Member Article

Hartlepool biologicals firm lead blood clot study that creates jobs

Hartlepool-based Hart Biologicals have joined with The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough after securing £120k government grant to study potentially fatal bloodcots.

Orthopaedic surgical procedures such as repairs to a hip fracture and hip and knee replacements carry a risk of causing a dangerous condition called venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Government research revealed that every year in England an estimated 25,000 deaths occur as a result of hospital-acquired VTE, and the study aims to reduce the risk to patients.

Hart is now expecting to create six new jobs in manufacturing and sales as a result of the investment, and it is hoped the initial study will lead to more high-level work in collaboration with local NHS Trusts and Universities.

The grant, awarded by the Academic Health Science Network for North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC) will fund the study being delivered by Prof Amar Rangan, a consultant in orthopaedics at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Alby Pattison, managing director at Hart Biologicals.

The study will develop a novel testing protocol by studying the blood from patients undergoing such procedures, using a relatively new technique of rotating thrombo-elastometry (ROTEM).

Prof Rangan said: “The study aims to assess if ROTEM can be used as a predictor of increased tendency of a person’s blood to clot, and therefore VTE, in patients who would not be classed as ‘at risk’ using conventional assessment.

“The ability to grade the risk and monitor effectiveness of intervention would increase health outcomes for patients at risk of VTE and also decrease long-term morbidity while also offering significant savings to the NHS through better patient management.”

Mr Pattison, from Hart Biologicals Ltd, added: “We will test blood samples from patients undergoing elective hip and knee replacements and from patients undergoing hip fracture surgery at various time points pre and post-surgery on ROTEM to see if there are any significant changes in the blood coagulation and platelet function that could correlate with a higher incidence, or risk, of VTE.

“The funding from AHSN for North East and North Cumbria will enable us to gain further knowledge and understanding of blood clotting in patients who have had operations and lead to further reduction of death and long term effects from VTE and Hart Biologicals will provide further matched funding worth £56,032.40 for ROTEM instrumentation and scientific support.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .