Outstanding research plays a vital role in our mission to provide world class specialist heart and lung patient care.
Our clinicians work closely with universities and industry partners to develop new ways of treating patients with complex cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
Trust researchers and their collaborators were awarded over £14m of grants by a variety of funding bodies including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), British Lung Foundation and British Heart Foundation during 2019/20.
Examples of key research studies currently taking place include testing new cystic fibrosis (CF) drugs on ‘mini-intestines’ grown from the cells of CF patients. The study aims to help patients with rarer forms of CF by growing microscopic sized versions of their organs (‘organoids’). The organoids have the same CF mutations as the patients, allowing the researchers to screen them and see how each patient’s organoid responds to new drugs.
The support of patients and volunteers who participate in research like this is vital. More than 2,300 participants were recruited into over 100 research projects in 2019-2020. (This figure would have been higher, but for the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) towards the end 2019/20.)
We continue to have close research partnerships with Imperial College London, Imperial College Healthcare Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital on collaborative research and education activities, facilitated through the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC).
A number of clinicians involved in research were recognised for the valuable contribution they make to research this year. Among them were seven who were all awarded professorships by Imperial College London (ICL).
Professor Jane Davies was appointed as a NIHR senior investigator
Professor Jane Davies, honorary consultant in paediatric respiratory medicine, was also appointed as a NIHR senior investigator. Senior investigators are among the most prominent researchers funded by the NIHR and the most outstanding leaders of patient-based research within the research community and beyond.
Some of this year’s research highlights
During 2019/20, Trust researchers produced 866 peer-reviewed publications, including letters and abstracts, with academic partners, making the Trust a leading centre for cardiovascular, critical care and respiratory research.
An international study involving Trust researchers could fundamentally change the way patients with CHD are managed. They discovered that patients with CHD who undergo invasive interventions (stents or surgery) do not do any better than patients who take medications alone.
A Trust-led study showed that patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) associated scleroderma who were given the drug nintedanib had a slower decline in their lung function compared to a placebo group.
The cystic fibrosis research team celebrated three honours at the North West London Clinical Research Awards, where they were recognised for their outstanding contribution to CF research.
The Trust played a leading role in securing funding for a collaboration led by Dr Brijesh Patel, honorary consultant, investigating how to increase the chance of survival for patients on life support systems..
James Ware and Dr Angharad Roberts
Dr James Ware, consultant cardiologist, is leading a collaboration to make it easier for patients with heart muscle diseases to access and enrol in research through a new online platform called the Heart Hive.
Professor Anand Devaraj, consultant thoracic radiologist, is working in collaboration with Oxford University to improve the outcomes of patients with thoracic disease (lung cancer, for example) using artificial intelligence.
Outstanding research plays a vital role in our mission to provide world class specialist heart and lung patient care.
A Trust-led study showed that patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) associated scleroderma who were given the drug nintedanib had a slower decline in their lung function compared to a placebo group.
