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.
We are looking for participants for the Nova 301 Trial. This trial will see if an investigational vaccine can protect people 60 years of age or older against symptoms caused by the norovirus stomach bug.
Norovirus is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK. It can spread easily and most cases are often in care homes and schools. The norovirus stomach bug can cause many unpleasant symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Vulnerable people, such as children younger than age 5, adults older than age 60, and people with underlying health conditions, are at greater risk for serious symptoms of norovirus, which may require medical attention.
About the Nova 301 Trial
The Nova 301 Trial will see if an investigational vaccine (a vaccine that is being studied) may be able to prevent symptoms caused by the norovirus stomach bug from developing in people 60 years of age or older. The investigational vaccine in this clinical trial is called mRNA-1403. You cannot catch norovirus by having this investigational vaccine.
Who can join?
This clinical trial is looking for participants. To join, you must:
be 60 years of age or older
be in good health
not currently have a chronic gastrointestinal disease (including irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, oesophageal reflux, or any other medical condition where you have regular vomiting or diarrhoea)
What to expect
Your participation in the Nova 301 Trial will last up to 25 months.
You will attend an initial screening visit, up to 6 additional clinic visits and up to 6 scheduled phone calls with the clinical trial team
You will be given 1 jab, which will be either:
An investigational mRNA-1403 norovirus vaccine; OR
A placebo jab (inactive substance)
You must fill out an electronic diary (eDiary) regularly during your trial participation
Enrolling in this clinical trial is completely your choice. You can leave at any time and do not have to give a reason
Moderna will reimburse participants for their trial-related time and expenses (for example, travel), and the clinical trial team are on hand to support everyone who takes part in the trial.
Contact the clinical trial team today
Contact the research team to find out more about joining the Nova 301 Trial.
Patients who wear facial prostheses after treatment for head and neck cancer have had their portraits painted to illustrate the physical and psychological impact of living with a facial difference.
Fifteen patients, who wear facial prostheses – bespoke removable silicone devices that replace a facial part such as an eye or nose – took part in the Leeds CRF IMPRESSeD study, comparing modern and conventional methods of producing the prostheses in an early look at which technique was preferred by patients and potentially more cost-effective. The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Leeds Hospitals Charity.
The portraits were painted as part of a public engagement project, named “I’m Still Me”, which was inspired by the research and co-created by the patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, artists, and public engagement practitioners. They will be exhibited in the Atrium of the Bexley Wing at St James Hospital, Leeds, from 6 November 2024 to 31 January 2025. The public engagement project was funded by Research England’s Enhancing Research Culture funding stream with additional support provided by a University of Leeds Engagement Fellowship.
The IMPRESSeD study was led by Dr Rachael Jablonski, current NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer and Specialty Registrar in Restorative Dentistry at the Leeds School of Dentistry and Leeds Dental Institute, as part of her PhD.
Dr Rachael Jablonski
She said: “Head and neck cancer can have a major impact on a patient’s health and wellbeing and receiving a prosthesis can be an important part of the process of coming to terms with the experience.
“I worked with patient and public involvement (PPI) contributors to identify areas for improvement in the processes of making prostheses. Fifteen patients took part in the feasibility trial and were invited to take part in an interview after they had gone through both conventional and new methods. Almost all the patients who took part in the interviews preferred the newer processes of making facial prostheses in our initial study. The next step would be a future full-scale trial.”
The conventional prosthesis manufacturing process involves multiple clinical and laboratory procedures over several hospital visits with highly trained Maxillofacial Prosthetists, who recreate the facial part.
Firstly, an impression of the patient’s face is taken using a silicone or alginate material, which can be claustrophobic or uncomfortable, and may distort the facial tissues, affecting the final product.
Maxillofacial Prosthetists use the impression to pour a plaster model, hand-sculpt a wax pattern, then convert it into a silicone prosthesis. Replacements are needed every two years, but sometimes as often as soon as six months, due to changes in the patient’s face during the healing process; prosthesis wear and tear, and general degradation. Estimates suggest that the process can take up to 10 hours to complete and cost up to £1,500.
New facial prosthesis manufacturing techniques employ 3D facial scanning as a less invasive way of capturing the shape and texture of a patient’s face, as well as computer-aided design using artificial intelligence to reconstruct the facial feature, and 3D printing the design to help produce the facial prosthesis.
Digital technologies have the potential to support or replace steps in the manufacturing processes potentially helping to address pressures on the small numbers of qualified Maxillofacial Prosthetists working in the NHS.
Dr Jablonski worked with patients to identify priority areas for improvement in the manufacturing process, which were getting rid of uncomfortable facial impressions; more closely matching the way their face looked before surgery, and receiving their prosthesis sooner after surgery.
Patients from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London received facial prostheses made using conventional and digital manufacturing approaches and were asked to assess both methods towards the end of the study.
Dr Jablonski said: “We found that 90% of patients we interviewed preferred digital over conventional processes due to the comfort, speed, hygiene, and perceived positive impact on outcomes associated with digital technology. Some patients felt contactless scanning may offer benefits when a patient’s skin is sore after surgery or radiotherapy, and others considered the computer aided design technology and 3D printing to be sophisticated and a positive step forward.
“However, the patients were also keen to ensure they would not lose out on the skilled finishing touches from the conventional approach.”
I’m Still Me was created as a collaborative arts-science project to share the lived experience of people who wear facial prostheses, bring the research findings out into the wider community, and highlight the valuable role of patients in research and public engagement.
The portraits were created by a group of painters assembled by Salford artist Sarah Morley following her work on a similar, previous project. Together with writers and researchers, the artists worked with the patients to co-design the I’m Still Me exhibition. The portraits are each displayed alongside a narrative describing the patient’s rehabilitation with facial prostheses, to raise awareness of the innovative science, and to raise public awareness about face equality.
