Leo Kindred

Staff User

Joint Leeds event marks International Clinical Trials Day 2025

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An image of attendees congregating around stalls at the event.

Our teams recently attended the International Clinical Trials Day event jointly organised with and hosted by the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre.

An image of a staff member with the clinical research facility.

The event recognised the life-changing impact of healthcare research, and the people who make it possible.

We met with researchers, patients and members of the public at the centre for a day of talks, activities and workshops. Visitors heard from researchers about their work, our patient public involvement and engagement team about the work of clinical trials.

An image of a staff member with a stall and brochures

The event showcased an array of cutting-edge research projects, such as managing chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions, advancing inclusivity for disabled individuals in research, exploring new approaches to treating polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and technology in diabetes care.

Attendees also had the opportunity to take part in creative zine-making sessions led by the PMR research team, as well as explore the unit’s imaging facilities during guided tours of the centre’s MRI and ultrasound suites.

A presenter giving a talk to an audience.

This celebration formed part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)’s broader Be Part of Research campaign, which aims to inspire greater public involvement in health and care research. Every breakthrough in treatment begins with participation, whether through clinical trials, research surveys, or other studies. These individual contributions collectively help drive progress in healthcare.

An image of attendees at the event in the garden with yellow flowers in the foreground.

We want to extend our gratitude to everyone who joined the event and contributed to its success, highlighting the invaluable support of the public in shaping the future of medical research.

Leeds Owls young research group contribute to successful paediatrics incubator programme

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An image of Heather Rostron.

Our Leeds Young Research Owls have supported a successful application for the NIHR Incubator programme.

The NIHR Incubator programme provides career development support for researchers in key areas, helping to identify barriers to building research capacity and bringing together communities to develop solutions.

The team behind the successful bid for the General Paediatrics Incubator, led by Dr Katrina Cathie MBE, recognised the importance of input from children and young people. Their contributions were vital in shaping a bid that effectively captured the needs the incubator aims to address.

Dr Cathie met with the Owls last year to explain more about the incubator project and received valuable feedback, which contributed to the success of the bid.

Heather Rostron, Senior Research Nurse and lead for the Owls group said: “Leeds Young Research Owls enjoyed working with Dr Katrina Cathie MBE to help provide ideas for what support the general paediatrics NIHR incubator should be planning to provide for early career researchers in this field. LYRO members and I were thrilled to hear that the bid was successful and we look forward to working with the incubator steering group further in the future.”

The General Paediatrics Incubator will support research into common childhood conditions such as asthma, diarrhoea and vomiting, colds, ear infections, poor growth, and nutrition.

The Incubator programme has already led to several innovative projects, including the Mental Health Research Incubator and the Nursing and Midwifery Incubator.

New lung cancer trial recruits UK’s first participant

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An image of nine of the team who work on the SUNRAY-01 trail stood in a clinical corridor.

A study with the NIHR Leeds CRF has recruited the first participant in the UK for an international study testing a new treatment for advanced lung cancer.

The SUNRAY-01 trial recruited its first UK patient this month at St James Hospital’s NIHR Leeds CRF and the Leeds Cancer Centre. SUNRAY-01 is a phase 3 global trial testing a treatment called olomorasib in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Clinicians are studying if the addition of olomorasib alongside traditional treatment can improve outcomes for patients who have the KRAS G12C gene mutation, which is commonly associated with NSCLC.

Dr Katy Clarke, Consultant Thoracic Oncologist and Principal Investigator for SUNRAY-01, said: “It is a testament to the hard work of the whole team that we have the first UK participant in the SUNRAY-01 trial”.

“This trial is aimed at continuing the groundbreaking improvements in lung cancer survival we have seen over the last few years, and I believe this could be another practice changing trial.”

A big congratulations to the teams for this achievement!

For the latest information on clinical trial participation, please visit/contact the SUNRAY 1 – Health Research Authority website.

Hello Hearts: reaching communities in Leeds

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An image for the title of the Hello Hearts Community Outreach Programme. The image text reads: Welcome to the Hello Hearts Community Outreach Programme. The logos for Research and Innovation, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility.

The Hello Hearts Community Outreach Programme is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and increasing participation within local communities in Leeds. Through this initiative, the team is working to engage underserved groups, ensuring that vital research is accessible and widely understood.

To showcase this important work, the team has created a new video highlighting how Hello Hearts is making a difference. Watch now to learn more about the programme and hear from participants in the Leeds community.

Through reaching out and utilising initiatives like this we are aiming to make our research activities more engaging and reflective of the population of Leeds, offering interactive educational sessions, health checks and promoting different way to get involved with research.

NIHR Leeds CRF colleagues featured in Leeds Hospitals Charity exhibition of early career researchers

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An image of Dr Ella Dzora on the left and Dr Rachael Jablonski on the right with medical equipment.

