Research and Innovation at Northern Care Alliance

New Paper 💫 We know that prescriptions for opioids in the UK have risen considerably in the last few decades. To understand better why these prescriptions are being issued we evaluated > 2 million patients prescribed an opioid for the first time in primary care (without cancer). We found that musculoskeletal conditions were most commonly associated with new opioid prescriptions, especially osteoarthritis and low back pain, amongst others. Interestingly other systems included respiratory (e.g. cough), trauma and injuries, neurological (e.g. headaches) and following major surgery. We also observed overlap between systems demonstrating the complexity of managing pain in primary care. https://lnkd.in/dnhWvHpG With Carlos Raul Max Lyon Elinor Davies David McCarthy Vanessa Reid Ashwin Khanna Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis Research and Innovation at Northern Care Alliance NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)

Brain tumour experts at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust have treated the first patient in the UK with a new investigational drug that it’s hoped will stop tumours progressing. At present there are no drug treatments for progressive meningioma - a tumour that grows in the tissue surrounding the spinal cord and brain. Around one in 30,000 people have the rare genetic condition NF2-Related Schwannomatosis and they often have to undergo repeated surgery and radiotherapy to remove the tumours, which cause serious problems such as deafness, visual loss and paralysis. Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal plays a key role in Manchester’s highly specialised NF2-SWN service, working closely with colleagues at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester and the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) . Now it has become one of just 25 centres worldwide to offer the study of the drug REC-2822 to patients. Around 90 people will take part in the four-year research programme, taking tablets of REC-2822 in four-week cycles, with regular MRI scans, eye examinations and other tests. The Chief Investigator for the study in the UK is Consultant Neurosurgeon Professor Omar Pathmanaban, who is also Strategic Development Lead at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre. The lead research nurse is Helen Christensen. The study is sponsored by Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company. NF2 BioSolutions UK & Europe

Important news for heart patients today. Congratulations to all the colleagues at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust's Fairfield Hospital who supported the evaluation of TriageHF Plus, which has now been recommended as a remote heart monitoring pathway. #NHSresearch #cardiology

The power of research! We're very excited to hear about this new drama focusing on the development of IVF and the birth of Louise Brown at what is now The Royal Oldham Hospital (part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust). A life-changing moment for one family - followed by millions more

Great opportunity here for colleagues Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. The deadline is 1 November and the domain includes acute tissue injury & trauma, orthopaedics, dermatology, respiratory, allergy & infection, gastroenterology & hepatology, renal, musculoskeletal, iInfection, tissue injury, repair and regenerative medicine

An interesting 13-year observational study of patients at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, evaluating characteristics of inherited metabolic disorders following kidney transplantation. #Renal #KidneyTransplant #NHSresearch https://lnkd.in/ejWT7wRb

Experts from Salford Royal’s UK-first fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) clinic are working with patient groups to raise awareness of this under-diagnosed and rare blood vessel condition that causes narrowing or enlargement of arteries. Drs Tina Chrysochou, Aine de Bhailis and Aparna Lukalapu have taken part in a question and answer session on the Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of UK & Ireland’s YouTube channel, with information including the number of people in the UK who have FMD, what the ‘red flag’ symptoms are, genetics, pain relief, exercise and how patients can be enrolled in the UK FMD Study, for which Salford is the lead site. Dr Chrysochou, who also organised the first ever UK patient day for FMD, said patients are keen to see more research into the condition, including a study she is leading into using retinal vascular analysis – a non-invasive to method examine the small arteries and veins in the retina which allows scientists to understand more about the function of small vessels elsewhere in the human body. See the Q&A session and other videos involving the team on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eFpj5DUm

It's so inspiring to see this work from the Clinical Engineering team at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. The team are research-active in their own right, as well as supporting studies and innovations across the Trust.

REACHE has been hosted at Salford Royal Hospital since 2003. It stands for the Refugee and Asylum Seekers Centre for Healthcare Professionals Education. They are recruiting new members. REACHE provides a free, quality-assured language and clinical training programme for qualified doctors and nurses helping them to gain the qualifications they require to join the #NHS workforce. Many of REACHE's alumnus are currently working within the NCA. Spread the word about REACHE amongst your networks and communities and encourage anyone who is a refugee or asylum seeking doctor or nurse in the UK to get in touch with the team: joiningreache@manchester.ac.uk

Our fantastic renal team involved in another #NCAInnovation to drive improvements in kidney care.