Cancer centre's pioneering research boosted with investment of more than £450,000
Pioneering research at Swansea’s cancer centre is set to reach even greater heights after an investment of more than £450,000.
The South West Wales Cancer Centre, or SWWCC, at Singleton Hospital has a proud track record of taking part in innovative trials which have been game-changers in terms of treatments.
(Main image above: consultant clinical oncologist Dr Sarah Gwynne, who led the successful application)
Now it has been awarded a share of the £300 million investment from the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth.
Known as VPAG, this is an agreement between the four UK nations and the pharmaceutical industry, expanding the UK’s capacity and capability to support commercial clinical trial delivery.
The SWWCC, which treats patients from the Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda health board areas, has been awarded £466,156.
The centre undertakes non-commercial and commercial studies, with a dedicated clinical trials suite next to its Chemotherapy Day Unit, or CDU.
One of the many trials it has been involved with was Checkmate 067, a global study which has transformed the management of metastatic melanoma – skin cancer that has spread.
It was undertaken at 137 centres worldwide, with Swansea the fifth highest recruiter.
However, the size of the clinical trial pharmacy team, which supports all trials, not just those involving cancer, did not expand to keep up with the significant increase in the number of trials.
A pharmacist vacancy within the team significantly impacted oncology trial capacity at the cancer centre.
However, VPAG funding presented an opportunity to stabilise and grow the pharmacy clinical trials team, safeguarding current studies and unlocking future commercial trial delivery.
So, discussions to develop an application were held with health board Associate Medical Director for R&D, Professor Steve Bain (pictured right), the R&D team and Dr Leighton Phillips, Director of Research, Innovation and Value in Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Dr Sarah Gwynne, consultant clinical oncologist and SWWCC research lead, then led the successful investment application on behalf of the cancer centre.
The investment will pay for a new principal pharmacist to support all trials taking place in Singleton and the neighbouring Joint Research Facility run by Swansea Bay UHB and Swansea University.
It includes strategic oversight for ensuring long term capacity to deliver increasingly complex clinical trials. The new post will sit within the R&D department and will be part of the R&D Senior Management Team.
It will also pay for a dedicated pharmacy technician, with both roles seen as essential to supporting future activity and growth.
Additionally, the funding will provide for medical leadership, to help identify potential trials and provide support to the teams in getting them set up, as well as the appointment of a part-time nurse.
The latter will act as a liaison between research nurses and chemotherapy nurses, and to support delivery of trial treatments in the CDU.
Professor Bain said: “This is an excellent use of the VPAG monies and exactly what UK Government and the pharmaceutical companies which fund the scheme envisaged – bottlenecks in R&D activity being addressed with targeted funding, rapidly delivered.
“I hope and envisage that many such focussed initiatives will follow across Wales.”
Swansea Bay is part of the Commercial Research Delivery Wales infrastructure. National Director of Support and Delivery, Dr Nicola Williams (left), said: “Research is integral to improving patient care and outcomes.
“This focus from UK Government shows the impact research has, not only on patients, but the NHS and our economy.
“This significant investment will enhance our capacity to conduct commercial clinical research and also ensure that Wales remains at the forefront of medical innovation.
“We look forward to working together with NHS organisations as they continue to deliver truly life-changing research on our doorstep.”
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