Salford leads on collaborative study of major trauma

The University of Salford in collaboration with Manchester Royal Infirmary, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester and Waters Corporation Ltd are to carry out a cutting-edge study in a bid to improve clinical outcomes for patients admitted to hospital with major trauma.

Forty-five per cent of post-admission major trauma deaths are caused by sepsis and multiple organ failure as a result of uncontrolled immuno-modulatory responses.

Together they have launched a 200-patient study to define biomarkers – biological molecules that signal normal or abnormal activity – that could help predict which patients are most at risk.

The study will permit the further understanding of the immunological, proteomic and metabolic perturbations that occur as a consequence of major trauma.

NIHR backed

Dr Niroshini Nirmalan, senior lecturer at the University of Salford and principal investigator, said: “The collaborative initiative draws in strengths from the NHS, academia and industry to permit scientific enquiry into cellular perturbations following major trauma with a view to defining their impact on clinical outcome.”

The four-year study is supported by the National Institute for Health Research, as a NIHR-Portfolio case study (UKCRN 19377) which enables funding for research nurses at both hospitals.

Dr James Hanison, a consultant in intensive care at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, said:  “This project demonstrates how cooperation between Central Manchester Foundation Trust and the University of Salford is using cutting edge techniques to better understand and predict why some people develop secondary illnesses and fail to recover following major trauma. Understanding these processes is key to improving patient outcomes following injury.”

Dr Daniel Horner, consultant emergency physician at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This study is a great example of how major trauma centres in the North West can collaborate to deliver a regional project, improving the validity of the research”.
The work at Salford University is carried out by Dr Basmah Allarakia (PhD student) and Matthew Jones (MRes student) who are co-supervised by Dr. Lucy Smyth.