NIHR Blackpool CRDC

16/03/2026

🎉 Research Achievement at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust!

We’re proud to announce that Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has successfully enrolled its first participant into the INTACT‑2 study — an important national trial exploring new ways to support recovery for patients who develop anaemia following critical or intensive care treatment.

INTACT‑2 (INtravenous Iron and eryThropoietin to treat Anaemia following CriTical care‑2) is a multi‑centre, randomised, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled clinical trial investigating whether a combination of IV iron and erythropoietin can help improve oxygen‑carrying capacity, reduce fatigue, and support a faster, stronger recovery for people leaving Critical Care.

This is a fantastic milestone for our Critical Care and our Research team, demonstrating our continued commitment to offering patients access to cutting‑edge studies that aim to improve outcomes during some of the most challenging periods of their health journey.

A huge well done to everyone involved — from screening to consent to delivery. Your teamwork ensures our patients benefit from world‑class research right here in Blackpool.

12/03/2026

🚀 Quality Improvement Funding Now Open!

Nursing & midwifery‑led projects can apply for up to £2,500 to improve patient care, boost safety, and tackle health inequalities.
You don’t need to be an RCN member to apply.

🕔 Applications close at 5pm on 06/04/26
🔗 Apply here: https://rcnfoundation.rcn.org.uk/Grants-and-funding/Research-and-practice-grants/RCN-Foundation-Quality-Improvement-Project

10/03/2026

Our March Research and Development Newsletter is live!

Dive into the latest highlights and see how our teams, patients and partners are shaping the future of care.

View here:

Research and Development at Blackpool Teaching hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hosts the Blackpool Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), a dedicated centre focused on the delivery of commercial c

06/03/2026

🌟 International Women’s Day 2026 – Sunday 8 March 🌟

Join us in celebrating International Women’s Day 2026 at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a global moment to recognise the social, economic, cultural and professional achievements of women.

This year’s theme, “Give To Gain,” highlights how generosity, collaboration and shared action help drive progress for everyone.

We’re proud to work alongside incredible women across our Trust—whose dedication strengthens the care we deliver to our communities every day.

As we mark the day, we celebrate their achievements, amplify their stories and reaffirm our commitment to supporting equality, opportunity and well being for all.

Let’s continue to lift each other up, give where we can, and create meaningful change together.

06/03/2026

🌍 Happy International NHS Workers Day! 💙💚

A huge thank you to our amazing overseas colleagues — your skill, passion and dedication power the NHS every single day.

25/02/2026

🎉 Celebrating another major milestone in the CRASH‑4 trial at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! 🎉

We’re delighted to announce that our team at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has now recruited the 50th patient into the CRASH‑4 Study — a fantastic achievement in one of the region’s busiest Emergency Departments.

A huge thank you to our Principal Investigator Dr Jonathan Argall, Sub‑Investigator Dr Syed Gilani, and the entire A&E clinical team. Their commitment, leadership and teamwork — especially in delivering this study reliably out of hours — is outstanding. 🌙👏

What is CRASH‑4?

CRASH‑4 is an international clinical trial investigating whether early administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) can help older adults who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury. By exploring whether a widely available treatment can reduce bleeding and improve recovery, the study aims to transform emergency care for patients across the NHS.

For our community in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, this means immediate access to cutting‑edge research that could significantly improve outcomes for some of our most vulnerable patients.
To everyone involved — clinicians, research nurses, coordinators and ED staff — thank you for your exceptional work and dedication. You are helping to shape the future of urgent and emergency care. 💙🧠🙌

More information on CRASH-4: https://crash4.lshtm.ac.uk/

20/02/2026

🎉 Fantastic News from Blackpool! 🎉

We’re incredibly proud to announce that Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been named the top recruiter nationally for the SMART Study in January — and it was our very first month taking part!

👏 12 participants joined the study at Blackpool in January alone — an amazing achievement that helps drive forward vital research into understanding the difference between migraine symptoms and mini strokes (TIAs).

A special shout out to Principle Investigator Dr Carolina Espada and the study team, whose dedication and clinical expertise have played a key role in identifying and supporting eligible patients. Their commitment ensures people across the Fylde Coast can contribute to research that may improve stroke prevention for thousands in the future.

✨ Thank you to every participant who chose to take part. By sharing your experience, you are helping researchers develop a better assessment tool so patients can receive faster, safer, and more accurate care.

Together, we’re helping shape the future of stroke prevention — right here in Blackpool. 💙

More Information: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16775533

If you want to download trial data, please consult the FAQs page where the section "Finding trial information" includes details about the XML API. Please do not scrape this site - the API is a much more efficient way of getting trial data.

16/02/2026

🌟 NIHR INSIGHT Programme – North West 🌟

Applications open 2 March 2026

Are you a newly qualified or early‑career healthcare, social work or public health professional looking to take your first step into research? The NIHR INSIGHT Programme North West is here to help you grow.

This fully funded initiative offers:

🎓 Up to 24 Research Master’s Studentships
💷 Tuition fees covered + tax‑free stipend
⏱️ Full‑time (12 months) or part‑time (24 months) study routes
🏫 Six Master’s courses across four North West universities
🔬 A dissertation supervised by a leading researcher
🚀 A launchpad into a future NIHR research career

INSIGHT supports students and recent graduates (within 5 years of qualification) from a wide range of health and care professions — helping build a research‑active workforce ready to tackle the biggest challenges in health and social care.

📅 Key Dates
– Applications open: 2 March 2026
– Applications close: 30 April 2026
– Interviews: June 2026
– Programme starts: October 2026

💬 Have questions?
Join an applicant or employer drop‑in session, or email INSIGHTNW@UCLan.ac.uk for personalised guidance.

🌱 Let’s grow the next generation of practitioner‑researchers across the North West.

🔗 More info: https://arc-nwc.nihr.ac.uk/insight/

13/02/2026

🌟 Fully Funded PhD Studentship Opportunity – Apply Now! 🌟

Lancaster University’s Faculty of Health and Medicine, in partnership with Blackpool Council, is offering an exciting NWSSDTP-funded PhD studentship exploring one of the most pressing challenges facing coastal communities:

🏘️ Investigating the health impacts of housing regeneration in Blackpool

📍 Start date: 1 October 2026

💼 Open to UK and international applicants

💰 Fully funded (fees, UKRI stipend + additional allowances, research costs & training) Blackpool is undergoing a once in a generation £90m housing regeneration programme. This PhD will create a vital evidence base to understand how new housing, community change and regeneration shape health, wellbeing, and inequalities.

🔍 What you’ll do: You’ll use a mixed methods approach across four integrated projects, including:

1️⃣ Reviewing national/local regeneration case studies
2️⃣ Mapping housing conditions & health inequalities using spatial analysis
3️⃣ Exploring lived experiences of housing renewal
4️⃣ Developing an evaluation framework to inform policy and future regeneration

💡 Why this project matters:

This research will strengthen understanding of how regeneration affects health in coastal towns, generate rich datasets, and deliver a practical tool to support local authorities, including within Blackpool’s NIHR funded HDRC.

🎓 Who we’re looking for:

Applicants from ANY disciplinary background are welcome—especially those with experience in health, social care, or mixed methods research. Essential attributes include strong communication skills, motivation, and a passion for improving public health.

📩 How to apply:

Send the following to Dr Luigi Sedda – epidemiology@lancaster.ac.uk by Thursday 12 March:

✔ CV (max 3 pages)

✔ Supporting letter (max 2 pages)

✔ Degree transcript(s)

Interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams later in March.

🧑‍🏫 Informal enquiries:

Dr Luigi Sedda – l.sedda@lancaster.ac.uk

Dr Sarah Blagden – sarah.blagden@blackpool.gov.uk

🔗 Join a project that will shape future regeneration policy and improve health outcomes in the communities that need it most.

