The Academic Centre for Surgery holds first annual regional networking event

The Academic Centre for Surgery (ACeS) held its first annual regional networking event on Thursday 6 July in STRIVE at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The event hosted a wide range of speakers representing a variety of different clinical and academic backgrounds providing information about the ongoing work within the team and with partner organisations. The first half of the event provided updates on current activities and proposed research projects within the department.

Following the updates, several external speakers were invited to discuss the various ways that ACeS can provide support for research projects.

This included Professor Dimitris Lagos (Hull York Medical School), Professor Joy Adamson from York Trials Unit (University of York), Professor Caroline Wroe (NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria), Victoria Christie (Academic Health Science Network) and Mr Bob Slight (North England Forum for Surgical Research).

Professor Peter Hutchinson from The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS Eng) discussed the Surgical Trials Initiative from RCS Eng and commended the ability of ACeS to support this project.

He said: “We are delighted to partner with one of our trial centres and our chairs through the Hull York Medical School, University of York and The Royal College of Surgeons of England, to support the development of the Academic Centre for Surgery at South Tees.”

Professor Caroline Wroe, clinical director of the NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria, said: "It is fantastic to see colleagues from a variety of specialities coming together to support the growth of surgery research and share expertise for the benefit of patient care.

“The NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria is proud to support research through programmes such as the Associate Principal Investigator scheme and we look forward to working with ACeS to foster the growing enthusiasm for surgery research in the region and beyond."

Professor Amar Rangan, professor of orthopaedic surgery, head of the ACeS and the Royal College of Surgeons chair, said: "It is great to see the level of enthusiasm from colleagues in South Tees Hospitals Trust and wider in the region to engage with ACeS to develop high quality patient centred research, and to seek opportunities for personal career development.

“We already have a fantastic core team, and we have plans for imminent expansion to support that growing demand."

About the Academic Centre for Surgery

ACeS was established in 2021 as a partnership between South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hull York Medical School, the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York and The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Led by Professor Amar Rangan, ACeS is a centre for collaborative surgical research and academic excellence optimising outcomes through evidence-based patient care.

The core team currently consists of 5 members with plans for imminent expansion including a consultant senior lecturer, senior project manager and two associate clinical leads posts.

The centre boasts 11 specialities, including trauma and orthopaedics, neurosurgery, surgical oncology, general surgery and more.

ACeS also support medics, nurses, allied health professionals and clinical research practitioners in developing their academic research careers. This includes MDs, PhDs, fellowships and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) internships.

The ACeS team has successfully supported the study design, grant preparation and delivery of a variety of projects with 26 active grants of £22.62 million – with 18 of these grants being sponsored by South Tees Hospitals Trust.

The team works closely with patients, the public and commissioners to ensure their opinions and perspectives are appropriate and accurately reflected throughout the development, delivery and dissemination of our research and findings.

To get in touch with ACeS, please email aces@nhs.net, or follow ACeS on Twitter.