East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust affirmed its reputation as a regional centre of excellence for clinical research by receiving four prizes at the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Awards 2014.
The event, held at a Manchester city centre hotel, saw health researchers and teams from hospitals and medical colleges across the North West awarded for their efforts in 13 categories.
East Lancashire Hospitals – led by Dr Srikanth Chukkambotla - won the special Collaboration Award for the work of two research teams who worked together to introduce studies to clinical departments and wards that hadn't traditionally participated in research.
Attending the awards ceremony in Manchester, ELHT Chief Executive Kevin McGee said: "East Lancashire Hospitals are delighted to receive these prestigious awards and thank the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network.
"We are proud of our clinical research staff whose work helps our doctors and nurses provide safe and effective care for the people of East Lancashire."
Runner-up in the 'Best Debut' category, Dr Anton Krige earned recognition for his work as Greater Manchester's Specialist Lead for Anaesthetics and recruiting an impressive 133 volunteers for one research project in just 48 hours.
Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Lee-Suan Teh was named runner-up in the Lifetime Achievement category. A leading medical researcher since her medical school days, Dr Teh's LUPUS Quality of Life Tool is now used by medical professionals around the world.
The wisdom of ELHT's decision to set up a dedicated Pharmacy Research Team in 2013 was recognised with the runner-up prize in the Research Impact category.
"The Trust has always undertaken pharmacy research but the decision to establish a specialist Pharmacy Research Team has allowed us to embed a research culture within the Trust and provide training for colleagues to help them undertake clinical research," said ELHT Research & Development Lead, Catherine Gedling.
Photos: East Lancashire Hospitals Neil Fletcher, Kathryn Hayes, Darren Rusk, Deborah Sutton, Dr Lee-Suan Teh and Dr Srikanth Chukkambotla on stage at the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Awards 2014
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