Research at Leicester's Hospitals

19/12/2025

We are very excited to celebrate the Leicester's Hospitals' fantastic Neurology research team, who have achieved huge success as part of the ground-breaking CANABID-LD study. They not only launched recruitment for the study in just 46 days (well ahead of the Government's new 60-day target), but have also enrolled the project's first UK patient.

Led by the University of Plymouth, the CANABID-LD study explores how a medication called cannabidiol affects adults who have certain rare and severe epilepsy conditions, including Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. People with these conditions often have intellectual disabilities and live with challenging behaviours. Researchers want to understand whether this medication helps reduce challenging behaviours and seizure frequency, improving the quality of life for these individuals.

This study is not a clinical trial but an observational one, which means researchers monitor and collect data from people who are scheduled to start the medication as part of their usual care.

Congratulations to the team on their combined efforts, which have a huge impact on patient care and treatments of the future!

18/12/2025

We’re excited to announce the launch of the ATTITUDES-W Patient study – a new research project that aims to better understand people’s experiences with gynaecology clinics and weight management discussions.

Your feedback is important! By sharing your thoughts, you can help improve health and wellbeing for people attending gynaecology appointments. If you've visited a gynaecology clinic in the past 5 years, we’d love to hear from you. Make a difference with us!
https://www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_davAnc0uqGes9JI

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

18/12/2025

Trial for norovirus in people 60+

Help to see if we can protect people 60 years of age or older against symptoms caused by the norovirus stomach bug.

Join the Nova 301 Trial. Find out more: https://connect.trialscope.com/studies/5b212b8c-0f18-4b35-9768-b677fca433c4/

17/12/2025

Do you have and use multiple insulin injections to manage your diabetes?

You might be eligible to take part in a research study into new diabetes technology!

The study aims to find out if using Smart Connected Pens with bolus dose advisor and a continuous glucose monitoring sensor can help you get better control of your blood glucose readings when compared to standard insulin pens and sensors.

By taking part in this study, you will get a better idea of your blood glucose, daily insulin dose requirement and your HbA1C may improve too.

For further information, contact the study team:
📩 T1andTechResearch@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
☎ 0116 258 8575

11/12/2025

Congratulations to Mohamed Hirsi!

Mohamed has completed a King’s Trust placement with the NIHR Leicestershire & Northamptonshire CRDC Research Administration team, based at Leicester General Hospital, and recently received his certificate.

Mohamed said:
“The work experience was amazing… I learnt what it is like to work in the NHS and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into patient care… Everyone was super polite and lovely… It was amazing shadowing my colleagues, watching them work was so surreal… I felt quite special working there.”

Well done, Mohamed, and thank you to the team for supporting him throughout his placement!

08/12/2025

Congratulations to our CRDC partner site, Pinfold Medical Practice in , for being chosen for Parexel’s Emerging Site Scholarship Program 2025/26.

This means more opportunities for local patients to access innovative treatments and for Pinfold to grow as a research leader.

Well done to the team at Pinfold!

Find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leicestershire-gp-joins-global-initiative-accelerate-nri1e/?trackingId=dU7eYIojPV%2BUDJBy%2Fl8LhA%3D%3D

The NIHR Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) is proud to announce that Pinfold Medical Practice, in Loughborough, has been selected for Parexel’s Emerging Site Scholarship Program for 2025/26. This global initiative supports promising research sites with ...

05/12/2025

Looking back to the summer, 113 patients who had taken part in vital cardiovascular research studies at the were invited for afternoon tea at the Secret Garden at Glenfield hospital.

The participants were thanked for their participation, and heard the latest on the studies they’d been involved in. It was also a chance to exchange ideas and reflect on the difference cardiovascular research is making to the future of patient care.

Find our more about our work:
Leicester's Hospitals

04/12/2025

We're excited to share that Dr Olubukola Ayodele, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Leicester's Hospitals, has received a £166,965 award from leading charity Breast Cancer Now. This funding will be used to investigate how different groups of people experience secondary breast cancer treatments.

