The £3.1 million North Midlands Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) was opened by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) on Monday (21 October). 

The new facility, based at Royal Stoke University Hospital, aims to bring together research teams, clinicians, academics and industry partners to give patients across Staffordshire and surrounding areas better access to innovative treatments and clinical trials. 

The centre was government funded as part of a UK-wide initiative of 21 CRDCs intended to deliver high-quality research whilst improving health outcomes across the NHS. 

UHNM Chief Executive, Dr Simon Constable said: "We know that research-active organisations deliver better outcomes for patients, and that's why research sits right at the heart of UHNM's strategy. 

"It's absolutely right that we pursue research at all times in every area of care and there is no type of research that is out of our reach." 

The North Midlands CRDC was officially opened by Dr Constable and Malcolm Scovell, a 67-year-old retired engineer from Nantwich taking part in myeloma research at UHNM. 

Scovell, who was diagnosed with myeloma in 2014, said: "I feel incredibly proud to play even a small part in helping research move forward. 

"I've been very fortunate with my treatment and this is my way of giving something back. 

 "As an engineer by background, I've spent my whole career believing in the power of research and innovation and I can't imagine a world without it. 

"It's wonderful to see UHNM investing in research that will make a real difference for patients in the future." 

The event was attended by partners from Keele University and the National Institute for Health and Care Research alongside members of UHNM's Research and Innovation Department.