Member Article

Leading cancer professor scoops top research award

The University of Liverpool’s Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed received a top accolade in the inaugural North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards.

Professor Pirmohamed was awarded the Host Executive Clinical Research Award, for his outstanding contribution to medicine and research.

Sir Munir, who was knighted in this year Queen’s Birthday Honours, has provided critical support in the University’s research, discovery and implementation of anti-cancer drugs. He holds the University’s David Weatherall Chair in Medicine as well as the only NHS Chair in Pharmacogenetics in the UK; and he is Director of the Medical Research Council’s Centre for Drug Safety Sciences.

As Director of the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicines at Liverpool, Professor Pirmohamed has pioneered major new initiatives to establish a clinical evidence base for safe and effective medication based on a patient’s unique genetic make-up, age, weight and diet. He said: “It’s a great recognition for our team’s work. Liverpool and the North West Coast are seen as a leading place for clinical research for the benefit of our country.”

The North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards event, held at Chester Racecourse, proved to be a successful night for the healthcare sector in Merseyside, winning five out of the 12 award categories.

The University of Liverpool scooped the Research Innovation award for its PPH Butterfly project, which has been fundamental in redefining postpartum haemorrhage treatment across Merseyside.

Professor of International Maternal Health, Andrew Weeks, said: “We are thrilled, it’s a wonderful boost victory for all the departments working together to develop this device. It’s the cream on the cake.”

3D Lifeprints was presented with the Stand Out Contribution of a Business Partner Award for its work with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to embed a 3D printing facility to provide medical prosthetics to young amputees.

Production Manager Michael Richard, said: “We have come from Africa, where we started off in Kenya. We have now brought the 3D printing technology to the UK and it is making doctors’ working lives’ easier. Thank you to everyone, we are very grateful.”

The Wirral Alliance Clinical Commissioning Group received the Best Example of Advancing Local NHS Systems for Innovation Award for its PACE (Preventing Admissions from COPD Exacerbations) project. The scheme provides sufferers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with the means to control their symptoms and reduce the number and severity of exacerbations, reducing hospital admissions. The PACE project also received the runner up prize in the Best Example of Collaborative Working Award.

Dr James Kingsland OBE, Senior Partner in a Personal Medical Services Partnership in Wallasey, and National Clinical Commissioning Network Lead for England, said: “We work with an amazing group of patients. It makes a real difference to people’s lives and patients want to share their stories. Every patient deserves this level of care around the UK. It’s changing people’s lives.”

Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of Liverpool and the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine Trust jointly won the Clinical Research Impact Award for their collaborative working and innovative methods of recruitment to research studies.

Sarah Barrett, Senior Study Coordinator at the Wolfson Centre, said: “I think it’s very exciting and a wonderful opportunity to win such an award. It’s a fantastic recognition for all the staff and their hard work.”

The North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards recognise the most inspiring individuals and organisations working in the healthcare sector. It is a collaboration between the NWC AHSN; CRN: North West Coast (CRN NWC); and NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast (CLAHRC NWC).

There were 120 nominations from around the region and the event was attended by 200 finalists and guests. It was hosted by NHS commentator, broadcaster, and speaker Roy Lilley.

Dr Liz Mear, chief executive of the North West Coast Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), said: “Congratulations to all our worthy winners. It has been another fantastic year for the North West Coast region with real strides being made to improve and encourage innovation in the healthcare sector.

“This event has highlighted the sheer strength and quality of the healthcare sector in Cheshire.” Jacqueline Pirmohamed, Chief Operating Officer of the National Institute for Health Research CRN North West Coast, said: “This event was a fantastic celebration of the region’s achievements and success relating to research and innovation and I would like to personally congratulate all of the winners and finalists across the 12 categories.

“In particular I would like to say thank you to all of our partner organisations delivering clinical research who contributed to this event and really embraced the spirit of promoting success for the region. Most importantly, although this event celebrated the achievements of the individuals and teams supporting clinical research and innovation, it was also an opportunity to acknowledge the many patients and other individuals across the region who have given up their valuable time, at sometimes challenging times in their lives, to benefit our understanding of disease and its treatment.”

Professor Mark Gabbay, director of CLAHRC North West Coast, said: “I am delighted to acknowledge and help celebrate the fantastic research being done across the North West Coast to help reduce health inequalities. We will continue to promote collaborative approaches with our partners to ensure that research is focused on the end results of an enhanced patient experience and ultimately improved health.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Henry Roberts .