NCA Research & Innovation

27/08/2025

Older people admitted to hospital after a fall are also at higher risk of developing acute kidney problems, research shows.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common complications during hospitalisation and is associated with significant worsening of clinical outcomes including inpatient mortality, extended hospital stay, and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Now colleagues from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, working with researchers from the universities of Manchester and Southampton, have carried out the first comprehensive evaluation of AKI risk in older trauma patients.

The work has been published in the journal PLOS One. Co-lead author Advanced Clinical Practitioner Elizabeth Finnimore said: "We know AKI has been estimated to develop in up to half of severely injured patients and is a leading cause of organ failure and consequently death so it’s crucial that trauma units are aware of the risks and also of the different risks for older people.”

26/08/2025

Our very helpful, responsive and pleasant research star of the month at Oldham Care Organisation is Farhan Karim from the clinical trials pharmacy team. He's been a huge help with a heart failure study. The research delivery team say they couldn’t have achieved the successful randomization without his, and the wider pharmacy team’s, efficient contribution processing the study prescription on a very time-pressured day.

23/08/2025

Peter Elcock is a real survivor. After coming through a terrifying bout of covid that saw him in a coma and relying on a ventilator for weeks, he’s been hit by several other health setbacks – but the 59-year-old says he’s a lucky man enjoying his family and working life and looking to the future.

That includes taking part in a research study into the long covid that still affects him day to day, as well as sharing experiences and advice with other covid survivors in a support group.

“The NHS has kept me alive,” he says. “That’s why I want to help. My life isn’t just about me – people have tried so much to help and support me, I’ve seen the best of the NHS."

Thank you to Peter and all the other research participants who have shared their stories on our website - we are inspired by them every day.

22/08/2025

Very proud of Rumbi Gore & Danyal Mohammed from our community research team at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust , who've both been shortlisted for National BAME Health and Care Awards CA awards, Rumbi for Future Leader - Next Gen category & Dany for Outstanding Social & Community Care Award. Fingers crossed for 25 September!

21/08/2025

Planning your bank holiday weekend? If you're heading over to festival at the Trafford Centre on 23, 24 and 25 August, make sure you look out for our community research team, who will be having a stall. They will be offering people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage the opportunity to take part in the Genes and Health study, the world’s largest community-based study of genetics and health in British Bangladeshis and British Pakistanis.

19/08/2025

Research Star of the Month and physiotherapist Alice McEvoy is Principal Investigator for an important research project for children and young people with cerebral palsy. Colleagues at Bury Care Organisation say she works tirelessly to make sure the team are meeting the study requirements and supports the team with training. Alice is highly motivated to ensure that children eligible have the opportunity to participate - families who have been recruited into the study have been really excited about the clinical results they are seeing.

18/08/2025

Brilliant news -we're thrilled that our Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust colleagues consultant nephrologist Dr Tina Chrysochou, consultant neurosurgeon Miss Tina Karabatsou and clinical academic neurosurgeon Mr Kanna Gnanalingham have all been appointed MAHSC Honorary Clinical Chairs.
The awards recognise their major contributions to their clinical specialities, including excellence in research & education. Huge congratulations to them all!

15/08/2025

Research participant Val Biggs is a powerhouse of positivity despite being diagnosed with the rare muscle-wasting condition inclusion body myositis (IBM) in 2022.
The lack of effective treatments makes research even more important and Val, from North Yorkshire, said that as soon as she received her diagnosis, she was clear she wanted to take part in any relevant studies.

14/08/2025

Scientists have discovered a series of biological signals which can predict how chronic kidney disease is likely to progress.
Published in the American Journal of Nephrology, the researchers show that higher levels of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1), a special marker of kidney damage in the blood and urine, are associated with higher risks of mortality and kidney failure, never before have the two been measured together.
The research follows hot on the heels of their paper published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology last month, which measured 21 markers in blood and urine that reflect key processes driving kidney disease, inflammation, and heart disease.
Lead author Dr Thomas McDonnell from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust said: “The progression of chronic kidney disease is highly variable between people, so it’s difficult to predict which patients will progress to kidney failure or worse.
“But our work raises the prospect of the development of simple blood or urine tests that could better predict the degree of risk - invaluable information for doctors and patients."

13/08/2025

Brilliant from our neurological intensive care unit and it is wonderful to see it recognised in the Health Service Journal awards shortlist.

🏆 We are thrilled to be shortlisted for a prestigious Health Service Journal 2025 Award in the Acute Sector Innovation of the Year category! 🧠✨

The team has been recognised for their pioneering use of reduced array electroencephalogram (EEG) and instant messaging in the treatment of seizures within the Neurological Intensive Care Unit.

This year's awards attracted more than 1,250 entries from across the health sector, with only 245 projects and individuals making it through to the final shortlist.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in November 2025.

A huge congratulations to the team on this outstanding achievement!🌟

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/news/nca-news/salford-team-shortlisted-prestigious-healthcare-award

12/08/2025

Huge thanks to Rochdale Borough Council Deputy Mayor Cllr Faisal Rana who recently took part in the Genes & Health study. Cllr Rana is also the assistant cabinet member for public health - Genes & Health is the world’s largest community-based study of genetics and health in British Bangladeshis and British Pakistanis and aims to improve health in people from these communities across the UK and globally.

09/08/2025

Here's Danyal from our community research team at today's Bury Mela, promoting the Genes & Health study, the world’s largest community-based study of genetics and health in British Bangladeshis and British Pakistanis. It aims to improve health in people from these communities across the UK and globally.