NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility

NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Leeds showcases research excellence at UKCRF Conference in Dublin

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Colleagues from the NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF): Leeds joined clinical research professionals from across the UK and Ireland at the UKCRF Conference in Dublin, sharing expertise, presenting research and leading discussions on the future of clinical trials.

NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Leeds was represented by12 colleagues from a wide range of specialities, including pharmacy, dental research and patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), reflecting the multidisciplinary expertise that underpins research delivery across its five sites at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS. Two colleagues led workshops to share best practice in efficient trial set ups and the team also showcased 12 posters, highlighting innovative work taking place at NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Leeds.

A key highlight of the conference was a keynote address from Dr Alex Churchill, Deputy Director for Clinical Trials Policy and Infrastructure Policy and International Partnerships at the Department of Health and Social Care, who outlined the Government’s ambition to make the UK a global leader in clinical research. His presentation focused on accelerating clinical trial set-up, expanding research into primary and community care settings, strengthening partnerships between the NHS, academia and industry, and creating a more research-active NHS workforce. He also highlighted the increasing role of artificial intelligence and connected data infrastructure in improving trial design, participant recruitment and research delivery.

These themes were reflected throughout the conference programme, with sessions exploring how to deliver the right research in the right setting, improve access and participation in research, harness digital and AI-enabled technologies, strengthen workforce capability, and build national and international collaborations that support faster, more inclusive clinical research. Delegates also heard examples of how streamlined processes and coordinated working across organisations are helping to reduce study set-up times and bring innovative treatments to patients more quickly.

The conference provided an excellent opportunity for the Leeds team to network, share best practice and bring back new ideas that will help further strengthen research delivery for patients across Leeds and the wider region.

Our impact: Personalised pacemaker therapy- better outcomes for patients and the NHS

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Pacemakers are life-changing devices that help people with heart disease live longer and improve their quality of life. However, despite major advances in technology, many pacemakers are still left on standard factory settings rather than being tailored to the individual needs of patients. Researchers at the NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Leeds have been leading pioneering work to show how a more personalised approach to pacemaker care can improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital admissions and deliver better value for the NHS. Through a series of NIHR-supported studies, the team has helped change the way pacemaker patients are cared for locally, nationally and internationally.

Our Goal

More than 300,000 people in the UK live with a pacemaker, with around 36,000 new devices implanted every year. Researchers wanted to better understand whether personalising pacemaker settings and combining device expertise with heart failure care could improve patients’ health and quality of life. The team also recognised that symptoms such as breathlessness and tiredness in people with pacemakers are often wrongly attributed to ageing or existing heart disease, meaning heart failure can sometimes go undiagnosed and untreated.

Our Approach

Through a series of NIHR-supported clinical trials led from the NIHR Leeds CRF, researchers explored how personalised pacemaker programming and joined-up care could improve outcomes for people living with pacemakers.

The research showed that carefully adjusting pacemaker settings to suit each individual patient could:

  • Improve heart function
  • Reduce unnecessary pacing of the heart
  • Extend pacemaker battery life
  • Reduce the need for replacement surgery
  • Improve exercise capacity and quality of life

One major study involving 1,800 patients across West Yorkshire found that around one-third of people with pacemakers had previously undiagnosed heart failure.

In response, the team developed a new multidisciplinary Combined Heart Failure and Device Clinic at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, bringing together experts in pacemakers and heart failure treatment in one service.

The clinic is staffed by highly trained cardiac physiologists and nurses and now supports more than 300 patients each year.

Real World Impact

The work also helped develop a highly skilled and diverse research workforce, including NIHR-funded clinical researchers, cardiac physiologists and clinicians.

The research has already changed care for patients in Leeds and is influencing practice internationally.

The personalised approach developed through the NIHR Leeds CRF has now been embedded into routine NHS care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust through the Combined Heart Failure and Device Clinic.

Patients are receiving more tailored treatment, helping reduce hospital admissions and improving long-term outcomes.

The work has also contributed to international heart failure and pacemaker guidelines in Canada, America and Europe, helping shape care for people with pacemakers around the world.

Importantly, the research demonstrates how personalised care can improve outcomes while also reducing pressure on the NHS by preventing complications and avoiding unnecessary procedures.

