THE University of Salford and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust have strengthened their links by signing a new research partnership in translational medicine.
Translational medicine is an area of biomedicine that aims to improve patient and public health by “translating” research knowledge into medicines, treatments diagnostics or procedures. Heart and lung disease and stroke are the primary areas where the two institutions will share knowledge and facilities.
A joint clinical post will be held by Dr Sarah Withers, a vascular physiologist, who based jointly at the School of Environment and Life Sciences and at the Research and Development department of the hospital.
Professor Bill Ollier, Director of Research and Development at Salford Royal said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our links with the University of Salford through this joint role. Collaboration is crucial to research and we are keen to work with others on projects that will develop our knowledge and improve patient care.”
Welcoming Dr Withers, Professor Judith Smith, Dean of the School, said: “The research work we do at the University has the potential to help clinicians be more effective in treating a range of diseases and conditions.“The appointment of a joint research officer will provide a valuable bridge between the laboratories in the two institutions and promote the translation of our research into clinical outcomes to benefit the health of local people.
The joint appointment is a strong signal of Salford’s ambitions in translational medicine and the link with Salford Royal builds on current collaborations with Wythenshawe Hospital Trust and the Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Clinical medicine is a growing field for the University of Salford which has recently appointed six University-based researchers in Translational Medicine:
- cancer biologist Dr Caroline Topham
- breast cancer specialist Dr Gianpiero Di Leva
- medical geneticist Dr Federica Sotgia
- infectious disease specialist Dr Ian Woodhead
- oncologist Professor Luciano Mutti
- cardio-physiologist Dr David Greensmith
The partnership is also good news for students, says Professor Smith: “Our association with the Royal will help to give biomedical students better and more frequent experience of live clinical issues to prepare them for their professional futures.”
Salford’s Biosciences Research Centres specialises in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, fibrosis, inflammation, asthma, Alzheimer’s, smoking, drug development and parasitology.
For more about translational medicine at the University of Salford go to http://www.salford.ac.uk/research/brc