MAHSC appoints key leaders to take forward the health research and innovation agenda in Manchester
Press release: 20 November 2009
The Academic Section Leads take responsibility for the clinical, enabling and education and training themes that are core to delivering the MAHSC strategy and realising the vision “to be a leading global centre for the delivery of innovative applied health research and education into healthcare”. Their remit covers the entire spectrum of activity from ‘molecule to metropolis’ embracing laboratory discovery through to service innovation in the community.
The appointments are as follows:
Professor Tony Whetton – Enabling Academic Section Lead for Infrastructure & Technology
Tony is Professor of Cancer Cell Biology at The University of Manchester and Head of School, Cancer and Imaging Sciences, as well as Director of the Leukaemia Research Fund Unit. He is based at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre on the Christie site where he is responsible for medical imaging facilities within the University across three different hospital sites. Tony has authored more than 150 papers as well as raising several million pounds of research funding and teaching both undergraduate and post graduate students. He is also an adjunct Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York in the Department of Gene and Cell Medicine.
The Infrastructure & Technology Academic Section will coordinate and invest in repositories (genomics, DNA, protein, tissue, images, and clinical phenotype), drive the development and use of imaging technology, and lead the development of e-health.
Professor Martin Gibson - Enabling Academic Section Lead for Evaluation
Martin is a Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Medicine at The University of Manchester. He is the Clinical Lead for the Northwest Diabetes Local Research Network (NWDLRN), Director of the Greater Manchester Comprehensive Local Research Network (GMCLRN) and implementation lead for the diabetes theme of the Manchester CLAHRC. Martin was previously R&D Director at the Trust and initiated joint working with Salford Primary Care Trust which resulted in a joint R&D office between the two Trusts; this shared research strategy and governance process remains unique in the UK.
The Evaluation Academic Section is responsible for coordination and design of clinical trials across the partners and derives from existing strengths in statistical methodology and in the Greater Manchester Comprehensive Local Research Network (GMCLRN). This section will include biostatistics, informatics, epidemiology, and health economics. It will create an integrated single portal of entry for clinical trials including governance, management, training and streamlining of operational arrangements and systems.
Professor Kieran Walshe - Enabling Academic Section Lead for Implementation & Health of the Public
Kieran is Professor of Health Policy and Management at Manchester Business School, Director of the University of Manchester's Institute of Health Sciences and Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) research programme. Kieran has authored/edited five books, published some 70 papers and is a regular contributor to practitioner journals. His research concerns quality and performance in healthcare organisations.
The Implementation & Health of the Public Academic Section is based on existing strengths within MAHSC in health sciences and applied health services research across a range of service areas and disciplines. This section will be responsible for promoting research in areas such as e-health, performance improvement, quality measurement, health economics, and health inequalities. It has a particular focus on the implementation of research findings, the impact of research on policy and practice and the benefits of research for patients and populations.
Notes for Editors:
1. MAHSC is a partnership between The University of Manchester, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, NHS Salford (Salford Primary Care Trust), Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust.
2. MAHSC has the tripartite mission of research and innovation, education and training and healthcare. Research and innovation will be embedded as a driver of quality and productivity in alignment with the NHS Quality, Innovation, Production, Prevention (QIPP) framework. “Partnership for the Patient - Bringing Benefit through Research, Education and Innovation.
3. GMCLRN is the Greater Manchester Comprehensive Local Research Network, part of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) (Department of Health) national infrastructure to support clinical trials in all areas of research and clinical need.
4. The Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) promotes health sciences research and postgraduate education in Greater Manchester. The Institute is a networked organisation made up of research groups within The University of Manchester in partnership with local primary care, acute and mental health NHS Trusts including all of the MAHSC partners.
5. CLAHRC is the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care and one of nine in the UK. It has a focus on translating research into practice for everyday use in the NHS and implementing and evaluating such interventions in routine clinical practice. The CLAHRC is a collaboration between NHS acute, primary care and mental health trusts in Greater Manchester and the University of Manchester and is funded by the NIHR and the Greater Manchester Primary Care Trusts.