What’s Next

Researchers at NIHR Leeds CRF continue to lead new studies exploring how personalised pacemaker programming can further improve care for people with heart disease.

Upcoming research includes:

  • Exploring new pacemaker lead positions and their effect on heart function
  • Developing simpler ways to personalise heart-rate settings
  • Expanding studies across multiple NHS centres
  • Investigating how personalised programming could benefit people with less severe heart failure

The team is also continuing work to increase awareness and education around personalised pacemaker care through international guideline groups, professional societies and training programmes.

This work would not have been possible without the support of NIHR infrastructure at the NIHR Leeds CRF, helping turn research into real improvements for patients, healthcare services and society.

NIHR 20 Staff Profile: Lorna Gallacher

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Lorna Gallacher

Lorna Gallacher is a Research Nurse for Team 3 – Early Phase Oncology (First-in-Human Clinical Trials) at NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Leeds, St James’s University Hospital. Since joining the NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Leeds at St James’s University Hospital, Lorna Gallacher has quickly established herself within the dynamic and highly specialised field of early phase oncology research.

Working in first-in-human clinical trials, Lorna supports patients with complex and hard-to-treat cancers, helping to deliver innovative treatments at the earliest stage of clinical development. Her role places her at the forefront of research, where new therapies are tested for the first time in patients, offering hope and new possibilities where treatment options may be limited. 

Demonstrating strong commitment and dedication, Lorna achieved chemotherapy competency within just four months of joining the team — a significant milestone that reflects both her clinical expertise and adaptability in a fast-paced research environment. 

Lorna’s career continues to evolve, with a growing focus on haematology research, particularly in myeloma. This progression highlights the breadth of opportunities within research nursing and the ability to develop specialist knowledge across different clinical areas. 

Alongside her clinical role, Lorna is passionate about supporting the wellbeing of her colleagues. She has begun training as a Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) at De Montfort University, where she is developing skills to provide Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) — helping nurses reflect, recover and sustain their wellbeing in demanding healthcare settings. She has also been accepted to train as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA), further strengthening her ability to support a positive and healthy working environment. 

Reflecting on her experience, Lorna highlights the exciting and rewarding nature of her work: 
“Being part of early phase oncology research means I’m supporting patients at a time when treatment options may be limited, and that’s incredibly meaningful. It’s inspiring to be involved in innovative research, such as advanced therapies, that have the potential to change lives. At the same time, I’m passionate about supporting my colleagues’ wellbeing, because a strong, supported team is essential to delivering the best care for our patients.” 

Through her work, Lorna is contributing to life-changing research, including involvement in advanced therapies such as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), while also supporting both patients and colleagues — a powerful example of the impact of research nursing within the NHS. 

NIHR Clinical Research Facility Leeds showcases 20 years of research impact at International Clinical Trials Day

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International Clinical Trials Day

The NIHR Clinical Research Facility Leeds were proud to take part in the International Clinical Trials Day celebration at the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Leeds, joining colleagues, patients, and partners for a day dedicated to recognising the impact of health research. 

As part of the programme, the team delivered a presentation highlighting the work of the Clinical Research Facility and the significant advancements made over the past 20 years. The session offered an overview of how the facility supports the delivery of early-phase and experimental medicine studies, helping to translate innovative research into real improvements in patient care. 

Alongside this, the team hosted a Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation (PPIEP) stand, creating an open and welcoming space for patients, staff, and visitors to learn more about clinical research. Attendees had the opportunity to speak directly with the team, ask questions, and explore how they can get involved in shaping and participating in research. 

Through both the presentation and interactive stand, the Clinical Research Facility reinforced its commitment to advancing research through collaboration, innovation, and meaningful patient involvement.

NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility showcases impact

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A photo of guests and delegates alongside members of the Trust's research team standing outside the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility at St James, next to a banner for the facility.

NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility, together with city and regional leaders, recently welcomed HM Treasury to showcase how Leeds’ £40m NIHR infrastructure is accelerating national ambitions to tackle health inequalities and position the UK as a global leader in life sciences

The high-profile visit from the Treasury’s Growth and Resilience team began at the University of Leeds’ innovation hub, Nexus, with a roundtable highlighting how the city’s world-leading research and innovation are driving real-world impact.