09/02/2026

🌟 ELEGANT Study Milestone — Blackpool Leading the Way! 🌟
We are proud to celebrate a major global achievement in the ELEGANT Study

(Elacestrant vs. Standard Endocrine Therapy in ER+, HER2‑, Node‑Positive Early Breast Cancer.)

🩺 What is the ELEGANT Study?

The ELEGANT Study is a large international clinical trial testing whether a medicine called elacestrant can better prevent breast cancer from coming back compared to the current standard hormone treatments.
It is for women and men who:

> Have early-stage,
> Estrogen receptor–positive (ER+),
> HER2‑negative breast cancer,
> Have a high risk of the cancer returning after initial treatment.

🎉 1,500 patients enrolled worldwide
🧪 2,762 patients screened
📅 Milestone achieved on 19 January 2026

Among all UK sites, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust led by Principle Investigator and Trust Consultant Dr Pavel Bezecny, stands out as one of the top screening sites nationwide with 10 patients screened to date.

This places Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust joint top in the UK, demonstrating exceptional commitment and performance.

Meticulous screening, strong patient engagement, and consistently timely data entry continue to set a gold standard across the study.

A Huge Thank You

To our research nurses, data teams, oncology colleagues, administrative staff, and everyone who supports this study — your hard work is directly contributing to advancements that may reduce recurrence in high‑risk early breast cancer.

Blackpool continues to excel and it’s make a real difference💙

Click below for more details:

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04/02/2026

🌟 Research Excellence at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! 🌟
We’re incredibly proud to announce that Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has been awarded Top Recruiter for January in the national CAMELOT trial, with our team successfully randomising 5 patients this month!

🏆 Top Recruiter Prize
January saw 19 patients randomised nationally—the strongest month since August 2025—and Blackpool once again led the way.

🔬 What is the CAMELOT Trial?
CAMELOT is a national clinical study investigating whether adding a Re**us Sheath Catheter (RSC) during emergency laparotomy surgery can improve patient outcomes by:

>Providing better pain control,
>Reducing post-operative complications, and
>Improving overall recovery following major emergency abdominal surgery.

The trial compares the current standard of care with an additional targeted local anaesthetic technique, helping clinicians understand whether this approach offers safer, more comfortable recovery for patients.

💙 How This Benefits Our Patients
By taking part in CAMELOT, our patients benefit from:
✅ Access to cutting‑edge preoperative care, often beyond standard practice.
✅ Enhanced monitoring and follow‑up, ensuring they feel supported through their recovery.
✅ Better pain management, which may reduce opioid use and improve mobility after surgery.
✅ Contribution to research that will shape the future of emergency surgical care across the UK.

Every patient who participates helps generate vital evidence that could improve survival, reduce complications, and raise standards of care nationwide.

👏 A Team Effort
Huge thank you to everyone involved—from our research nurses and theatre teams to our surgical colleagues and wider R&D staff.

Your dedication ensures our patients receive world‑class research opportunities right here in Blackpool.

More Information on Camelot: https://www.bristol-trials-centre.bristol.ac.uk/studies/camelot-continuous-rectus-sheath-analgesia-in-emergency-laparotomy/

04/02/2026

🌍 World Cancer Day 2026 🌍

Today we mark World Cancer Day, standing in recognising every patient’s individual cancer journey. Our cancer teams continue to champion Personalised Care, supporting patients with what matters most to them.

Within Research & Development at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, our ongoing Cancer clinical trials and studies are driving innovation in diagnosis and treatment - helping close the care gap across our communities.

We’re also proud of our continued collaboration with Cure Leukaemia and BoothsCountry, whose support has enabled a dedicated leukaemia research nurse role and expanded access to advanced blood cancer trials such as Evolve 1 & 2, bringing cutting‑edge therapies to patients in our local and wider communities.

👉 Join us in raising awareness and celebrating the research partnerships that change lives.