Dr Jablonski said: “Research is typically not very accessible to the general public. We knew that when we shared the research, we wanted to make the findings as accessible as possible. There has also traditionally been an underrepresentation of people with visible differences in public life and the media. It was therefore important that the project not only shared our research findings but also communicated key issues that were most important to the patient contributors.
“We hope that I’m Still Me shares messages of face equality and stimulates a reflection on how people should be valued through their own unique stories and contributions.”
Patients’ quotes
Suzie “This is what I am, and this is what I look like.” “Stick with it. Things get better.”
Robin “Cancer has many faces – this is mine.” “Prostheses act as a shield for the public who might be upset if they found out what we really looked like – they provide a level of public acceptability.”
Tim “Wearing my eye patch I get comments, especially from children, like, “Where’s your parrot? “Don’t look back. Look forward and grab life. Whether it’s long or short, grab your life and run with it.”
Rebecca “A prosthetic arm or leg would be functional, but I can’t see out of my prosthetic eye.” “Who is the prosthesis for? Me or the public?”
Peter “We have the results of our cancer surgery visibly on show; it can’t be hidden away.” “All I wanted was a nose the right shape so I could put my glasses on.”
Derek “Being involved in research has been no hardship. I would encourage others to get involved.” “While the processes can take some time, having a prosthesis has been life changing.”
David “I like to get involved with research to try and prevent what happened to me from happening to other people” “I get stressed when people stare at me.”
Chris “It’s my face, what’s it got to do with you?” “I had no option but to wear it. You can’t hide away, and you can’t go around with a big hole in your face, or you’d scare people.”
The NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) has made a significant stride in the fight against melanoma by recruiting our first patient for an international clinical trial testing a ground-breaking cancer immunotherapy vaccine. LTHT is one of eight sites in the UK exploring a personalised mRNA vaccine designed to prevent recurrence of the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma.
Matthew Adams, a family man from Apperley Bridge in Bradford, is the first of our patients to be recruited to this trial. An engineering manager for Yorkshire Water, Matt lives with his wife of 36 years, Linda, and their two daughters. Recently, the arrival of his new grandson brought joy into his life, making his health battle even more personal.
In February, Matt was diagnosed with melanoma, and he was admitted to the hospital for treatment in April. “I had the primary “mole” removed, followed by a biopsy of the swollen lymph nodes,” Matt recounts. “I must give special thanks to James Smith, my plastic surgeon, who did an amazing job. He was the first person who fully explained all my options and possible treatments, including the chance of a vaccine trial. His positivity is one of the main reasons I considered it.”
James Smith’s explanation of the vaccine attracted Matt’s interest. However, his oncologist Dr Maria Marples’ support made his decision clear. “Maria is so lovely and kind,” Matt shares. She went through the risks and benefits many times, making me feel comfortable with my choice to take part in the trial.”
After receiving the vaccine, Matt did not experience any physical pain, and he credits the research nurses at LTHT for his care. “The research team at St James’s is amazing,” he says. “They made me feel at ease right from the start. A special mention to Willombe, my research nurse, who has had to put up with me from the start. She has been under a lot of pressure setting up the trial and taking endless amounts of blood.”
Matt encourages other cancer patients to consider participating in clinical trials. “The team at St James’s explains everything from start to finish in a way you can understand,” he emphasises. “Yes, absolutely, I would recommend it.”
The personalised mRNA melanoma vaccine, being developed by Moderna and Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD), is designed to match the unique genetic signature of each patient’s tumour. The vaccine instructs the body to produce proteins, or antibodies, that target markers found on that patients’ cancer cells. In this trial, the vaccine is combined with the standard-of-care immunotherapy drug, pembrolizumab.
This vaccine technology builds on that used to develop many COVID-19 vaccines and is currently being tested in other clinical trials in a range of cancers. As yet, these vaccines are not approved as safe and effective, so they are not available outside clinical trials. They may, however, represent the next frontier in cancer treatment.
Consultant Oncologist Dr Jane Hook, the Principal Investigator of the trial at LTHT, said. “This clinical trial is using cutting-edge science to personalise cancer treatment and we hope it will increase the chance of cure for people with melanoma. We are excited to be taking part in this important study and grateful to our patients who agreed to participate in the trial.”
UK Lead Investigator Dr Heather Shaw added, “This vaccine has the potential to be a ‘game-changer,’ improving the chance of a cure for people with melanoma and potentially other cancers such as lung, bladder, and kidney tumors.”
The vaccine was administered by Team One Oncology research team. Well done to the team for their efforts.
Melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, is marked by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells. Rising steadily over the past decades, melanoma saw nearly 325,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2020. In the UK, it is the fifth most common type of cancer, with about 8,400 new cases annually.
– A mole that has changed size, shape, or color
– A mole that is painful or itchy
– A mole that is inflamed, bleeding, or crusty
– A new or unusual mark on the skin that persists after a few weeks
– A dark area under a nail not caused by an injury
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
These awards recognise examples of excellence for colleagues in nursing and midwifery.
Lucy Leese is a cardiovascular research nurse at the LGI. She was nominated by a patient, who said:
“I was finding my AF and anxiety extremely difficult to live with on a day-to-day basis. Out of the blue, Lucy rang me to introduce herself and explain about the diet. Lucy was bubbly and friendly and I just burst into tears. I was at a particularly low point and was having trouble reaching my usual arrhythmia nurse and Lucy’s warmth and kindness made me feel so emotional I just let all my feelings out. Lucy didn’t rush me and I could feel her genuine kindness and understanding of my situation. I can honestly say I don’t know if I would still be here if Lucy hadn’t rang me that day.”
