LSTM's Dr Ryan Robinson nominated in the 2020 North West Research and Innovation Awards

News article 13 Feb 2020
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Clinical Research Fellow at LSTM, Dr Ryan Robinson, has been nominated for a Rising Star award for 2020 North West Research and Innovation Awards.

Dr Robinson has been shortlisted for his work exploring novel diagnostic methods for pneumococcal disease. He said: “I am delighted that the research I am undertaking has been recognised in this way. Lung Health is poor in Liverpool and the work that I am doing aims to deliver effective and relevant respiratory research to improve the diagnosis of pneumococcal disease which impacts severely on the NHS and patients alike. Research is therefore being delivered where it is needed most.”

The awards are a collaboration between the Innovation Agency, (the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast), the NIHR Clinical Research Network North West Coast; and NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast (CLAHRC NWC).

The aim is to celebrate success for the excellent work being undertaken across the region in clinical research and innovation in health and the winners across all the categories will be announced at an event at the Park Royal Hotel, Warrington on 28th February.

Dr Robinson has received a grant from CEIDR Innovations to apply two breath-based diagnostic techniques to the well-established world-leading ‘Experimental Human Pneumococcal Challenge’ (EHPC) model. The study involves close collaboration with local, national, international and industry partners, to ensure any benefit translates into patient care in the future. In addition, he was involved in the set up a new EHPC model which will directly impact future pneumonia vaccine development.

Working under the supervision of Dr Andrea Collins, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at LSTM, Clinical Director of the Accelerator Research Clinic (ARC) and honorary respiratory consultant at Liverpool University Hospitals and Prof Daniela Ferreira, Professor of respiratory vaccines and infection immunology,  Dr Robinson’s research, in part, has utilised the EHPC model developed at LSTM, which provides the ideal opportunity to investigate the human response to the bacteria pneumococcus. The team has been involved in the creation of a new method investigating bacterial transmission in the community, through home sampling of participant’s contacts.