Salford is set to launch a cutting-edge hyper-acute stroke research centre this year.

There is considerable evidence that, with stroke conditions, early access to treatment improves a patient’s chances of recovery.  The new hyper-acute research centre will provide round-the-clock access to research staff and advanced brain-scanning equipment, so that stroke patients can take part in clinical research trials for breakthrough stroke treatments seven days-a-week.

The hyper-acute stroke research centre will also help position the UK as a world leader in commercial and academic hyper-acute stroke research for the first time.

The centre has been made possible by significant developments in both stroke care, and the capacity of the NHS to carry out research into the condition.  The National Stroke Strategy which was published in December 2007 requires that patients with suspected acute stroke have access to an immediate structured clinical assessment and rapid access to brain-scanning equipment.  Over recent years, a number of NHS Trusts, including SRFT, have developed specialist “fast-response” stroke units capable of delivering “clot-busting” thrombolysis treatment to eligible patients within the short time from the onset of stroke symptoms that the drug is licensed for.  At the same time the number of patients participating in stroke clinical trials has more than doubled1.  These developments in strategy, facilities, expertise and research have created the necessary conditions for the new hyper-acute stroke research centres to be set up.

The Salford hyper-acute stroke research centre will be led by Dr Jane Wainwright, Consultant Stroke Physician, and staffed by a multidisciplinary team made up of clinical stroke specialists, clinical research nurses, radiographers and interventional neuroradiologists.

The latest approved minutes of the NWSRN Steering Group are now available for download here.

We are pleased to announce that we have appointed three new members of staff, who will be moving into their new posts as soon as pre-employment checks have been completed.

Gary Colquitt joins us as Patient, Carer and Public Involvement co-ordinator. He will be working one day a week co-ordinating our PCPI activities including the Consumer Reference Panels. He is a former police officer who had a stroke a few years ago. He will be working closely with Cath Keaveney who is our Administrator with particular interest in PCPI.

Jayne Hardicre will become Team Leader for the expanding team of research practitioners at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. She has extensive management experience as well as having taught in Higher Education and contributed to research projects. She will manage the complex work at Salford including the practicalities of repatriating patients to other sites in Greater Manchester.

Stephen Duberley has been with the network for three years now. He is being promoted from his research practitioner role at Preston to become Team Leader for Greater Manchester, excluding Salford.

We are looking forward to working with them all in their new positions.