Cwm Taf Morgannwg celebrates opening of landmark Clinical Research Centre
A new Clinical Research Centre designed to enhance Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB’s research work and give patients access to new therapies, treatments and therapeutics has opened at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.
The development of the centre demonstrates our Health Board’s commitment to undertaking high quality commercial and non-commercial research, as well as facilitating improved services for our patients and wider population. It was made possible thanks to the support of our Executive and a number of teams working together to secure the funding and rapidly turn the project around.
Assistant Director for Research and Develoment Professor John Geen said: “The development of the Health Board’s first Clinical Research Centre was made possible by the support of the Executive team, notably Executive Lead for Research and Development Professor Kelechi Nnoaham, Director of Finance Steve Webster and Rhondda Taf Ely Locality Group Director Dr Stuart Hackwell.
“Partnership working between the Research and Development team, Health and Care Research Wales, Shared Services and the Health Board’s Finance, Estates, ICT and Clinical Education teams has been central in helping to secure the funding and to the completion and rapid turnaround of this development. Thanks go to all for their hard work and support.”
The opening of the Clinical Research Centre was celebrated with a photography competition staged by our Research and Development team. Three winning photos – representing each of our localities – now take pride of place in the centre’s reception after being voted for on our social media channels, following a shortlist being drawn up from hundreds of entries submitted by staff and members of the public.
The winning photos are: Southerndown, Bridgend, by Tamsyn Clark; View from the Bwlch, Rhondda, by Mal Durbin; and River Cynon autumn colours, Penrhiwceiber, by Martin Agg.
Professor Geen added: “Thank you to all those who took the time to respond and submit their work to the R&D photography competition. Your support is very much appreciated, while the standard and variety of the photographs were excellent and made the role of the judging panel very difficult.
“The portfolio of work submitted was a comprehensive reflection of the beautiful landscapes and the richness of the historical heritage across our area. On behalf of Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB and the R&D team I congratulate Martin, Tamsyn and Mal on their success and for helping to make the new Clinical Research Centre such an inviting and pleasant environment for our staff, research partners and all the research participants who will attend in the weeks and months to come.”
The development of the centre also supports the Health Board’s key objective to maintain university status, increasing opportunities for collaborative research in the future with NHS, academic and industry partners. Recent experiences have highlighted the importance of research in helping identify best practice and in implementing change and improvement in clinical services for the benefit of our population.
The provision of a designated space for research has already enabled Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB to open an urgent national public health study called SIREN, investigating the impact of anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies on the incidence of Covid-19 in healthcare workers.
The R&D team is currently recruiting to this study until the end of March and would love to hear from colleagues who wish to take part. Anyone interested in the joining the study can contact the team on 01443 443421 or CTMUHB_RD@wales.nhs.uk.
