So, what happens when a New Zealander, an Irishman and an English Lady get together in Cardiff on a damp Wednesday afternoon in September? The Cardiff Cancer Research Partnership (CCRP) is launched to an appreciative gathered audience at Cardiff University’s Haydn Ellis Building.
A momentous day. The culmination of much hard work and effort by those who made the existing cross- institutional work indicate that formalised partnership is the logical way ahead. Cardiff and Vale Health Board (C&VHB), Velindre NHS Trust (VUHNHST) and Cardiff University (CU) are, in this research aspect of their work, to be one. A collective striving for research advances which will bring better treatment results for patients and should bring investment to the whole area.
Cancer research, as well as being vital to future population health prospects, is undertaken in a very competitive environment. There are other large UK centres of excellence who compete to obtain the limited funding which facilitates the research. It is very clear that a key aim of the CCRP will be to make Cardiff and by association, Wales an attractive place for such investment.
It was good to be there, and I was very fortunate that my role as a public (lay) research partner at the Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC) afforded me this event ‘viewing’ opportunity. In keeping with the spirit of the event I already had links with the Velindre Research Strategy and the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) at Cardiff University – so I am cross boundary. Also, many of the Clinicians and research nurses that I meet with are employed by the C&VHB.
My opening line about the international trio gathering was actually used during the launch by Prof. Wendy Larner, the Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University who spoke alongside Chief Executives David Donegan (VUHNHST) and Suzanne Rankin (C&VHB). For myself it was very significant that these three leaders (the ‘big cheeses’) were present and were clearly committed and passionate about the CCRP. Beyond the leaders in my ‘viewing of the room’ I saw many in the audience that I work with in my public involvement. Driving forces of this initiative such as Professors Mererid Evans and Prof. Awen Gallimore were tactfully marshalling the day – his being in a culmination of theirs and others’ efforts.
As a member of the public, I know that a research active health workforce can bring better treatment results for patients. That always encourages me in my lay person efforts to provide commentary and opinion on research proposals.
An exceptional and inspiring keynote speaker at the event was Denise Calder who leads a similar academic and health research partnership in Scotland. She very clearly outlined what needs to be done for CCRP best intentions to be converted to tangible achievements – though this initiative will need some additional resource and allocated time and that is where our earlier named trio of senior leaders can significantly impact.