We are pleased to share that our research colleagues are showcased in the Our Research Story exhibition, launched last week by Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Featured by BBC News, the exhibition highlights the impact of patient-focused research at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, showcasing its role as a leading research centre with support from the charity.

Among those featured is Dr Rachael Jablonski, who is an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer and Specialty Registrar in Restorative Dentistry based at the Leeds School of Dentistry and Leeds Dental Institute.

An image of Dr Rachael Jablonski standing next to a dentist chair with some dental equipment.
Dr Rachael Jablonski

Rachael’s clinical academic training centres on oral and dental rehabilitation for patients affected by head and neck cancer, developmental conditions, or facial trauma.

The research examined the use of digital manufacturing to create facial prostheses, custom-made removable silicone devices designed to replace facial features such as an eye or nose, considering patient, clinical, and broader healthcare perspectives.

Rachel also recently made news with her work for the I’m Still Me exhibition of patients’ portraits who wear facial prostheses after treatment for head and neck cancer to illustrate the physical and psychological impact of living with a facial difference.

Also included is Dr Ella Dzora, who is a paediatric trainee. Ella completed her fellowship in September 2024, gaining experience across various clinical teams, including Oncology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Critical Care, Neonatal Intensive Care, Orthopaedics, and A&E. Her work focused on supporting early-phase drug trials and Randomised Controlled Trials aimed at enhancing inpatient care.

An image of Dr Ella Dzora standing with some medical equipment next to a patient bed with a balloon mural on the wall with the number five on it. She is wearing clinical scrubs and a stethoscope.
Dr Ella Dzora

Her role was funded to provide education and support to ward teams, creating opportunities for research activities that busy clinicians may not have the time or capacity to undertake in a demanding ward setting.

The exhibition was launched on Thursday, 13 February, bringing together guests from partner organisations, as well as patients and their families. It currently is in the Bexley Wing of St James’s Hospital, where it will run until Sunday, 23 February, as part of LTHT’s ongoing Research and Innovation Week.

From there, it will be displayed at the Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds until Sunday, 3 March, providing an opportunity for the public to visit.

It is also available at the Leeds Hospitals Charity website.

Leeds Young Research Owls dive into research at Birmingham event

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A group of five young people standing in front of a poster with a number of graphics

Our Leeds Young Research Owls recently attended the Children and Young People’s Involvement in Health and Social Care Research: Making Connections event in Birmingham. This inspiring event, organised by the NIHR and GenerationR, aimed to celebrate and strengthen young people’s involvement in research.

The Young Owls group with Heather Rostron sitting at a table at the event. There are plates and paper forms on the table between them.

The Owls, a passionate group of 12- to 17-year-olds led by Senior Research Nurse Heather Rostron, engaged in discussions on how young people can shape and support research. They also had the opportunity to work on a PhD proposal project, gaining first-hand experience of the research proposal process.

A lineup of inspiring speakers included Sophie Ainsworth and Dr Simon Stones, Founder & CEO and Secretary of RAiISE, a patient advocacy group raising awareness of invisible illnesses in education. Additionally, Professor Cath Larkins shared a thought-provoking presentation on trauma-informed approaches to children’s mental health research, offering key insights into the field.

This experience empowered the group with new knowledge, practical skills, and a deeper appreciation for the role young people can play in shaping the future of research.

Leeds Clinical Research Facility joins new Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad programme

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An image of the senior members of the Leeds CRF stood by the entrance to one of the units in front of a NIHR Leeds CRF banner.

The NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) has been selected to support a new NHS England initiative to expand access to cancer vaccine research.

The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) aims to increase patient participation in trials for innovative colorectal cancer vaccines. Initially, the CVLP will collaborate with a clinical trial for the personalised colorectal cancer vaccine BNT122-01, developed by BioNTech SE.

Leeds CRF will refer eligible bowel cancer patients to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester for consideration in the trial. As the CVLP grows, it is expected to include patients with other types of cancer, streamlining trial participation for hospitals across England.

The programme’s goal is to advance personalised cancer treatments, starting with the BNT122-01 trial. This involves recruiting patients, transferring tissue samples for genomic sequencing, and evaluating the CVLP’s potential to support additional cancer vaccine trials.

Professor Chris Twelves, Director of Leeds CRF, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, “We are delighted to offer patients the opportunity to participate in this innovative trial for a ‘personalised’ vaccine aimed at reducing the risk of bowel cancer recurrence. This is just one of an increasing number of innovative cancer vaccine trials open to patients in and around our region.”

Professor Mark Saunders, a consultant oncologist at The Christie, also voiced support, highlighting the potential for the personalised vaccine to improve long-term survival for patients.

“We are very supportive of this new initiative and are delighted to be working with CVLP and collaborating with Leeds Teaching Hospitals to facilitate this exciting vaccine trial. This is a trial for patients with detectable tumour genes in their blood after curative surgery. The hope is that patients randomised to the personalised vaccine have a better chance of long-term survival and cure.”

