NCA Research & Innovation

Home
United Kingdom
Manchester
NCA Research & Innovation

Research & Innovation is an integrated service at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

Research helps to improve public health and patient care – it’s the way we improve treatments in the NHS and make a real difference to people’s lives. Our Research and Innovation department is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading centre for clinical trials and other studies, with more than 500 projects carried out here each year. Research links closely with clinical care and teac

hing to ensure patients and their wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do. Our research includes experimental medicine, which looks at the causes of disease, how certain treatments work and whether they are safe, as well as large scale clinical trials which test the effectiveness of new drugs and treatments. It means patients have access to some of the most cutting edge treatments and thousands of them volunteer to take part in our studies each year.. We work closely with the Universities of Manchester and Salford as well as other NHS organisations and also collaborate nationally and internationally with other experts in our fields.

06/06/2026

Researchers at The University of Manchester want to understand how people feel about their postnatal health data being shared for research purposes, and they want to hear from people with lived experience of pregnancy and the postnatal (after childbirth) period affected by multiple health conditions that lasted together for months or more.

If you are aged 18 or over, have experienced a pregnancy while living with two or more long-term health conditions that continued into the postnatal period – either multiple physical health conditions, or at least one physical health condition together with one or more mental health conditions – and received pregnancy and postnatal care in the UK, you are invited to share your views.

Please follow the link to learn more and share your views:
https://redcap.manchester.ac.uk/surveys/?s=9KJL8LF7RXHEXL34

After completing the survey, if you would like to take part in an interview, or focus group, please contact Lucy Higgins via email: [email protected]

These interviews can be face to face, online or over the phone. Everyone who takes part in an interview, or focus group, will be compensated for their time.

05/06/2026

This week is and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who gives up their time to take part in research, whether as a patient, service user or healthy volunteer.
Today we've been looking at some of the fantastic for a study we're running for a vaccine against norovirus, led by our research practitioners Diane and Carla (pictured). These are some of the comments about why our volunteers have enjoyed being part of the study:
• I feel medicine won't progress without the help of volunteers.
• The thought of contributing to future medical advancement
• The feeling that I am being useful to society. I have always been treated with courtesy and respect on every visit.
• Feeling useful. Staff very professional and helpful.
• Knowing that we are helping

04/06/2026

Brilliant news - a major partnership programme to improve early detection of oesophageal cancer for in Kenya has been recognised with a Greater Manchester Cancer Research Award.
The NIHR-funded project was a joint venture between The University of Manchester, Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital, The Christie and Salford Royal at Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and combined community engagement, rapid pathology, and new genomic capacity. Working across five counties, the team co designed community awareness campaigns, trained more than 400 clinicians, 500 community health workers, and introduced a mobile endoscopy service providing over 1,000 procedures.
This partnership has revealed vital insights that will benefit patients in Kenya and those of African and Black ancestry in the UK.
Prof Yeng Ang (NCA) and Prof Richard Cowan (Christie) were the co-leads for the endoscopy training and cancer detection work stream, which also had five abstracts presented at the African Oncology Research and Teaching International Conference last November.

02/06/2026

Join our inspiring Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust colleagues Professors Javed Sultan and Dimitrios Poulikakos as they give their inaugural MAHSC lectures on 11 June, noon-1pm.
The MAHSC Honorary Clinical Chairs are awarded annually by The University of Manchester’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health to individuals who have made a major contribution to their clinical specialty, including excellence in research and education.
Professor Dimitrios Poulikakos is a consultant nephrologist, clinical director for renal services at NCA, and clinical director co-chair of the NHSE Northwest Kidney Network. His clinical and research interests include cardiac risk stratification, acute kidney injury, dialysis technology, and health inequalities in kidney care. He has led and contributed to collaborative research and innovation programmes across the UK and Africa.
Since 2018, Professor Javed Sultan has been working at Salford Royal in oesophago-gastric cancer and weight loss surgery. He was appointed the OG clinical director for Greater Manchester Cancer in November 2019.
He covers all aspects of general and upper gastrointestinal surgery specifically hernia, cholecystectomy, anti-reflux surgery, gastrectomy, oesophagectomy, weight loss surgery (gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric band, intra-gastric balloon), diagnostic endoscopy and therapeutic endoscopy.
f5aea2fc-c75a-4da8-ad3f-fdb1f7c0d2c9@ba584dfd-beaf-4a61-a2e6-41d9c12613b1" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f5aea2fc-c75a-4da8-ad3f-fdb1f7c0d2c9@ba584dfd-beaf-4a61-a2e6-41d9c12613b1

01/06/2026

Snowdon for the Jeff - DONE! ✅

On the hottest day of the year, cancer research nurse Kandeel Batool climbed Snowdon to raise funds for glioblastoma research at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre & NorthCare Charity Charity at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.
She says it was physically exhausting, mentally challenging & at times terrifying because of her fear of heights - but every step was for her patients.
Huge congratulations to Kandeel and many thanks to everyone who donated and supported her throughout this challenge.
Her fundraising link is still live for a few more weeks if anyone would still like to donate:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/kandeel-batool-1

31/05/2026

Congratulations to Dr Meghna Jani, consultant rheumatologist at Salford Royal (part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust), who has been awarded The University of Manchester's Research Fellow of the Year Award 2026 for funded intermediate fellows within the faculty of biology, medicine and health.

The awarding panel said that she is an exceptional clinical academic whose work is improving medication safety and shaping practice nationally and internationally. Alongside this, she is a mentor and leader in the research community, supporting early-career researchers.

29/05/2026

A quick summary of our stats for 2025-26. Well done to all at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust who have contributed in any way to research to improve diagnosis, treatment and care for our patients and service users.
Huge thanks to everyone who volunteered to be part of a research study - we know from our regular surveys of participants that patients appreciate being able to contribute to future knowledge and value the care they receive from our colleagues.

22/05/2026

Pupils at Ladywood School in Little Lever are taking part in a research study screening for type 1 diabetes.
Ladywood is the first special school in the area to get involved in the ELSA study for children and young people. It uses a simple fingerprick test to check for type 1 diabetes antibodies before they have any symptoms. Identifying children at risk at this stage allows them to be treated sooner, preventing further complications.
More than 20 youngsters were screened by NCA’s community research team at the school, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted.
The team’s visit was supported by deputy headteacher Leanne du Preez, who is pictured with team lead Rachel Newport and research practitioner Danyal Mohammed. Ms du Preez said: "By bringing the ELSA study directly into Ladywood School, this initiative has broken down significant barriers to healthcare access for our children, ensuring that life-saving preventative screening is inclusive and stress-free. Ladywood SLT were delighted with so many families wanting their child to participate in the ELSA study. The Team were so empathetic supporting our children and intentionally did not wear uniforms as they felt this may create anxiety."
The study is open to children and young people aged two to 17 – schools and youth organisations who would like to offer this screening should contact [email protected]

20/05/2026

Today is when we celebrate the improvements to health care and treatment that have come through research. Here’s what some of our research colleagues at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust would like everyone to know about research

Address

Stott Lane
Manchester
M68HD

Website

http://www.NCAresearch.org.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when NCA Research & Innovation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to NCA Research & Innovation:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Manchester?