Showcasing pioneering inflammation research in Greater Manchester

The event brought together clinicians, researchers, patient representatives, academics and industry colleagues to highlight Greater Manchester’s inflammation research portfolio, with a strong focus on industry collaboration and growth in commercial research.

Chaired by Dr James Bluett, Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases Co-Theme Lead at Manchester BRC, the event emphasised the importance of patient voice in advancing early to late phase research and showcased the support available across Greater Manchester from pre-clinical studies to community translation.

To see some highlights from the day check out our video here. The slides from the day can also be found here.

Patient Voices in Research

Susannah Williams, Engagement and Involvement Specialist at Vocal, emphasised the importance of keeping patients at the centre of research, as their involvement enhances the quality and outcomes of studies. In Greater Manchester, patient voice is central to all research efforts as we value all patient contributions.

Public representatives Ini Ekang and Russ Cowper highlighted the value of co-producing research that incorporates patients’ lived experiences and the need for better community engagement and involvement to ensure impactful and effective research. Public involvement not only improves research quality but also reconnects researchers with its purpose and fosters greater public awareness and trust in scientific research.

NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)

Professor Anne Barton, Director of NIHR Manchester BRC, discussed the BRC’s global strengths in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and dermatology research. Manchester BRC’s Inflammation Cluster collaborates with local infrastructure such as the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF), Christabel Pankhurst Institute, and UK Biobank to tackle chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, chest diseases, skin disorders, and heart disease.

Research focuses on the impact of deprivation and social factors on these diseases and aims to address health inequalities across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria. Manchester BRC brings together academics and clinicians to translate scientific discoveries into potential new treatments, diagnostics and technologies. Dr Matthew Harries leads the Inflammatory Hair Diseases Programme in Manchester BRC’s Dermatology Theme, spanning various institutions such as the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust,  The University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre and focuses on improving outcomes in alopecia.

Manchester BRC fosters partnerships with industry to accelerate clinical translation, enabling faster patient benefits. These collaborations give industry access to a broad spectrum of expertise, including genetics, epidemiology, clinical trials, bioinformatics, and patient engagement across the 13 Themes split into 4 Clusters – Inflammation, Cancer, Under-Researched Conditions and Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Catalyst. With a strong emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders and dermatology, the BRC actively seeks innovative ways to enhance research impact, encouraging industry to play a significant role in driving advancements in these fields.

NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF)

Dr Siân Hanison (Operational Director), Caroline Leech (Operational Manager) and Suja Subin (Advanced Clinical Practitioner) highlighted the world-class early phase clinical research facilities we have available in Greater Manchester. The NIHR Manchester CRF is dedicated to early phase clinical research providing clinical, laboratory, regulatory and operational support for commercial and academic studies across six different sites in Greater Manchester. Each site is equipped with specialised facilities including advanced laboratories, minor procedures suites and isolation rooms for gene therapy and infectious diseases, and specialised equipment such as ultrasound machines, cardiovascular monitoring tools, spirometry and diseases specific assessments. Manchester CRF is staffed by an experienced team of research nurses, advanced clinical practitioners, radiographers, physiologists and anaesthetists, providing 24/7 inpatient support to facilitate a wide range of clinical studies.

Delivering Early Phase MSK and Dermatology Research

Professor Ben Parker, Medical Director of Manchester CRF at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Co-Director of Manchester CRF, and Professor Richard Warren, Medical Director of Manchester CRF at Salford Royal Hospital and Dermatology Co-Theme Lead at Manchester BRC, provided examples of studies in the MSK and dermatology research spaces which have been delivered through Manchester CRF.

Two studies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in the investigator-led and commercial settings were highlighted with a focus on how the Manchester CRF team adapted to the needs of the trial protocol to deliver these studies to patients. One of these studies was a Phase 1 trial in CAR-T in severe SLE. This marked the first cellular therapy trial to open in rheumatology in the UK and Manchester was the first site to open nationally and achieved a UK first recruit in June this year. The delivery of ATMP studies is a core focus and strength of the NIHR Manchester CRF team.

A range of therapeutic studies in the dermatology space were highlighted with a spotlight on the positive impacts these studies have on patient quality of life. A poignant example was the journey of a patient with psoriasis who was enrolled into a clinical trial using bimekizamab to target the disease. Within just three weeks painful sores and scales had significantly reduced, and two-thirds of patients on the trial reported eradication of itchy skin significantly improving their overall health and wellbeing. In Greater Manchester, over 2,000 patients have been recruited to dermatology trials since 2021. Companies working closely with Manchester CRF include UCB, LEO Pharma, AbbVie, Bayer, Novartis, Amgen and Incyte.

Specialist Centres for MSK, Inflammatory Hair Diseases and Genomics

High-quality research in inflammation is thriving across Greater Manchester. Professor Adam Watts, Professor of Orthopaedics and Consultant Elbow and Upper Limb Surgeon at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, shared how patient involvement drives research recruitment efforts across the Trust’s orthopaedic services in community settings. Professor Gisela Orozco’s research at the Centre for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis seeks to combine clinical and genetic data to prevent or better treat arthritis, advancing personalised medicine and exploring disease mechanisms.

Research in Primary Care Settings

Dr Omair Razzaq, GP at Ashton Medical Group and Specialty Lead for Primary Care at North-West Research Delivery Network emphasised why primary care research is crucial for identifying musculoskeletal and dermatologic conditions early. As the first point of contact for most patients, general practice can identify patterns at patient presentation. Data collected from diverse populations helps specialists spot trends and focus on prevention and early-stage interventions, enhancing the overall cost-effectiveness of clinical care.

Streamlining Clinical Trial Set Up Across Pharmacy and Research Delivery

Dr Beatriz Duran, Head of Pharmacy Clinical Trials Service and ATMPs at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) highlighted MFT’s future direction in commercial trials, particularly involving pharmacy collaboration with national health authorities. Innovations include the use of research vans to deliver clinical trials in community settings and streamlined trial setups.

Dr Duran has led a pharmacy team which has conducted pioneering work to develop a centralised pharmacy approach to setting up and delivering clinical trials in NHS trusts across Greater Manchester (GM). They received Clinical Research Network GM strategic funding to help do this and received the CRN Greater Manchester Certificate of Achievement.

MFT’s Rheumatology Research Team, represented at the event by Visveswaran Mallayan and Sindhu John, discussed positive patient experiences, high recruitment numbers, and growing patient interest in participating in research across MSK and dermatology.

Let’s continue the conversation

This event emphasised Greater Manchester’s strengths in MSK and dermatology research, highlighting the importance of continued industry collaboration to ensure impactful outcomes.

Local NIHR infrastructure supports a variety of commercial partners including Pharma, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), MedTech, BioTech and in vitro diagnostic companies.

• For more information or to discuss collaboration opportunities, please complete the NIHR Manchester BRC Industry Enquiry Form or get in touch with the BRC Innovation and Partnerships team by emailing brc-crfpartnerships@mft.nhs.uk.
• For more information on research delivery opportunities across the North West, please complete the North West Regional Research Delivery Network enquiry form or email nw.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk.