The prospect of a £25m to £30m clinical research “centre of excellence” on Teesside is being investigated by health bosses.
Leaders on the area’s NHS group are looking at the possibility of a new clinical research facility, and at potential “benefactors” to provide money for the venture. The idea of a facility for all medical specialities was raised at a directors’ board meeting of the University Hospitals Tees group which covers South Tees and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trusts earlier this month.
A trust report says there are “draft plans” for such a centre of excellence for clinical academic research at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. Board members heard of South Tees Academic Centre for Surgery (ACeS), set up in 2022, which has a mission of establishing a “world-leading centre for collaborative surgical research and academic excellence, driving advancement of knowledge and improving outcomes from surgical care”, according to the South Tees trust’s website.
Non-executive director Professor Chris Day said as he gave a report from the group’s academic committee: “The only thing I would draw attention to which is very much on the positive, exciting side is that we received a presentation from the Academic Centre for Surgery. They provided a wonderful presentation of the great stuff they’re doing around surgery and perioperative care.
“They came with a proposal or have been discussing a proposal around a centre of excellence facility, an actual core building, a clinical research facility if you like. That was received very positively.
“But the point was made that this should be for everybody, that this shouldn’t be just a clinical research facility for the surgical academic specialities. It should be available to available to all specialities across the group.
“A feasibility study will be undertaken to support the plan and there’ll be a bid to fund that. I thought that was something worth highlighting, which is a very exciting development.
“It’s something that’s missing from the group at the moment, a real dedicated facility to do some of the types of studies that would be required to give you that full width of clinical research.”
Chief medical officer Dr Mike Stewart said they were working with Hull York Medical School: “It’s a feasibility of substantial benefactor identification and fundraising to identify specific funds for this development. I think a lot of the estates feasibility work has actually already been done.
“We are clear that there is the potential there, the ballpark figure from £25m to £30m. And the feasibility will be about saying, how realistic do we think it is to have a dedicated charitable funding drive, working with university colleagues to identify benefactors for that level of investment?
“That’s way above what our internal trust charities, our two trusts would be able to support.”
A report to the board said the “Academic Centre for Surgery (ACeS) update provided a comprehensive presentation from the team and the ambition to become a world-leading centre for excellence for surgical pathways. Effective collaborative working is ongoing with partner universities and the Royal College of Surgeons.
“Updates were provided on successful studies completed to date. The current position of the estate was discussed and draft plans for a Surgical Centre of Excellence facility at the JCUH site with the intention of being the facility to provide all clinical academic research. A feasibility study will need to be undertaken and a bid from charitable funds will be made to fund the cost of the feasibility study.”