Director of the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Philip Conaghan, chaired the discussion, where a range of experts from academia and industry, including NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility outlined how Leeds is driving progress through its pioneering, partnership-powered NIHR@Leeds infrastructure.

NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility (CRF) had the opportunity to spotlight how it works with industry, research councils and charities to run more than 100 early-stage clinical trials each year, pioneering new treatments from the five NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility sites across Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.  It highlighted how clinical research has found that personalising how the pacemaker works improves patient outcomes and how it is at the forefront of novel cellular and virus cancer therapies which is helping to shape the future of cancer treatment.   

A photo of the visitors in the hospital atrium along with key members of the Trust's executive and senior team from Research & Innovation.

As part of the visit, Leeds and the region demonstrated how an outstanding track record transforming care repeatedly attracts national and international acclaim, and how it continues to raise the bar through unparalleled collaboration.

The event concluded with a visit to St James’s University Hospital, with a tour of the state-of-the-art NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility, just one of the five CRF sites at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. As part of this, delegates met with Executive and Senior Leaders to hear about the strength and scale of world-class clinical research at the Trust – one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals, delivering impact and patient benefits across the region and beyond.   

A photo of clinical team members showing the esteemed visitors around the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility at St James Hospital.

Professor Chris Twelves, Director of NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility said:  “Together with our partners across NIHR, we were delighted to welcome HM Treasury’s Health and Growth Team to demonstrate the strength of collaborative partnership working and the pioneering work that is delivering impact to our patients, the future of healthcare as well as bringing wider economic value.

“We are proud of our strong track record in delivering pioneering clinical research and this was an ideal opportunity for our visitors to hear from our colleagues who are passionate about transforming the healthcare of the future and delivering impact.”

Read more about the wide-ranging visit via Health Innovation Leeds.

World-leading clinical research showcased as Minister pays visit to NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility

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An image of key clinical staff and colleagues standing smiling in a line up photo with Karin Smyth MP stood in the centre outside the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility St James site.

World-leading clinical research and pioneering cancer treatment taking place in Leeds has been showcased as part of the Government’s national cancer plan roll out.  We recently welcomed Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health to St James’s University Hospital to see first-hand the cutting edge cancer trials and the innovative treatment which is being pioneered. 

An image of Professor Chris Twelves speaking with minister Karin Smyth MP in a clinical room.

The Minister had the opportunity to meet with Prof Chris Twelves, Professor of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology & Oncology and Clinical Director NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility alongside clinical research colleagues, senior clinicians and experts and partners of Leeds Teaching Hospitals who work collaboratively to deliver world-class cancer treatment to patients across Yorkshire.    

Ms Smyth heard about the diverse and expansive portfolio of clinical research, particularly rare cancers including anal cancer, myeloma and sarcoma, while visiting the state-of-the-art NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility based at the hospital.  It was the opportunity for us to share the world-leading, early-phase, experimental medicine studies taking place right here which aim to develop new treatments and healthcare therapies for the future.  

Prof Chris Twelves said: 

“We were delighted to welcome Minister Smyth to NIHR Leeds CRF recently.  It was an opportunity to demonstrate our impressive track record of delivering early phase experimental medicine trials and evaluating a range of new therapies and interventions.   Leeds St James’s CRF is just one of our five clinical research facilities co-located at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust  and it was a privilege for our team and I to talk about how we support world-class research here.”

An image of minister Karin Smyth MP with a health care professional standing talking in a hospital corridor.

The Minister also spent time in Leeds Cancer Centre, one of the most comprehensive cancer centres in the UK and home to the largest single-site radiotherapy treatment service.  It was the opportunity to shine a light on the advances in treatment of anal cancer using precision radiotherapy, which has been pioneered following research by Prof David Sebag-Montefiore, Professor of Clinical Oncology at University of Leeds and funded by Cancer Research UK.     We were delighted to share the breadth and depth of clinical research we do right here in Leeds and demonstrate the impact we’re having on our patients today and the healthcare of tomorrow.

Advanced Therapies at the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility (CRF)

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A picture of Professor Chris Twelves.

The NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility is helping to shape the future of healthcare. In this blog post, Prof Chris Twelves, Clinical Director at the CRF, outlines what advanced therapies are, why they matter, and how the CRF is supporting their safe and effective development for patients.

What are Advanced Therapies?

Advanced therapies or Advanced Therapies Medicinal Products (ATMPs) are umbrella terms describing treatments that work at the level of cells, tissues, or genetic material. These therapies can offer long-lasting benefits and in some cases, the potential for cure. They are already showing important benefits in people with blood cancers, but are now reaching into other areas.

“Advanced therapies represent some of the most innovative areas of modern medicine. They aim to repair, replace, or restore biological function in ways that were previously impossible. At the CRF we are supporting the development and delivery of these cutting-edge approaches to improve patient outcomes.”

Advanced therapies include:

  • Cell therapies: using living cells to prevent, treat, or cure disease
  • Gene therapies: introducing or modifying genes to address underlying causes of illness
  • Tissue-engineered therapies: using engineered tissues to repair or replace damaged structures
  • Combined or next-generation approaches: including engineered immune cells, cancer-targeting viruses, and virus-based vaccine platforms

These approaches are increasingly used to treat cancers, inherited diseases, immune disorders and other hard-to-treat conditions.

Advanced Therapy research

The CRF supports early-phase clinical trials involving advanced therapies and ATMPs. Working with colleagues, our specialist teams provide the facilities, governance and expertise to support safe delivery of complex studies.

We support ATMP trials including those involving CAR-T cell therapies and oncolytic viruses.

Extending the impact and reach of CAR-T cell therapies

In haematology, Dr Frances Seymour is leading clinical trials of CAR-T cells in multiple myeloma and Dr Jonathan Carmichael is working closely with Professor Francesco Del Galdo and the rheumatology team investigating novel immunotherapies in treating autoimmune diseases. This work is further strengthened by Hannah Newman, Lead Nurse for the St James’s University Hospital CRF, who brings extensive experience in haematology clinical trials.

Leading centre for oncolytic virus research

Over many years Leeds has played a major role in advancing oncolytic virus therapy. In trials we have given oncolytic viruses directly into tumours or intravenously, in patients with a range of different cancers and the virus given either alone or in combination with other ant-cancer treatments. Working with Prof Adel Samson, clinical and scientific partners, and commercial sponsors the CRF has supported studies that have helped shape the field.

“Key achievements include demonstrating that oncolytic viruses can be delivered intravenously, showing benefits when combined with immunotherapies and supporting studies that have produced durable tumour responses in melanoma and liver cancer.”

Our commitment

“Advanced therapies offer new hope for people with conditions that are difficult to treat. At the NIHR Leeds CRF, we are committed to accelerating the safe development of these life-changing innovations.”

Collaboration at PPI Community Connect 2025 sets direction for more representative research

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A group photo of the PPIE team with the hosts for the event at the Hamara Centre, in front of a stylish neon sign that reads 'HAMARA'.

Our recent Patient Public Involvement (PPI) event was held recently at the Hamara Healthy Living Centre. The PPI Community Connect 2025 event brought together over 86 community members, along with researchers. The event was designed to explore how research can be more meaningful, representative, and inclusive, providing opportunities to share experiences, learn about ongoing studies, and discuss ways to strengthen engagement across diverse communities.

Hosted by the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Faculty (CRF) and Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTHT) Research & Innovation department and taking place at the Hamara Healthy Living Centre in Leeds, the event brought together participants who shared experiences and ideas on improving public involvement in research.

The audience heard presentations from researchers outlining current projects, alongside personal stories from patients describing what taking part in research has meant to them.

Guests were welcomed by Dr Helen Radford, Lead for Strategic Leadership at NIHR UK CRF Network and Associate Director of Operations for LTHT Research, and Hanif Ismael, Lead for Patient Public Involvement at NIHR Leeds CRF.

An image of two volunteers with a staff member demonstrating the ECHO cardiac ultrasound machine on a volunteer in the background.

The event showcased a range of ongoing research in Leeds, covering prostate cancer, knee replacement, early detection of lung cancer, and heart health. Alongside these presentations, attendees also had the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities, including an ECHO heart scan demonstration (pictured above), which helped people better understand how research links to real clinical practice.

Contributors, Graham Holland and Imtiaz Chaudary, reflected on their own involvement in research and highlighted the importance of inclusive research.

