Western Health & Social Care Trust are key partners and responsible for the delivery of the Derry- Londonderry Strabane City Deal, THRIVE, marking the City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund. This is the single largest ever Government investment in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, along with its project delivery partners’ C-TRIC, Ulster University and Northern Ireland Stratified/Personalised Medicine.
Research and development is an integral part of ensuring that health and social care services are of the highest quality and informed by the best available and up-to-date evidence. The population of the North West not only benefit in terms of health and wellbeing, but also from the wider economic prosperity that it brings ensuring that sufficient emphasis given to local needs and priorities.
We are looking to the future of research, which we will use what we have learned from COVID-19 as a springboard to build back and have better quality research. As a research and development department we stand at an inflection point for global healthcare. Research driven by data and analytics, cutting-edge technologies and treatments, including precision medicines and artificial intelligence, are transforming the way we treat our patients.
Western Health & Social Care Trust are currently actively involved in research in the following areas:-
- Brain Diabetes,
- Cardiovascular Health,
- Covid-19,
- Diabetes,
- Critical Care,
- Diabetes,
- Gastroenterology,
- Renal,
- Respiratory Health,
- Rheumatology,
- Stroke.
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If you are interested in taking part please contact: research.office@westerntrust.hscni.net
The Research Office: 02871611362/ The Research Nurses Office: 02871611294
SIREN Study
Lucy Deery (Study Support Officer), Tracy Donaghy (Research Nurse), Maurice O’Kane (Principle Investigator)
The Western Trust Research and Development team at C-TRIC are delighted to be taking part in SIREN study. This study was established early in the pandemic which involved approximately 135 sites and almost 45,000 healthcare workers participants undergoing regular COVID-19 PCR swab testing and COVID-19 blood antibody testing for up to 2 years making SIREN the largest study of its kind globally running in partnership with the PHA. Analysis of these samples helps the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to evaluate the immune response to COVID-19, build understanding of the protection offered by vaccines and provide insight into COVID-19 reinfections.
The SIREN study has provided valuable evidence on immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination, and provided surveillance data on infection and emerging variants. This evidence has played a critical role in informing the national COVID-19 response.
HORIZON Study
Dr Aaron Peace (PI), Ryan Campbell (Research Nurse)
The Western Health and Social Care Trust Research and Development team at C-TRIC are delighted to be involved in an exciting Cardiovascular study known as “Lp(a) HORIZON”, which investigates a possible new treatment for elevated Lp(a) in Cardio Vascular Disease in collaboration with Novartis Pharma AG.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of TQJ230 in reducing cardiovascular risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with established cardiovascular disease and elevated Lp(a) when compared to placebo and looks at investigating a possible new treatment for people with established diseases of the heart, blood vessels (Cardiovascular disease) and raised Lp(a).
For further information https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04023552
Keynote B-49 Study
Mr Goudarz Mazdai (PI) Mairead Stewart-Devine, Clinical Trials Manager, Stacey Murray & Jackie McGee, Research Nurses
The North West Cancer Centre and Research and Development team are delighted to have commenced an exciting new Breast Cancer Study “Keynote B-49” in collaboration with pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC,
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. Despite an overall better prognosis in the early stage setting as compared with other breast cancer subtypes, HR+/HER2- breast cancer still accounts for a majority of all mestastatic cases.
Research Gateway Team
The Research Gateway Team support and facilitate research activity in Northern Ireland. The service is a regional resource funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA) R&D Division and hosted by the Western Trust.
Ciara Neeson, Jack Mackey, Mary McGonigle, Mark McLean
UK ROX Study
WHSCT, Research and Development team, Dr Adrian Donnelly Principle Investigator and Sinead O’Kane, Research Nurse has just opened a study known as “UK ROX”.
The purpose of this study is to look at the effect of a small reduction in how much oxygen we give as many people who come into intensive care need extra oxygen to help support their breathing. This is one of the most common treatments given to patients in intensive care. Extremely high and extremely low oxygen levels can cause damage to our bodies. The benefits and risks of giving slightly less oxygen are unclear at this time, which is why this research is needed.
Dr Adrian Donnelly, PI Sinead O’Kane, Research Nurse
Appointment of New Oncology Consultants
C-TRIC and WHSCT Research and Development are delighted to welcome two new Consultants, Dr Conor O’Neill and Dr Gerges Demian to the North West Cancer Centre who will be actively involved in cancer research studies.
Dr Conor O’Neill (Medical Oncologist) Dr Gerges Demian (Clinical Oncologist)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is known as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” and is an opportunity to spread awareness about one of the leading causes of death mainly among women.
WHSCT Research and Development and The North West Cancer Centre have a team dedicated to innovative research, surgical options and clinical trials which give women many more options looking at all aspects of breast cancer and ways to improve tests, treatments along with coping with symptoms and side effects.
Breast cancer is most commonly a disease that affects women, breast cancer can also occur in men.
Meet some of the Research Breast Cancer Team at North West Cancer Centre
Dr Wendy Hyland, Dr Hossam Abdulkhalek, , Mairead Stewart Devine, Dr Gordon Anderson, Michelle Duffy, Dr Goudaz Mazdai, Jackie McGee, Amy OHara, Dr Josephine Finnerty , Dr Paul Farry, Dr Suzanne Samir.
The Delta Study
The Research and Development Team would like to say well done to Dr John McGoran who presented “Delta Study” at USG conference (Ulster society of Gastroenterology) held in Europa hotel 19th Oct 2022.
Dr John McGoran, Consultant GI
Research and Development team would like to congratulate Donal Concannon who has completed “Train the Trainer” and who has been training the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Research Nurse on “The Delta Study”.
Fiona McPeake (GI Research Nurse, BHSCT) Donal Concannon (Research Nurse, WHSCT)
Research Nurses/Study Support Officers:
Administrative Staff:
