An NHS research team is celebrating 20 years of haematology clinical trials and their impact on clinical practice around the world.
The haematology research team at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust gathered staff to celebrate the milestone and recognise the contributions the team have made to clinical practice over two decades.
The Trust has participated in several successful studies focused on finding new treatments for blood disorders and diseases such as sickle cell disease, leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myeloproliferative disorders.
The clinical and laboratory work of Trust staff has played a significant part in prolonging the survival of those diagnosed with such disorders.
One such trial, Myeloma XI, was the largest international trial open at the Trust for those newly diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
The research conducted by staff at the Trust contributed to recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to use the drug lenalidomide as maintenance treatment, keeping myeloma in remission and preventing relapse.
Another study, the TEAMM trial, looked at reducing the risk of infection in people starting treatment for myeloma by giving them the antibiotic levofloxacin.
Contributions to this and other clinical trials such as FLAIR, a trial for those with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, have led to new standards of care in the UK.
Dr Farooq Wandroo, Consultant Haematologist and Clinical Speciality Lead and Honorary Associate Professor at University of Birmingham said: “I, along with my research team of consultants and nurses, have been involved in a number of national and international clinical trials, the results of which have changed the way these cancers are managed.
“We are proud to be part of the publication on many of these studies. Above all, we have been able to motivate our patients to participate in research and help them to live better lives with blood cancer.”