CUH in Brief: October 2024
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Make a difference in your next career move, come and join Cambridge University Hospitals.
In this issue of CUH in Brief, we cover our piece on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the BBC Look East Cancer Special, NIHR funding of our new CAR-T laboratory and more.
CUH featured on BBC Radio 4 Today programme
Listen back to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme at 2hrs 40 minutes to hear the 7-minute piece about the cutting-edge research shaping the future of cancer detection and how we’re bringing life sciences, academic research, and clinical care together for better patient outcomes. Cambridge is a hive of innovation with our partners - 英国剑桥大学 , Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and 阿斯利康 - we combine the brightest minds in life sciences, engineering, mathematics, and clinical care.?
As one of the world’s leading cities for scientific research, Cambridge has been at the forefront of discoveries, from the structure of DNA to genome sequencing. Today, Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald 's capsule sponge is revolutionising early oesophageal cancer detection and Dr Raj Jena, our consultant oncologist, who was just announced as the UK’s first clinical Professor of AI in radiotherapy, discusses the OSAIRIS project, which is harnessing artificial intelligence to reduce radiotherapy waiting times for cancer patients.
BBC Look East Cancer Special: Live from Addenbrooke’s!
On Wednesday 16 October, we hosted the BBC Look East Cancer Special at our hospitals.?
The 30-minute broadcast explored and celebrated the innovations in our cancer care and research, including how personalised breast cancer is delivering targeted treatments for patients, advancements in CAR-T cell therapy, and the future of cell and gene therapies for patients with aggressive cancers and auto-immune conditions.
New lab to make cutting-edge CAR-T cells in Cambridge
A new state-of-the-art laboratory is set to open at Addenbrooke’s Hospital that will deliver ‘home-grown’ CAR-T cells to help improve treatment for blood cancers.?
The announcement comes as Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has just been awarded ￡1.4m worth of grant funding from the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) to help supply the equipment for the laboratory’s research, and to deliver more clinical trials to patients across the East of England.?
Sarah J Albon , director of the Cambridge Cellular Therapy Laboratory (CCTL) at Addenbrooke’s said:
“At the moment, there are a number of novel cell therapy products available commercially, but as an NHS Trust we have to buy them in for our patients."
"Having this state-of-the-art space is the missing part of the puzzle for bringing cell therapies from the research bench to bedside."
Genetic screening for newborns begins at CUH
Dozens of newborn babies at the Rosie Hospital have begun to be tested for over 200 rare genetic conditions as part of a world-leading study.?
The Generation Study, led by Genomics England , is looking at the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing – where DNA is read like a barcode – to find and treat 200 rare genetic conditions.?
If a newborn baby is identified as having a treatable childhood condition through the genome sequencing, families and carers will be provided with further NHS testing to confirm a diagnosis, and ongoing support and treatment from the NHS.?
Every year, thousands of children are born in the UK with a treatable rare condition?with genetic testing usually taking place in the NHS Genomic Medicine Service when the child has developed symptoms – with children under the age of five disproportionately affected.?
First POPPY study birth!?
30-year-old Chloe from Cambridge gave birth to her baby boy, Idris, in May, becoming the first person to give birth while taking part in The Preconception to pOst-partum study of cardiometabolic health in Primigravid PregnancY (POPPY).
The study, which is still actively recruiting women to take part, aims to understand more about the risks of developing heart disease and diabetes in women who experience placental complications.?
Love Research – The BEARS study?
The BEARS (Both Ears) clinical trial is recruiting 384 young people aged 8 to 16 years with severe to profound hearing loss, to take part in a study that??
The study uses virtual reality (VR) headsets and immersive games to challenge the young bilateral cochlear implant users to localise sounds around them and train their brains to use the information from both implants working together.
Debi Vickers , BEARS Lead Investigator and Principal Research Associate at 英国剑桥大学 , said:
“Many adults with bilateral implants – and even some with hearing aids – are interested in taking part. Going forwards, this could be useful training for a large range of people with hearing devices.”
Respiratory health awareness day?event
We hosted over 72 attendees at Arbury Community Centre to raise awareness about respiratory health in our Bangladeshi and South Asian communities as part of a women’s health and wellbeing session.?
The event was in collaboration with Asthma + Lung UK, Sue Ryder , Arthur Rank Hospice Charity , the UPTURN respiratory team, and Cambridge City Council .
New HIMSS Stage 7 standard?revalidation
Back in 2020, we became the first trust in the UK to achieve HIMSS EMRAM (Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model) Stage 7, and last month CUH was the first to revalidate against the new Stage 7 standard, the highest rating of the HIMSS international digital maturity and adoption model for healthcare.?
HIMMS 7 recognises the use of technology, data and analytics, and patient engagement and involvement to support the delivery of high-quality patient care.?
Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital progress?
We are continuing to make significant progress on the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital project, and we look forward to pre-construction works beginning on site in the coming months.?
Last month, the Government published the terms of reference for the New Hospital Programme (NHP) review.?