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Research undertaken with the Newcastle Hospitals Transplant Unit led to the approval of two new transplant processes and resulted in the expansion of the kidney donor pool.
Research in the Department of Social Anthropology concerning the ethics of the use of biotechnology has had an impact on organisations with a public voice on the ethical use and regulation of body parts for reproduction and medicine, such as the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB), and indirectly the Welsh Assembly, the UK-wide Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA). Further, their recommendations which have been informed by this research have had significant impact on public understanding and debate; health and well-being; and on egg donors and recipients in particular. Implementation of recommendations based on the research has seen waiting times for donor eggs halve.
Professor Randhawa's research has made significant impact upon government policy and practice in relation to public engagement and professional training in the field of organ donation. The Government's Organ Donation Taskforce made 14 recommendations, one of which was to ensure organ donation was made more visible among BME communities. Subsequently, NICE Guidelines specifically referred to the need to address faith and cultural issues for families and relevant training for staff. This has informed specific national campaigns by targeting different communities and providing relevant staff training which has led to an increase in organ donor registrations from diverse communities.
This case study describes the impact of Sque's programme of research into the psychological and social concerns that impact organ/tissue donation and family members' end of life and post mortem decision-making. This work has impacted UK national policy, which guides practice and education of health professionals about the care of families who have organ donation discussed with them, and national guidance for staff responsible for care after death (last offices). It has informed public debate internationally about care of the bereaved family and how to increase the availability of organs, from deceased persons for transplants. The reach and significance of this information ranges from an international (ELPAT) and parliamentary platform to teaching volunteer service users within the University of Wolverhampton's Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing about the need for post mortem organ donation. This research has therefore impacted the public and healthcare professionals, locally, nationally and internationally.
Algorithms developed by University of Glasgow researchers have helped NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) tackle the complex problem of increasing the number of kidney transplants in the UK. For people with end-stage renal failure, the most effective form of treatment is transplantation. Dr David Manlove's research team have developed sophisticated algorithms which allow the NHS to help patients who require a kidney transplant, and who have a willing but incompatible donor, to exchange their donor with that of another patient in a similar position, in what is known as a paired exchange. By optimising kidney exchanges, University of Glasgow research has increased the number of transplants from paired donation by 40% between 2008 and 2013, when measured in comparison with the number of transplants that would have been possible with previous pairing techniques. Dr Manlove's work with NHSBT has translated not only into increased quality of life for patients freed from long term dialysis but will also afford the NHS an estimated £16 million of savings over the next 10 years.
Lung transplants represent the last hope for cystic fibrosis patients with end-stage lung disease. However, since the mid-1990s, other than in large research centres, some cystic fibrosis patients were not offered this treatment because of the variable and often poor outcome of surgery. This patient group carried a difficult to treat bacterial infection caused by the Burkholderia genus. In 2001 researchers in Newcastle published findings that demonstrated that one particular species, Burkholderia cenocepacia, was responsible for the poor outcomes and that other species of Burkholderia were not as dangerous. This finding was incorporated into international guidelines and since 2008 most transplant centres worldwide have adopted a risk stratification approach to listing patients for transplant. Consequently, more than 30 people per year worldwide now get transplants that would otherwise have been denied.
The Adult Developmental coordination disorder Checklist (ADC) is the first screening tool developed specifically to identify the difficulties experienced by adults with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).
DCD was previously regarded as a childhood disorder. However, increasing evidence suggests that the motor difficulties experienced persist into adulthood. Previously, little information was being collected about how these difficulties present in adulthood or their impact on everyday living and there was no standardised screening tools for assessing the level of functional impairment.
The key impact of the ADC is that it is currently being used clinically nationally and internationally to clarify target areas for support.
Chronic granulomatous disease is a rare but very serious inherited disorder of the immune system that leaves sufferers vulnerable to potentially fatal bacterial and fungal infections. Researchers at Newcastle University demonstrated very high survival and cure rates following bone marrow transplantation for the disease and good quality of life for successfully transplanted patients. This led to a change in national clinical policy, and doctors at both specialist disease centres in the UK now recommend transplantation to families where previously they would not have done so. In the five years prior to 2008 there were only 11 transplants for chronic granulomatous disease in the UK and in the following five years, 36 transplants. 32 children are alive and cured of the disease.