North West

Staff Members

• Professor Martin Gibson - Clinical Lead
• Sue Wood - Network Manager (currently on maternity leave)
• Marian Millichip - Acting Network Manager
• Jane Davies - Senior Research Nurse (Primary Care)
• Diane Campbell - Senior Research Nurse (Acute Care)
• Chandbi Sange - Research Nurse (Salford Royal)
• Sandra Talbot - PA/Network Administrator
• Michaela Smyth - Clinical Trials Administrator
• Fran Westwell - Research Nurse (Royal Liverpool)
• Catherine Deed - Research Nurse (Aintree University Hospital)
• Gillian Whalley - Research Nurse (Royal Blackburn)
• Deborah Hall - Research Nurse (Acute Pennine Trust NMGH)
• Karthi Balakrishnan - Research Nurse (CMFT)
• Bella Jaison - Research Nurse (CMFT)

News & Events

Help Diabeates – a groundbreaking campaign takes new approach to diabetes research

The North West Diabetes Local Research Network (NW DLRN) is involved in a groundbreaking new campaign to help people with diabetes get a better chance to take part in the very latest clinical research.

The NW DLRN is taking part in the campaign that is asking people with diabetes for permission to be approached about clinical research studies that may be interesting to them.

Prof Martin Gibson, Clinical Lead, NW DRN, said:

"This is a brand new approach to clinical research. It means that people with diabetes can be contacted directly if a study becomes available which might suit them. This means that clinical trials can be set up much faster which is ideal for diabetes research."

Find out more - and read the full press release

www.researchforthefuture.nihr.ac.uk

North West Exemplar Programme

The North West Diabetes Local Research Network is part of the North West Exemplar Programme, which aims to demonstrate the improved clinical trial performance that is possible when the NIHR Clinical Research Network works closely with partners in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and across the NHS.

The Programme is capturing best practice on the delivery of 20 industry sponsored studies adopted by the NIHR Clinical Research Network running at research sites in the North West. Study progress through set up and delivery at these sites is being closely monitored and key performance indicators are being measured.

More information can be found at: http://www.crncc.nihr.ac.uk/index/industry/nwexemplar.html

Manchester Diabetes Research Open Day – Review

The first ever Manchester Diabetes Research Day was held at Old Trafford cricket ground in February 09 and had an excellent response, with over 130 members of the public attending the event.

Co–hosted by NIHR North West Diabetes Local Research Network (NWDRN) and the NIHR Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria Medicines for Children Research Network, the event gave people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes a chance to find out about research into new treatments.

Attendees heard from a number of speakers, including:

• Dr Martin Gibson, clinical lead for the NW DRN, about diabetes research in the NHS and the differences it has made to the care and treatment of people with diabetes.
• Professor Phil Wiles, consultant physician at North Manchester General Hospital, presented on what it is like undertaking diabetes research in a District General Hospital.
• Dr Rakesh Amin, consultant paediatrician at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, presented about diabetes research in children.
• Patient representatives Kath Cooper and Ann Middleton talked about what it’s like taking part in diabetes research and what people can do to help.

The second part of the day was taken up with two question and answer sessions, one for adults with diabetes and the other for children with diabetes.

The session for type 1 diabetes was led by Dr Gibson and Prof Wiles who fielded questions on: the effect of stress on diabetes/blood sugars; is there any evidence of the benefits of vitamin B6 on controlling blood sugars; what is happening with islet cell transplants and stem cells; what new treatments are, or soon will be, available.
 
The Type 2 diabetes session was led by Dr Amin, Dr Chris Cooper, consultant paediatrician at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, and Sue Greenhalgh, diabetes specialist nurse at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. The questions in the session were on a wide range of topics, including islet cells, accessing pump therapy, ways of assessing who is going to get diabetes, and if diabetes is well maintained do you still experience problems later on in life.

Sue Wood, NWDRN network manager, said:

‘This was an excellent event and showed us that people in Manchester with diabetes are really interested in research into the disease and want to help with the network. We were delighted with the response and the number of people who attended. The feedback we’ve had has been excellent.’

People in Liverpool with an interest in diabetes had the opportunity to find out more about research into the disease at a city-wide open day... Liverpool Diabetes Research Open Day (- pdf, opens in a new window)