We’re proud to be part of The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Bradford and West Yorkshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC).

The CRDC is a collaboration between Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) and Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, to coordinate research activity throughout the region.

Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) are being established across the UK and have been set up to enhance the speed and efficiency of commercial clinical research delivery, working with industry and other research delivery infrastructure to support the UK’s status as one of the best places in the world for innovative companies to bring their portfolio of research.

This is an exciting opportunity for our patients, who will be given the opportunity to participate in further research, boosting access to new treatments in the trial stage. The collaboration also supports our colleagues through enhancing their research skills.

The CRDC’s first commercial trial will be a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) study called EMBARK. Patients with moderate to severe COPD will be treated with a Tezepelumb injection, aiming to reduce the number of hospital admissions, improve lung function and quality of life. We are looking forward to working closely with Bradford and Mid Yorkshire on this new project.

Dr Julie O’Riordan is CHFT’s Deputy Medical Director as well as being our Director of Research and Development. Julie said: “We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with Bradford and Mid Yorkshire. Commercial research can help to advance medical knowledge and lead to more effective treatments for the future. This expansion will ensure that our patients have an opportunity to take part in vital research that will drive meaningful improvements locally and regionally.”

How research makes a difference for our patients and the NHS

In 2019 one of our patients, aged 26, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He experienced bloody loose poo up to 10 times a day, which negatively impacted his sleep, work, social life, and relationships. By January 2020, he had received three types of standard treatment, which slowed his symptoms slightly, but caused side effects. His symptoms soon returned, and he was considering leaving his job and having surgery.

He was given the opportunity to participate in a new commercial clinical trial at CHFT.

Four years on, he has control of his symptoms, is sleeping better, kept his job, had a son, and got married. Due to the results of the trial, the novel treatment (Upacitinib) became licensed for use within the NHS, and patients now receive the treatment as standard care. By taking part in the trial, he avoided surgery and received four years treatment, equating to a combined cost saving of approximately £35k for his individual case.

Our patient said: “I 100% believe that research is important and that patients must have opportunities to take part in research and try new treatments. Without research, nothing would move forward.”

Our patient is pictured in the insert with his son.