WUTH named in new national commercial research delivery centre initiative

Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) has been named as one of 10 ‘spoke’ sites for a new NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) which will bring cutting-edge clinical research to communities in Cheshire and Merseyside.

The host for the new CRDC is NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG), formerly known as Liverpool University Hospitals.

The new CRDC has been announced as part of the NHS 10-year health plan, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced plans to establish 20 Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs), giving patients access to pioneering clinical trials and treatments in record time.

Having launched the Wirral Research and Innovation Centre in September, WUTH is strongly placed take part in commercially sponsored studies which will offer new treatments and healthcare technologies to the Wirral population. The new, purpose-built research facilities enable the efficient delivery of research studies and a smooth, pleasant and safe experience for study participants.

Sarah Dyas, WUTH Research and Innovation Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be part of this important regional initiative because it will offer even more opportunities for the Wirral population to take advantage of new treatments and healthcare technologies.”

Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at WUTH, added: “Research is really important so we can learn, innovate and find new treatments for patients. We have had a fantastic response from people taking part in our research studies and we will continue to lead fields of research so we can help improve health outcomes for our local population.”

The Wirral Research and Innovation Centre has brand new facilities for delivering research studies which ensure the experience of research participants is smooth, pleasant and safe.

The 20 regional CRDCs, funded as part of a £100M government private investment initiative, will support the rapid set-up of commercial studies, meaning patients can begin accessing treatments as part of clinical trials as early as possible.

The new Liverpool CRDC will bring together Cheshire and Merseyside organisations including primary and social care; voluntary organisations and 10 secondary care organisations from the region, including WUTH.

Establishing the CRDC will mean more studies and treatments will be available in areas including cancer, respiratory illness, obesity, and infectious diseases.

With the introduction of the CRDCs, the government’s aim is to shift from treatment to prevention and this investment will support research into preventative vaccines and medicines, ultimately helping people live healthier lives for longer.

Studies show that research-active hospitals and organisations achieve better health outcomes for patients, due to better understanding of the effects of treatments, ongoing care and monitoring as part of a research study.

The CRDC collaborative will allow health and research programmes across the region to continue to build on ground-breaking research, supported by specialist services.

For more information on research at WUTH or to take part in research happening, visit our research pages: For Research | Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust