when responding to postpartum bleeding, so interventions that eliminate delays in diagnosis or treatment should be gamechangers for maternal health.”

The award-winning research programme is part of the University of Birmingham’s work to end preventable death and illness in mothers affected by postpartum haemorrhage, miscarriage and other pregnancy-related conditions around the globe.

The University is leading the way in women’s health research by championing the need to test safe and effect medicine use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including jointly leading Europe’s largest miscarriage research centre – the Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research.

The breadth of research expertise extends to other women’s health priorities, including ovarian cancer, where research has been instrumental in changing National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines regarding surgical approach.

DaRe2THINK launches enhanced digital platform to transform clinical trials for GP practices

Written by Louise Stanley on . Posted in Clinical trials, Health inequalities.

A new digital platform has been launched to transform how NHS GP practices take part in clinical trials, making research quicker, easier and more inclusive for patients across the UK.

The DaRe2THINK clinical trial, led by BHP founder-member the University of Birmingham and the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD; part of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), and run in partnership with NHS providers and the NIHR Research Delivery Network, has developed the platform to reduce paperwork for GP staff and reach communities often underrepresented in research.

The platform securely links to existing GP systems, automatically transferring relevant health data to participating NHS General Practices, significantly reducing administrative burden on clinical staff. The enhanced functionality enables practice staff to rapidly identify suitable patient cohorts for NHS clinical trials and engage participants through integrated mobile messaging systems.

DaRe2THINK already securely screens routine healthcare records from over 13 million NHS patients across more than 450 General Practices in England. This builds upon efforts to embed research into everyday NHS care.

Puja Myles, Director of CPRD at the MHRA, said: “This platform represents a paradigm shift in how we conduct primary care research. By leveraging routine health data and advanced digital tools, we’re removing traditional barriers that have prevented many communities from accessing the benefits of clinical trial participation.”

The current DaRe2THINK trial is investigating whether earlier intervention with NHS treatments can prevent blood clots and memory loss in patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm condition associated with vascular dementia. Notably, 25% of participating practices are in England’s most health-deprived areas, addressing long-standing inequalities in clinical research participation.

Dipak Kotecha, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Birmingham, said: “DaRe2THINK is leading the way to empower patients and provide an opportunity to take part in NHS clinical trials.

“The enhanced digital platform has now been rolled out across England, making it quicker and simpler for NHS staff to reach out to their patients, and embedding prevention into routine care.”

Dr Alexandra Lee, a General Practitioner at University of Birmingham, said: “The digital trial platform used in DaRe2THINK has had a positive impact on the delivery of primary care research and has helped recruit a new cohort of general practices that haven’t previously taken part in clinical trials.”

Charles Michaleis, a DaRe2THINK Participant, said: “The DaRe2THINK study was very easy to sign up to and get involved in, with the hope that this will lead to improved treatments for NHS patients who have atrial fibrillation.”

The trial is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and supported by a dedicated public engagement team. The research was carried out at the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a cross-BHP collaboration hosted by University Hospitals Birmingham.

DaRe2THINK aims to democratise access to clinical trials across all communities; the platform’s development aligns with the NHS People Plan to foster inclusive research culture and supports the broader goal of improving efficiency in community-based clinical trials.

BHP’s health inequalities lead awarded prestigious NIHR Research Professorship

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

Our health inequalities theme lead Professor Joht Singh Chandan – from the University of Birmingham’s Department of Applied Health Sciences – has been awarded one of six prestigious NIHR Research Professorships by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

As the NIHR’s flagship award for leading researchers, this Professorship is highly prestigious and supports individuals with an outstanding track record of applied health and care research to undertake high-impact work that will shape the future of healthcare in the UK and beyond.

Professor Chandan was recognised last year as the youngest clinical professor in the UK, bringing extensive expertise across the fields of violence against women and girls, maternal health, and public health, especially addressing health inequalities in underserved communities. Most recently, he has been announced as the co-lead of the NIHR’s new Challenge Maternity Disparities Consortium bringing together nine UK universities with the aim of tackling inequalities in maternity care. Professor Chandan retains a longstanding commitment to advancing research, policy and practice in these critical areas, with work that has shaped national conversations for vulnerable populations.

“I’m deeply honoured to receive this NIHR Research Professorship,” Professor Chandan said. “Violence against women and children is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, and survivors deserve a healthcare system that truly listens, understands, and responds to their needs. This award will allow me to work alongside individuals, families, and communities affected by violence to co-produce a more trauma-informed and equitable NHS – helping to build safer, more supportive services for everyone affected by violence.”

The five-year Research Professorship award includes funding for research costs, a leadership development programme, and support for building a research team. It is designed to strengthen the UK’s capacity for world-leading applied health research and ensure that discoveries are rapidly translated into practice.

This new professorship will enable Professor Chandan to work closely with survivors of violence to close the gaps between them and avenues of support such as local authority settings and the NHS. This work is undertaken with a view to expanding this work nationally, building research capacity, and helping to create safer, more supportive, and informed healthcare services for survivors of violence.

Despite growing awareness, significant gaps remain in the support of survivors of violence within healthcare systems. Further research is urgently needed to develop evidence-based interventions, improve service accessibility, and ensure that care is both trauma-informed and culturally sensitive for those from underserved communities. Professor Chandan also co-leads the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Violence Against Women and Children, which brings together researchers and practitioners across eleven countries to share learning and develop scalable solutions, ensuring that insights from the UK inform, and are informed by, global efforts to tackle violence.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care, said: “I am delighted to welcome this new cohort of NIHR Research Professors. As well as recognising individual excellence, these awards are a strategic investment in our research leadership across health, social care and public health.

“I look forward to seeing the positive impact of these awardees’ research and leadership across major health and care challenges.”

NIHR Research Professorships are among the UK’s most prestigious career development awards. The awards are focussed on translating into real world impact. The 10 Year Health Plan recognised the need for research and innovation to be integrated into health and care practice.

NIHR Research Professors combine their academic roles with professional practice. They provide a crucial link between research and the delivery of health, social care and public health services, driving the implementation of evidence-based improvements that address key health and social care challenges.

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.