Diabetes, arthritis and cancer are among research studies at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn

Research to help find a cure for cancer, arthritis and multiple sclerosis are taking place thanks to people from across the Fens, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

People living locally are helping a team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn are taking part in more than 56 studies to support national and international researchers who are looking to into conditions like diabetes and childhood obesity as well as the physical and emotional effects of being treated in a Critical Care Unit.

Dr Antonia Hardcastle, who leads the Research and Development Team, has thanked the patients for supporting science and their local hospital. She said: “Patients are very generous to take part in these studies. We have some patients who are incredibly ill but continue to come to the hospital as they want to give something back.”

Thanks to the support of patients, the Hospital’s research and development team has increased its rankings in league tables published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

During the last 12 months, the department has seen a 116 per cent increase in the number of patients taking part in research and 24 per cent increase in the number of studies being delivered.

Among the projects being supported is Primetime, which could prevent some breast cancer patients making the daily journey to Cambridge for radiotherapy treatment.

The study looks to see if the patient is low risk and would not need radiotherapy.

The team is also supporting a five-year study to see if the regular taking of aspirin (under controlled conditions) could prevent some cancers from returning.

The team is looking for patient research ambassadors to support their work. Volunteers do not need a medical background. Contact research nurse Kelly.Waterfield@qehkl.nhs.uk.