Accelerating access to life-changing diabetes treatment
An artificial pancreas developed by NIHR-supported researchers and recommended by NICE is changing the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.
- Published: 22 September 2023
Case studies
Latest case studies
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Latest case studies
Supporting the continence of people living with dementia in hospital
NIHR-funded researchers are changing the course of continence care for people living with dementia in hospital after finding that usual care cultures are promoting incontinence.
- Published: 26 July 2023
New chest pain assessment helps shorten hospital stays
NIHR-funded researchers testing a high-sensitivity blood test found that it successfully ruled out heart attacks in patients with chest pain, allowing many to be discharged from hospital without admission after just one blood test. The new approach is being rolled out across emergency departments nationally.
- Published: 19 July 2023
Routine change of surgical gloves makes global surgery safer
Working alongside a global network of surgeons, NIHR- funded researchers have shown that the number of life-threatening surgical site infections can be reduced by a simple, low-cost change of gloves and instruments during surgery.
- Published: 30 June 2023
Improving outcomes for very preterm babies and their parents
An NIHR-funded programme of research to improve the quality of care and health of very preterm babies has improved understanding of parents’ experiences and informed both clinical guidelines and the direction of future research.
- Published: 24 May 2023
Stemming the rise of antibiotic resistance to bring improvements for patient care
An NIHR Research Professorship has enabled a Bristol-based GP to design and deliver interventions to reduce clinical uncertainty around prescribing antibiotics.
- Published: 18 May 2023
Antibiotics after assisted birth halves the rate of infection
NIHR researchers investigating ways to reduce health risks in maternity care have shown that a single dose of antibiotic after assisted childbirth can nearly halve the risk of maternal infection.
- Published: 28 April 2023
Bridging Gaps in primary healthcare for women with complex needs
Research career development funding through NIHR awards is supporting Lucy Potter’s research career progression while improving access to primary care for people who experience severe and multiple disadvantage.
- Published: 21 April 2023
Preventing cerebral palsy in premature babies
An NIHR-funded evaluation confirmed that PreCept, a national programme to prevent cerebral palsy, improved the uptake of an important treatment for women in preterm labour and helped protect premature babies from developing cerebral palsy.
- Published: 29 March 2023
New pathway to monitor diabetic eye disease cuts waiting times
A new pathway to monitor people with stable diabetic eye disease has been shown by NIHR researchers to be safe and cost-effective, giving ophthalmologists more time to assess and treat people requiring their urgent care.
- Published: 24 February 2023
Wider access to mindfulness therapy benefits patients with recurrent depression
NIHR research in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for patients with recurrent depression, leads to new guidance to support its wider provision by NHS services.
- Published: 09 February 2023
Specialist support for people who are homeless reduces emergency hospital readmissions
An NIHR-funded evaluation of specialist hospital discharge services for homeless patients confirmed that they helped prevent discharge to the street, reduced emergency readmissions and were cost-effective for the NHS.
- Published: 16 January 2023
New surgical devices improve access to surgery in low-resource settings
The NIHR Global Health Research Group in Surgical Technologies has developed and trained surgeons to use innovative new devices, enabling routine surgery in remote communities in low-resource settings.
- Published: 16 December 2022
Guiding the UK and international response during the Covid-19 pandemic
The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Modelling and Health Economics played a critical role in providing urgent public health advice to policy makers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their research contributed to saving tens of thousands of lives in the UK and internationally.
- Published: 09 December 2022
Vocational advice in primary care supports a faster return to work for patients with musculoskeletal pain
Gwenllian Wynne-Jones used NIHR funding to develop vocational advice that significantly reduced work absence among patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
- Published: 24 November 2022
Life story work can help care workers and relatives connect with people with dementia
An NIHR-funded feasibility study about life story work with people with dementia showed how the approach could help people connect.
- Published: 11 November 2022
Computer therapy helps people regain words after stroke
Combining computer-based speech and language therapy with usual NHS care can help some people improve their communication following a stroke.
- Published: 20 October 2022
Supporting mental health after flooding
Researchers from three NIHR Health Protection Research Units have found that flooding can have a significant negative impact on the mental health of people whose homes are flooded, as well as those whose lives are disrupted by flooding events. Their research has informed guidance for local authorities, policy makers and public health practitioners on planning for and dealing with the aftermath of a flood.
- Published: 29 September 2022
New guidance improves the way communication aids are provided for non-speaking children
Innovative research into the provision of communication aids for non-speaking children has created new guidance to improve the way aid is provided.
- Published: 08 September 2022
Breath-hold reduces risk of heart damage during breast cancer radiotherapy
A simple technique in which patients hold their breath for up to 20 seconds to spare the heart from radiotherapy during breast cancer treatment has been adopted as the standard of care across many UK hospitals.
- Published: 31 August 2022
Improving outcomes in cystic fibrosis with inhaled gene therapy
Evidence from a gene therapy trial has contributed to a partnership between researchers and commercial companies to develop clinical trials and a potential treatment for cystic fibrosis
- Published: 10 August 2022
Hormone treatment offered to women at high risk of miscarriage
Find out how our funded research has influenced policy and helped to prevent 8,000 miscarriages a year.
- Published: 26 July 2022
Shorter radiotherapy treatment benefits women with early-stage breast cancer
Breast cancer patients in the UK can now receive fewer radiotherapy sessions following surgery after the FAST-Forward trial confirmed that a one-week course was as safe and effective as the standard three-week course. The new treatment schedule is now being adopted internationally.
- Published: 14 July 2022
Improving outcomes after trauma and blood loss
NIHR researchers have developed new ways of diagnosing and treating severe bleeding after traumatic injury. Their revised protocol has been adopted by almost all major trauma centres in the UK and incorporated into clinical guidelines around the world, saving hundreds of lives and making significant cost savings for the NHS.
- Published: 28 June 2022
Relational working key in delivering high-quality healthcare in care homes
The NIHR-funded Optimal study showed how care home and NHS services can work together to improve residents’ care. Its results have informed national policy and shaped changes to service delivery to improve the quality of life, health care and health planning for people living in care homes.
- Published: 23 June 2022