The ground-breaking new study will explore how people with incurable secondary (or metastatic) breast cancer experience treatment side effects. It also aims to find out whether personalised drug doses could help to improve people's quality of life.

At the moment, an estimated 61,000 people are living with secondary breast cancer in the UK. Treatments for the disease can cause a wide range of side effects that may significantly impact day-to-day life. However, there is currently limited understanding of how these experiences differ, particularly among women from ethnically diverse backgrounds, as many were not included in the initial clinical trials for which these therapies have been licensed.

To find out more about this vital research into the impact of secondary breast cancer care, visit our website using the following link: https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk/news/breakthrough-study-to-transform-secondary-breast-cancer-care/.

03/12/2025

Our Public Involvement team brought together researchers, patients and the public at 113 sessions in 2025 - shaping future research through lived experience.

Through community projects like Dance & Health, coffee mornings and physical activity sessions, we created spaces where people could speak openly about their health and experiences.

We also built new relationships with community groups and organisations, helping us reach more people to take get involved in research at .

Huge thanks to everyone who's been involved with these sessions!

02/12/2025

During World AIDS Day 2025, we reflected on Leicester’s remarkable role in HIV and AIDS awareness and research.

In 1987, a group of around 40 volunteers set up the Leicester AIDS Support Service (LASS) to help people living with HIV and AIDS in Leicester and the wider region. In 1991, LASS welcomed a visit from Princess Diana (pictured below). The visit highlighted the organisation's incredible work improving education around HIV and AIDS in the community.

In 2007, the UK's Chief Medical Officer called for a 'special effort' to improve HIV diagnosis rates across the nation, as many people were being diagnosed far too late to receive effective treatment. Research teams at Leicester's Hospitals took action, launching a pioneering pilot study at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. The study introduced routine HIV testing within the Acute Medical Admissions Unit (AMU). Led by Consultant Dr Adrian Palfreeman, the study's impact demonstrated the benefits of routine testing, showing that many patients would likely have had their diagnosis missed without this proactive approach.

This is a powerful example of how medical research directly saves lives, and we are proud to build on this legacy. Over the last 12 months, we have been taking part in a regional initiative offering routine opt-out HIV and blood-borne virus testing in A&E Departments across the Midlands. Under this scheme, individuals having a blood test in A&E are automatically screened for HIV and hepatitis B & C, unless they choose to opt out.

By embedding HIV testing into routine emergency care, we're catching cases early and helping people to access treatment as soon as possible. This programme is already saving lives, with hundreds diagnosed who otherwise may never have known their status.

Medical research and public health innovation saves lives. As a result of worldwide research efforts, treatments for HIV and AIDS exist that were once thought impossible. We are proud to celebrate the progress made through research as we honour the pioneering work done here in Leicester, and remember all those affected by HIV and AIDS.

You can find out more about Leicester's role in HIV and AIDS care and treatment by visiting the Story of Leicester website using the following link: https://www.storyofleicester.info/civic-affairs/acting-up-against-aids/.

01/12/2025

Throughout December we’ll be celebrating the impact of research and public involvement activity over the last 12 months.

We start with the work of our Cancer theme, who recently welcomed its 200th participant onto the Colo Prevent trial - which is exploring how everyday medicines and natural compounds could help lower future risk of colon cancer.

Find out more about the study: http://leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk/coloprevent/

Cancer Research UK
Leicester's Hospitals
University of Leicester

More reflections on their way throughout December!🎄

27/11/2025

NEWS 🚨| A major study investigating the diagnosis and outcomes of more than 400,000 people with over the past 20 years has found that diagnostic investigations in primary care were below guideline standards.

🫀 The British Heart Foundation funded study, carried out by researchers, also found little improvement over two decades, and widening inequalities among patient groups.

The research was published in The Lancet Primary Care.

Read the full story:

A major study investigating the diagnosis and outcomes of more than 400,000 people with heart failure over the past 20 years has found that diagnostic investigations in primary care were below guideline standards.