Carles Escriu, Medical Oncology Consultant at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Building a Research Engine for Thoracic Oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust: 16 Interventional Trials and Growing
I am incredibly proud to share that as we move into 2026, our Thoracic Oncology research portfolio at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust has reached a significant milestone: 16 thoracic oncology clinical trials open for recruitment.
What makes this portfolio unique is its breadth. We now offer research opportunities across:
- All treatment types (Immunotherapy, Targeted agents, Vaccines)
- All stages (from neoadjuvant to metastatic)
- All lines of therapy
The Infrastructure of Success High-value research isn’t just about the molecules; it’s about governance and people. Our output is sustained by a robust, structured programme:
- Diverse Leadership: Six dedicated PIs providing expert oversight and cross-cover. Kudos to Tony Pope, Niladri Ghosal, Matthew Howell, Olusola Faluyi, and Jonny Heseltine. I am also grateful for their mentorship to Prof Christian Ottensmeier, who generously opened us the door to high-impact translational projects, and Prof Timothy Maughan for his lessons in cross-disciplinary strategic research thinking.
- Operational Rigour: Weekly ‘Trial Governance’ meetings (pictured) involving nurses Latifah Archer and Ceri Moorcroft, our advanced research nurse and trials coordinator Will McCaig, and data managers Alana Ross and Kathryn Hales. Dr Nicola Hannaway never fails to support this meeting and add value. Special thanks to Michelle Moffitt, Linda Lyons, Suzanne Maloney, and Tom Collins for managing the setup, EOIs, SQVs, SIVs and daily operational challenges.
- Patient-Centric Care: Proactive screening supported by Andrea Law from our Business Intelligence team, and a structured management and documentation pathway that ensures safety and precision.
- Above all, patient care and patient choice: Our goal isn’t just to increase trial numbers, but to ensure that every patient in our region has the opportunity to access tomorrow’s standard of care, today.
This result is the fruit of years of consistent work under the management umbrella of Gillian Heap, Emma Whitby, and Maria Maguire. It proves that when you empower a dedicated team, you deliver world-class research directly to patients.
Thank you to the entire lung cancer team at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre for pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”
More posts about Thoracic Oncology.