Health Faculty Publications PG Study and Research 2016 | Page 53

THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN MEDICINE
bridges the interface between new advances in basic science and medicine, allowing the translation
of laboratory findings into ‘precision medicine’ benefits for patients. A truly multidisciplinary
approach to research is used to address clinical problems with an excellent integration of the skills
and knowledge of engineers, mathematicians, biologists, physicists and clinicians. ISTM has expanded
rapidly over the last ten years. In the UK national Research Excellence Framework 2014, 90% of the
Institute’s submitted research was rated as internationally significant or higher, including over 40%
ranked as world-leading. Particular highlights were ISTM's ‘exemplary strategic approach’ to research
impact, and its ‘outstanding’ case studies in Cell Therapy, and in clinical outcomes of patients with
kidney failure. The focused interaction of scientist and clinician in a single unit is key to the success of
the Institute, building on the strength of the individual researchers. Clinically there are strong areas in
orthopaedics, renal and respiratory medicine, rehabilitation, neuroscience, cancer, pathology,
neonatal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, which exist across hospitals in North Staffordshire
and Shropshire that include the University Hospitals of the North Midlands NHS Trust and the Robert
Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire. The Institute’s ‘bench to bedside’

STUDENT
PROFILE

approach also fosters excellent working relationships with the NHS nationally, and worldwide medical
and biotechnology industries. Research in the Institute is grouped into eight Themes, each with an
international profile for research, for example some of the key areas are:

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Bioengineering and the therapeutic use of stem cells;

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Genetics and epigenetics, structural biology, cell biology, apoptosis;

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Novel imaging and diagnostics, e.g., to identify disease biomarkers;

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Neurosciences, e.g., related to stroke, Parkinson’s disease, hearing loss.

The Institute has state-of-the-art laboratory and clinical research facilities at its three research sites
(Guy Hilton Research Centre; Keele University campus; and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt
Hospital, Oswestry), including the latest equipment for translational research such as cell therapy
suites, genomic facilities, and advanced laser and diagnostic laboratories. The Institute attracts major
research grant funding of £5million per year from UK Research Councils, European Union, National
Institutes for Health USA, Department of Health, Royal Society, Innovate UK and many UK charities. It
currently has in training around 100 doctoral students and supports four successful Masters courses.
The Institute has developed an international profile for its recent work at the cutting edge of stem cell
therapies and is a European Tissue Engineering