Children’s research event: Making Research an Everyday Event

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An image of the research event from the rear of the room with the audience seated and looking to a presenter and their presentation on a screen.

Our children’s research team recently held an exceptional event, ‘Making Research an Everyday Event Across the Children’s Hospital’. This initiative marks a significant milestone in our commitment to advancing children’s healthcare through research and innovation.

An image of a presenter with their presentation on the screen titled "Clinical Academic Journey: Using your inner superpower of being an outsider"

With generous funding from CHORAL, we had over 70 attendees participating both in person and online. This diverse group included healthcare professionals, researchers, and community members, all united by a shared interest in improving paediatric care.

The event featured insightful talks and discussions on various topics, including how to get involved in research, the process of conducting research, examples of our past and ongoing research in children’s healthcare, and leveraging data and resources to maximise research effectiveness. Each session was designed to be informative and engaging, encouraging active participation and collaboration.

A person using a VR headset and hand controls at the event facing to the left.

Highlights of the day were presentations on our latest research projects, showcasing best approaches and panel discussions on clinicians in research and challenges we can face. Interactive workshops provided practical insights and hands-on experience, with VR technology.

We received fantastic feedback for the event, with many attendees appreciating the opportunity to learn and network. The positive response underscored the value of such gatherings in fostering a collaborative research community.

We are incredibly proud of the success of the day and firmly hope this will become an annual event, providing a regular platform for sharing knowledge and inspiring new research initiatives.

Our heartfelt thanks to CHORAL for their generous support and to all who attended and contributed to making this event a success.

Inaugural Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTC) PPIEP Event

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On 19 April 2024, the first-ever Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTC) Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation (PPIEP) Event was held at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

A photo of a person working on materials at the event at a desk in the foreground with more people in the background engaging with the event.

The event highlighted the significant role of PPIEP in Research, emphasising the importance of comprehending MLTC from the perspective of affected individuals and exploring how medical records can be utilised to advance the knowledge of complex conditions. The event was attended by healthcare professionals, researchers, caregivers, and individuals living with multiple long-term conditions. A total of 35 PPIEP members participated in the event, all living with multiple long-term conditions or serving as caregivers.

Dr Kevin Franks, Medical Oncologist and Deputy Director of the Leeds Clinical Research Facility, and Professor Sue Pavitt, Professor in Translational and Applied Health Research and Director of the Dental Translational Clinical Research Unit, opened the event.

Their remarks were followed by insightful presentations from a distinguished panel of experts, including Dr Hanif Ismail, Research & Innovation / Leeds Clinical Research Facility PPIEP Manager, Julie Corrigan, Leeds Clinical Research Facility Inclusion Lead, Prof Alistair Hall, Consultant in Cardiology, Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Clinical Director Yorkshire & Humber, Dr Marlous Hall, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Leeds, Dr Jonathan Batty, Clinical Research Fellow, University of Leeds, and Dr Sunil Daga, Consultant Nephrologist and Renal Transplant Physician.

A photo of 7 people standing outside the Bridge Centre in a line under the sign for the building holding their certificates from the day.

One of the most impactful sessions of the day featured patients with MLTC, who bravely shared their journeys. Their candid insights into the challenges of managing MLTC in their daily lives was inspirational. These testimonials set the stage for dynamic interactive group discussions, which focused on strategies for raising awareness of MLTC, the potential establishment of an MLTC Action Group, and how such a group could help shape research priorities and develop a comprehensive MLTC research strategy.

A photo of 6 people at a table with bottled water discussing and working on activities.

Attendees were enthusiastic in their praise for the event, with feedback including:

“Thank you for the meeting and knowledge.”

“Probably more events similar to today.”

“Need to include ethnic minority group and groups from deprived
areas.”

“I thought the event was very good.”

“Hearing what brought people to research”

“Seeing the different disciplines and how to access each service.”

Acknowledgement:

This event was made possible through generous funding from the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The CRF is a dedicated space that facilitates cutting-edge early-stage and experimental clinical trials and research studies involving patients. We are deeply grateful for their invaluable support in enabling this important work.

Student Nurse Celebrates her Placement at CRF

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A picture of Rochelle Tattersall, the featured nurse of the news story.

Rochelle Tatwell has written a glowing article for the Nursing Times about how much she enjoyed her placement with the Leeds CRF.

Reflecting on her placement with the St James Hospital facility in Leeds, Rochelle said she felt like she had “found her tribe”, experiencing a supportive and nurturing environment. She credits this atmosphere with allowing her to maximise the amount she learned on her placement and get the most of her time with the CRF’s great nursing team.

Rochelle hopes her experience will encourage other prospective young nurses to consider research to continue medical studies’ success in combatting disease.

Read her full article here: ‘From my first day at the CRF I felt at home, like I’d found my tribe’ | Nursing Times