NIHR Leeds CRF recently attended the 20th annual UKCRF Network Conference in Birmingham, the first to be held jointly with the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres.
Twenty-three of our team members, representing the broad scope of our work in clinical research, joined hundreds of delegates from across the UK to exchange insights and learn about the latest developments in healthcare research. It was an opportunity to create new connections and emphasised the importance of collaboration in delivering world-class research which is truly impactful.
Dr Helen Radford and Karl Ward delivered an outstanding session at the conference on the ever-growing role of artificial intelligence in advancing research. Dr Radford also shared valuable reflections into attracting commercial clinical research, and Karl Ward presented our approach for best practice in training and embedding research within NHS teams.
We were also privileged to hear from our patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) Manager Hanif Ismail and patient representative Barrow Sawo, who spoke compellingly about overcoming challenges in public engagement, highlighting inclusive strategies for meaningful collaboration.
The team had a great experience celebrating their successes at the conference, where they not only presented their research to peers but also had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other leaders in clinical research delivery. Our thanks to the organisers, we are already looking forward to next year’s conference!
On Monday 7 July, Leeds Children’s Hospital and the NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Children’s Site welcomed visitors from The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF). Visitors from Natasha’s Foundation and their partner organisations came to see first-hand how The Natasha Clinical Trial is helping allergy patients in Leeds.
Children as young as two are taking part in the £2.7 million Natasha Clinical Trial across nine NHS hospitals including Leeds Children’s Hospital, part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The trial aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of commonly available foods to treat peanut or cow’s milk allergies.
The Natasha Clinical Trial, which began in 2023, is a randomised controlled trial – the gold standard in medical research. Before starting the treatment, the children and young people undergo food challenges over two hospital visits to confirm their food allergy diagnosis and make sure they are suitable to have the Oral Immunotherapy Treatment (OIT).
Once enrolled, each patient is given a very small amount of a food to which they are allergic at a dose that is safe for them, which is taken according to a standardised protocol under medical supervision. This may be given either in a hospital clinic or at home with medical support.
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) and their partner organisations came to see first-hand how The Natasha Clinical Trial is helping allergy patients in Leeds.
If they tolerate the food, they then take a daily ‘dose’ of this real food at home, and the amount is gradually increased by the medical team every few weeks while being closely monitored for any adverse effects.
It is hoped that the OIT treatment will mean that patients who had previously suffered anaphylaxis on exposure to products such as peanuts, will now be able to tolerate eating a small amount of the allergen without having a dangerous reaction.
The study aims to assess the effectiveness of OIT used to train the immune system of children and young people with food allergies to tolerate an allergen. The results and clinical experience gained from the trial will help shape future treatment options for food allergies in the NHS. Results from the trial are expected in 2027.
Visitors from Natasha’s Foundation were given a tour of Leeds Children’s Hospital facilities including the Children’s Allergy Day Unit where patients come for allergy treatments, and the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility Children’s Site where patients come to take part in the study.
The Leeds Children’s Hospital trial is being led by Dr Aida Semic-Jusufagic who said:
‘We’re delighted to welcome visitors from The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and their supporters today and show them first-hand how their funding is already benefiting our patients here in Leeds. By taking part in this trial, we’re helping to shape the future of the treatment of allergy in the NHS’.
Dr Aida Semic-Jusufagic, lead for the trial, pictured with Eddie a young patient.
The Natasha Clinical Trial is the first major study to be funded by The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, set up by the parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died aged 15 from a severe food allergic reaction.
Visitors spoke to families of patients taking part in The Natasha Clinical Trial in the CRF including parents of 2 year old Iyla who has several food allergies including dairy, egg, nuts, beans and peas. Parents Rachel and Mitesh spoke about how the Iyla’s dietary restrictions affect so many things in her life from child-care and holidays to day-day decisions about where to eat and who to spend time with. Iyla’s parents are delighted she has been given the opportunity to take part in The Natasha Trial.
Visitors from Natasha’s Foundation were joined by representatives from corporate partners Booths, CH&CO, Elior, Greene King and Samworth Brothers.
Rachel Hodson, Director of Corporate Partnerships and Fundraising at Natasha’s Foundation said:
‘It is great to see first-hand the amazing work going on at Leeds Children’s Hospital and meet some of the participants of The Natasha Clinical Trial and their families. For our partners it was a fantastic opportunity to see how their donations are making a real difference to the lives of people with food allergies.’
Our teams recently attended the International Clinical Trials Day event jointly organised with and hosted by the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 anew 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
