Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) joined in celebrations across the UK to honour the researchers, volunteers and participants who make medical breakthroughs possible for #Red4Research Day (19th June).
The annual awareness day aims to get as many people as possible wearing red to showcase the phenomenal work, learning legacy and innovative treatments, systems and techniques that have arisen from research and development.
WWL used the awareness day as an opportunity to highlight how research is actively transforming patient care right across the Wigan borough.
Staff wore red and walked around the hospital sites to spark vital conversations about how local people can get involved in research at WWL.
Prof Puneet Monga, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Clinical Director for Research at WWL, said: “Research and innovation are driving forces behind healthcare progress. At WWL, our vibrant and active research community is dedicated to improving health and treatments. By keeping innovation at the heart of what we do, we are delivering a meaningful, positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities."
WWL’s Research Strategy “Research for All” outlines WWL’s aims to encourage more research both in hospital and in the community, delivered closer to residents’ homes and reaching those who wouldn’t ordinarily have access to new treatments offered through research. The Research Team delivers more than 80 research studies, which are being run across the country, with studies open and recruiting participants now, looking into many disease areas seen in hospitals and in our communities.
Alison Robinson, Head of Research at WWL, said: “Research is the cornerstone of modern healthcare. When our community gets involved with research, they can gain more insight into how research is delivered and a greater understanding of health conditions and alternative treatments. When they take part in studies and trials, they gain access to new treatments and cutting-edge diagnostics that can improve healthcare, quality of life and can ultimately save lives.”
With a dedicated Research Hub in Ashton-in-Makerfield, it brings research closer to home in a community setting. The Hub is easily accessible to patients and enables more opportunities for health and care providers across primary, community, mental health, social care, and secondary and specialist care and schools to work together.
WWL has built a strong reputation for its clinical research capabilities and its top five distinct research strengths and specialties include:
• Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement: Wrightington Hospital is world-renowned as the birthplace of modern hip replacement surgery, pioneered by Sir John Charnley in the 1960s. Today, WWL maintains its position as an international leader in orthopaedic research, focussing on evaluating novel surgical techniques, testing advanced joint replacement materials (hips, knees, and elbows), and tracking long-term patient outcomes to improve mobility and reduce implant failure rates.
• Rheumatology: Closely aligned with its musculoskeletal expertise, WWL has been involved in many clinical trials which evaluate the safety and effectiveness of targeted medications for chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which have now become mainstream treatments.
• Cardiology: The cardiology department at WWL has led and collaborated on important research studies, involving novel interventional devices, medications, diagnostic tools and innovative care pathways, with national and international centres. The scientific evidence gathered from these studies have helped to improve the clinical outcomes of the patients. The department is highly research active with ongoing clinical trials and further studies in the setup phase.
• Commercial Trial Delivery: Setting up and delivering commercial clinical trials for the life sciences industry is a key strength. WWL consistently ranks in the top tier within the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network for recruiting participants "on time and to target." This commercial agility generates investment and grants patients’ early access to advanced pipeline drugs.
• Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE): Led by prominent academic clinicians within the trust, WWL excels in health services research that places patients at the design phase of clinical trials. This focus ensures that local health inequalities are addressed and that trials are physically accessible, ethically robust, and directly relevant to the local community.
For more information on current studies or to find out how to participate, visit www.wwl.nhs.uk/research or email ResearchAdmin@wwl.nhs.uk.