More people in Teesside will have access to health research studies after two NHS trusts went into a new partnership.
A new research centre at the University Hospital of North Tees will be run by FutureMeds, who lead health research studies across Europe.
They will work with health staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
They will help the two trusts – who are part of the Tees Valley Research Alliance – to increase the number of clinical studies they are a part of and the number of people recruited into these.
Speaking at an official opening event at the new site this week, Justin Carter, clinical director for research and development at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our patients want to be involved in research.
“They know it means they have more contact with us and improved care not only for them but for people in the future.
“NHS organisations who are actively involved in research are also able to improve and progress.
“We are really pleased to be able to launch this new partnership to further increase activity in the alliance.”
Flagship research site
Dr Radoslaw Janiak, chief executive of FutureMeds, said: “We want this centre to be our flagship site and a real example of a successful collaboration between health organisations.
“From this site (at the University Hospital of North Tees), we aim to open more studies and enhance the studies already being carried out.
“We have very ambitious goals from the six countries and 18 locations we currently operate from and are excited to be able to add to this with this new partnership.”
There are 160 members of staff supporting the delivery of research across the alliance between North Tees and Hartlepool and South Tees.
Together, they have recruited more than 6,000 patients over the last year into trials across 26 clinical specialisms.