The Research Excellence in the NHS Award, sponsored by Rocialle, was presented to Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board’s department of colorectal surgery.

The department is researching, in collaboration with Swansea University, to establish an accurate biomarker for colorectal cancer in primary care, which would permit a more streamlined referral pathway into secondary care for symptomatic patients. This would improve early detection, which is a major factor in increasing survival rates. 

The biomarker research programme is being co-led by colorectal surgeon and honorary clinical professor at Swansea’s Medical School, Professor Dean Harris, and Professor Peter Dunstan from the College of Science, Director of the Centre for Nanohealth facility. 

The research team comprises of Cerys Jenkins (PhD in the Medical School), Professor Cathy Thornton (Medical School) and Kathryn Welsby (RA in College of Science) and is supported by the Swansea Healthcare Innovation Partnership Programme and Cancer Research Wales. 

Pictured: Peter Dunstan (far-left), Mark Bowman (Swansea University, SHIPP manager), Kathryn Welsby and Dean Harris (centre), Hamish Laing (Medical Director for ABMU Health Board) and Mark Birchmore (Marketing Manager - award sponsor Rocialle, far-right)

Professors Harris and Dunstan were thrilled at the MediWales recognition.  Professor Dunstan said “The award recognises the benefits of combining diverse research and clinical expertise and how interdisciplinary approaches can create step changes in developing innovation and translating ideas which have real impact on health. This success adds to a growing list of achievements of the collaboration between the NHS and the Centre for Nanohealth (CNH).  The Centre facilitates an open innovation environment for academics, researchers, clinicians and companies to work side-by-side on interdisciplinary research.   This type of project illustrates how CNH continues to be at the forefront of driving new products and processes aimed at enhancing the health and prosperity across Wales and beyond”.

Other details of Swansea University award success at MediWales can be found here

• For more information about Swansea University College of Science go to http://www.swansea.ac.uk/science/
  
  
• Swansea University Medical School, established in 2004, is an internationally-recognised centre of excellence in medical research, education and innovation.  The Medical School has three main activities: learning and teaching, research, and business and innovation. Read about the history of the Medical School at http://www.scribd.com/doc/235047725/History-in-the-Making-College-of-Medicine-Swansea-University-10th-Anniversary-2004-2014
  
  
• Swansea University Medical School has had spectacular success in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014. Achievements include; joint 1st in the UK for research environment rated as 100% world-leading and 2nd in the UK for research quality in our unit of assessment, scored 100% world-leading in terms of impact and 95 % of the research submitted was assessed as world-leading (54%) or internationally excellent (41%) Find out more about the REF2014 results at https://www.scribd.com/doc/250478133/College-of-Medicine-results-in-the-Research-Excellence-Framework-REF-2014

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