The Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has officially opened a ground-breaking Clinical Trials Centre at the Ulster Hospital. This facility will provide access to world-class research that will benefit patients in Northern Ireland.
Clinical research within Health and Social Care offers significant benefits, giving patients early access to medical breakthroughs, innovative treatments and improved care.
This exciting facility will significantly broaden the scope and scale of research available to patients in the South Eastern Trust and will support the Health and Social Care Research and Development Division’s "One NI" strategy for commercial research delivery across the Region.
The new Centre has been developed as a partnership between the South Eastern Trust and Health and Social Care Research & Development (HSC R&D), following a significant £12.6 million investment in research over the next five years.
Equipped with 23 rooms, the Ulster Hospital Clinical Trials Centre includes consultation examination rooms, a meeting room, a dedicated drug dispensary, a central observation unit for drug monitoring (including overnight stays), an infusion suite and an onsite laboratory testing area linked to the hospital’s core laboratory.
Among the first to benefit from the new Centre is cardiology research patient, Moya Gibson from Groomsport, who is taking part in the VICTORION-1-PREVENT study led by Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Dr Kathryn Ryan at the South Eastern Trust. Moya has been identified as being at very high risk for future heart disease. Traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol can be easily identified and treated. Her condition causes her to have episodes of dizziness.
VICTORION-1-PREVENT is a pivotal Phase III global clinical trial that assesses the effectiveness of the investigational drug, Inclisiran. This is a brand new type of drug for cholesterol reduction and it may help prevent cardiovascular events in adults at high risk for heart disease. The study involves around 14,000 participants across 45 countries, aiming to better understand how the drug may help reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and prevent heart attacks or strokes.
Moya explained, “The Centre here at the Ulster Hospital is a great step forward. Without clinical research, there would be no cures. I feel you have to take some personal responsibility for your health. By taking part in research, you are helping for the greater good.
“I’m on a double-blind trial here at the Ulster Hospital, so I do not know whether I am on a placebo or not, but I have had a really positive experience. The professionalism and reassurance from the staff has been fantastic, I am looking forward to seeing what the outcome of the research will be and whether it has made a difference.”
Research participants often receive cutting-edge medications at no cost to the NHS, while helping accelerate the development of new therapies and medical technologies that improve outcomes for future generations.
Speaking at the launch, the Health Minister said, “It is a privilege to officially open this pioneering Clinical Trials Centre, which will expand research activity and improve access to innovative treatments for people across Northern Ireland. Research is at the heart of transforming our Health and Social Care system, improving patient outcomes and supporting economic growth. I want to sincerely thank all the staff whose dedication makes this work possible, as well as our industry partners, for their commitment to advancing research and delivering better care.
“In talking to the experts in this field, there is a unanimous feeling among clinicians, academics and industry leads that Northern Ireland is the right size to become a Regional leader for clinical trials. I have committed from day one as Minister to deliver Better Outcomes. This new facility will do just that.”
Clinical Research Director and Consultant Cardiologist at the South Eastern Trust, Professor Patrick Donnelly, commented, “The Ulster Hospital Clinical Trials Centre will play a key role in supporting the wider network of Commercial Research Delivery Centres across NI as part of the ‘One NI’ approach. In collaboration with other centres across the UK we will be a small part in a large network of CRDCs that will streamline the set-up and delivery of trials.”
Professor Patrick Donnelly added, “It is a privilege to be a part of this initiative and I am grateful for the support of our Trust and HSC R&D.
“Ultimately, the research we deliver will benefit our patients directly. We will target the conditions that affect them most and attract research that will provide them with faster access to life-changing treatments.”
South Eastern Trust, Chief Executive, Roisin Coulter, stated, “This new Clinical Trials Centre marks an exciting milestone for the South Eastern Trust and for healthcare research in Northern Ireland. It will enable us to work at the forefront of global innovation, ensuring our patients have access to the very latest developments in treatment and care.”
The Assistant Director of Health and Social Care Research & Development (HSC R&D), Dr Rhonda Campbell welcomed the opening of the Clinical Trials Centre. “Evidence shows that research active hospitals have better patient outcomes. This £12.6m investment over the coming years, awarded from the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programmes, will help improve peoples’ lives and enhance our Health Service’s capacity to deliver commercial clinical trials in Northern Ireland through the UK Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) network.”
Audio clips are available to download here: https://setrust.box.com/s/ipdf30dxmg3kierz7tu4fj791c905cb6
Also watch a short video here
Opening the new centre is L/R: Roisin Coulter (Chief Executive, South Eastern Trust), Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, MLA, Professor Patrick Donnelly (Clinical Research Director and Consultant Cardiologist, South Eastern Trust), Dr Rhonda Campbell (Assistant Director of Health and Social Care Research & Development (HSC R&D)) & Professor Ian Young, (Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Health)
Professor Patrick Donnelly (Clinical Research Director and Consultant Cardiologist, South Eastern Trust), Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, MLA, Roisin Coulter (Chief Executive, South Eastern Trust), Professor Ian Young, (Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Health)
Aaron McGibbon (Research & Development Governance Co-Ordinator, South Eastern Trust) and Stephanie Kelly (Research Manager, South Eastern Trust) with Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt MLA
