Today (20 May) is International Clinical Trials Day, which is an opportunity for everyone taking part in clinical research to celebrate the progress being made to improve health and well-being.
Serving a regional catchment area of over 3.5m people across the North East, North Yorkshire and North Cumbria, groundbreaking cancer treatments are moving forward every day at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.
The internationally acclaimed trials centre within the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, was officially opened by Sir Bobby in 2009 and has more than 1,000 patient visits annually.
It delivers complex, first in human, adult early phase trials for cancer patients who have tried standard treatments, or for patients who know benefit to them is uncertain but who want to help find future cures.
It is making such a positive difference that demand for trials means it is now at capacity and reluctantly turning down new research opportunities that could potentially help patients.
To address this need, work has begun to build the Sir Bobby Robson Institute on site at the Freeman Hospital, which will increase current cancer trial capacity by 50 per cent.
The institute will also bring together the early phase trials team, currently based in the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, and the late phase and haematology cancer trials team, currently based within the Northern Centre for Cancer Care.
Both trials teams are headed up by Professor Ruth Plummer, Sir Bobby’s oncologist and director of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.
Professor Plummer says: “International Clinical Trials Day is an important day for everyone, involved in clinical research, including scientists, researchers, clinicians and patients. While we’re always aiming for more, it’s a good time to take a step back and appreciate how far cancer treatment has come.
“In 2007, Sir Bobby took part in a clinical trial because he had a type of cancer where there were very limited treatment options available.
“He was open to trying something new and fully committed to the trial, even though it meant more hospital visits than standard cancer care. Like all of all our trials patients, he wanted to see things move forward so he went on a clinical trial and actually exceeded his prognosis by many months.
“That was just before we had immunotherapy and targeted treatments available to us and things have moved on significantly now.
“In fact, things have progressed to the point where, today, Sir Bobby wouldn’t be on a trial, he’d be on standard treatment with a reasonable chance of response. So, even though his was a not a common cancer, things have still greatly improved since his treatment.”
The new £30m Sir Bobby Robson Institute will provide patient-centred cancer care and research to find new ways to detect and treat cancer.
Funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, thanks to the generosity of donors, supporters and fundraisers, more than £26.5 million has already been raised to support the project.
Support is now crucial to raise the final funds to complete and fully equip the Institute by 2027.
Developed in close partnership with Newcastle Hospitals, Newcastle University and industry partners, the institute will support patients across multiple cancer types, and will strengthen the North East’s position in delivering innovative, life-saving research worldwide.
Professor Plummer adds: “The new Sir Bobby Robson Institute will bring even more clinical trials to this region as well as attracting global research talent. Ultimately, that means bringing new hope to patients and I know Sir Bobby would have been incredibly proud of everyone contributing to make the build happen.
“He was an inspiring man and it seems absolutely right that the institute will carry his name.
“When he was referred to us, obviously we knew who he was but he was simply a patient to us and a very nice man. He never asked for or expected any special treatment, and he was a big advocate for the NHS.
“He asked sensible questions and wanted to know about his treatment but he was very good at that sort of switch between being a manager and then becoming a patient. He listened to our expertise and then took it on board and trusted the information.
“We miss his involvement in The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, of course, but everything we’re achieving now is because of the incredible legacy he left us.
“He’d be thrilled to see construction begin on the institute and, as his son Mark says, now we have to keep on pedalling fast to raise the final funds we need to complete the project. Sir Bobby would expect nothing less from us.”
For Sir Bobby Robson Institute fundraising enquiries please contact Kate Bradley [email protected] or call 0191 213 7235.
About clinical research at Newcastle Hospitals
Clinical trials and studies are part of health research. They help us to find out more about our health, discover new treatments for different diseases, and spot health issues sooner.
In Newcastle our research is varied, with around 500 studies running at any one time across all clinical areas – from studies that involve a simple interview or conversation, through to testing medicines and treatments at different stages of development.
While some of our research focusses on specific health conditions, we also need healthy volunteers to take part in trials and studies.
You can receive information about upcoming trials that you might be eligible for by signing up to our online research registry, Research + Me. Taking part is entirely optional and we will never share your personal information.
Find out more about research at Newcastle Hospitals and how to get involved.
