Local NHS Trusts launch campaign to accelerate medical breakthroughs

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RPH), and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) are spearheading this initiative to engage more people in research that could shape the future of healthcare.

The campaign emphasises the importance of high-quality research in discovering better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure illnesses.

Members of the public are invited to be part of the bigger picture in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.

Dr Ashley Shaw, Medical Director for CUH, said: “The Love Research campaign is crucial for advancing healthcare across a broad spectrum of conditions. By participating in research or allowing us to contact them about research, the public can directly contribute to improving treatments for everything from common ailments to rare diseases.”

Cambridgeshire is a thriving life science ecosystem of world-class hospitals, research institutes, industry partners, laboratories, academia, and clinical teams with a shared passion for innovation and improving healthcare.

The legacy of iconic discoveries made in Cambridgeshire are central to our county’s identity and have laid the foundation for healthcare nationally and internationally as we experience it today.

Dr Vikki Hughes, Head of Research and Development for RPH, said: “Research is our lifeline to innovation, and we cannot do research without the involvement of our patients. The campaign will help us connect with more participants, potentially leading to breakthroughs in heart and lung treatments.”

Research will continue in areas such as cancer, mental health and dementia and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases – some of the world’s biggest killers - as well as focusing on developing areas of technology that will likely revolutionise NHS care, such as artificial intelligence (AI), genomic medicine and new state-of-the-art imaging techniques.

Dr Ben Underwood, Director of Research and Development at CPFT said: “Research is vital to improve diagnosis, treatment and care for people with physical and mental health conditions, and particularly with someone in the UK developing dementia every three minutes, support for research has never been so important to help us fight this disease. Thank you to all our participants, carers and families who make research possible and everyone who supports our efforts to translate the latest discoveries into NHS care to benefit our patients.”

Dr Kristin-Anne Rutter, Executive Director of Cambridge University Health Partners, added: “This initiative will accelerate our collective ability to translate scientific discoveries into tangible benefits for patients across all areas of health and care. By actively engaging the public in research, we can ensure that the latest advancements are rapidly and effectively integrated into everyday healthcare practices.”

For more information on how you can participate in the 'Love Research' campaign and contribute to the future of healthcare, visit our Love Research section.