Attendees also took part in group discussions that explored ways to strengthen engagement, widen participation among under-represented communities, and shape future research priorities.

The conversations touched on topics such as including more community-based sessions, improved multilingual materials, better use of digital and media channels, engaging people at cultural events and public spaces, providing appropriate language support, involving healthcare teams, and offering suitable incentives. and generated suggestions that will inform future initiatives.

Feedback from participants indicated that the event provided a valuable opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and think about how research and communities can work better together.

One attendee described the day as “Well run, well attended, interactive and informative”, while another said it “was useful and made me willing to engage in research and share the opportunities.”

The organisers plan to use insights from PPI Community Connect 2025 to guide ongoing work on improving patient and public involvement.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Research experience helps Leeds Young Owls Take flight into medicine

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An image showing people conducting desk research.

Two members of our young research group, the Leeds Young Research Owls have been successfully accepted into universities to study medicine and train to be doctors.

The Leeds Young Research Owls (LYRO) group, funded by NIHR Clinical Research Facility, aims to inspire the next generation of researchers by providing young people with opportunities to learn about the medical research process through the Trust’s extensive research portfolio.

This provides a way to reach younger people and inspire them to become involved and engage with medical science and clinical research, preparing the next generation of researchers.

An image of LYRO alumni, Henry, who has been accepted to medical school. The images is a selfie of Henry standing outside on a track by a field at sunset.
Henry credits his experience with LYRO in getting into medical school

Owls alumni Oliver Barrie and Henry Neligan have both gained places at medical school, a remarkable achievement that reflects their dedication and the valuable experience gained through the group.

Henry (pictured), who is now studying at Newcastle University said: “The Owls and the medical research we took part in was a piece of my inspiration to become a doctor.  I am just so grateful for all the help the Owls has given me!”

Oliver, who is attending Hull York Medical School, added: “I included some of my experiences with LYRO on my personal statement and I also discussed the brilliant insight it gave me into medicine as a whole, and medical research at my interviews. Without the meetings with the Owls, I wouldn’t have had the unique experiences to talk about throughout my application process.”

LYRO now has a proven track record of helping foster the clinicians of the future, with five previous members successfully accepted to medical school to train as doctors.

With a growing legacy of success, LYRO continues to empower young people to pursue careers in medicine and research, fostering the skills and experiences that help shape the future of healthcare. We are incredibly proud of Oliver, Henry, and all our alumni who are making a difference in the medical field.

NIHR Leeds CRF supports new study into Penicillin allergy testing to fight antibiotic resistance  

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An image of a person holding white tablets in their left hand

A trial supported by NIHR Leeds CRF into removing incorrect penicillin allergy labels on GP records could combat antibiotic resistance and save lives, an NIHR-funded clinical trial led by the University of Leeds has found. 

Penicillins are first-choice antibiotics for many common infections, but more than one in 15 UK adults have a penicillin allergy label on their medical records. In the event of an infection, they will be prescribed alternative antibiotics which can be less effective or have more side effects. This can result in several prescriptions being issued to control the infection, which affects wellbeing and contributes to antimicrobial resistance.  

The study published in the Lancet Primary Care, which was supported by NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility in Leeds, found that that almost nine in ten (88%) patients with a penicillin allergy label were not truly allergic after testing, and had their allergy label safely removed. More than 800 patients were included in the trial. 

Verifying the accuracy of penicillin allergy labels could help patients to access more effective antibiotics, which is crucial as the threat of antimicrobial resistance to public health grows. The ALABAMA (ALlergy AntiBiotics And Microbial resistAnce) trial, coordinated by the University of Oxford Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, was created to help find solutions for this issue.  

An image of Dr Jonathan Sandoe
Dr Jonathan Sandoe was joint lead author on the ALABAMA study

Joint lead author Dr Jonathan Sandoe, Associate Clinical Professor in Microbiology in the University of Leeds School of Medicine and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Antibiotics have been life-saving drugs since the late 1930s, but we are now in an era where microbes are evolving to resist the effects of current antibiotics. The global challenge of antibiotic resistance is causing people to die of common infections – so it is vital to find ways to improve how antibiotics are used. Assessing people with penicillin allergy labels is one way we can achieve this.” 

Read the full story via the University of Leeds website