ECSG is key collaborator in University’s new Centre for Blood Research

A powerful collaboration

The Epidemiology and Cancer Statistics Group’s main study, the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN), involves long-term collaboration with the Biology Department (University of York), the Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds), and NHS clinicians across 14 hospitals. ECSG has well established Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation (PPIEP), part of which includes the York Haematology Support Group (YHSG), for people affected by blood cancer.

In a celebratory event, these groups came together for the launch of the new Centre for Blood Research, which was chaired by Ian Hitchcock, Professor of Experimental Biology. Emphasising the current and future integration of their groups, talks were given by Catherine Cargo (HMDS), Eve Roman (Health Sciences), Ian Hitchcock (Biology), David Kent (Biology), and Adele Fielding (Hull York Medical School: HYMS).

Patients are at the heart of everything we do

Around 15 people affected by blood cancer (patients and family members) also attended the event, representing those affected by blood cancer who are at the centre of the collaboration, and will benefit most from future work taking place in the Centre.

In light of this, part of the final session included a moving talk from Carol Miller, who discussed her experience of having acute leukaemia. Debra Howell, who leads ECSG’s PPIEP and facilitates YHSG with Carol Miller, followed this by discussing the importance of PPIEP within the Centre.

The meeting ended with a social gathering, in which patients, researchers, charity partners and all other attendees had the opportunity to discuss the presentations they had seen, their own experiences, and the work that will take place within the CBR.