Latest phase of cutting edge research officially opened at Morriston Hospital

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The latest phase of pioneering research into blood clotting by a team at Morriston Hospital is under way – supported by a £1.2 million grant.

Emergency Translational Research Unit 1ABMU Chief Executive Paul Roberts has officially opened the three-year Emergency Translational Research Unit and Programme at the hospital’s Emergency Department.

This is a collaboration between the health board, Swansea University and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Emergency medicine consultant Professor Adrian Evans leads the team of highly-qualified multi-disciplinary professionals.

Professor Evans said: “This current programme builds on the success of research carried out during the last 10 years.

“During this time the unit has progressed and developed an excellent reputation in the field of coagulation research.

”Many of the patients who come through the Emergency Department at Morriston have illnesses that affect their clotting system such as stroke, infection, trauma or heart attacks.

“Over the last 10 years we have been looking at developing new biomarkers that can help us detect these effects earlier and will hopefully help us direct and improve treatments in time.”

Professor Evans has worked to develop the new biomarkers (a form of blood test) with colleague Professor Rhodri Williams at the College of Engineering, Swansea University.

Their research has been boosted by a £1.2 million grant by EPSRC to evaluate how the biomarkers perform against conventional tests in a larger group of patients.

ABMU Chief Executive Paul Roberts said: “I was very pleased to officially open the new Emergency Translational Research Unit and Programme, which is another example of the innovative work being undertaken at Morriston Hospital.

“It is also a demonstration of the success of the partnership between our health board and Swansea University.

“As well as being determined to provide excellent care we are, as a university health board, continuing to push the boundaries of research and innovation for the benefit of patients.”  

Emergency Translational Research Unit 2The current team involves a large group of specialists in the fields of medicine and engineering.

In addition the unit collaborates with other internationally recognised units in the UK and the US to develop more effective markers of abnormal clotting and treatment.

Professor Rhodri Williams said: “Working with clinical colleagues in the NHS over the last 10 years has been a productive and stimulating research experience.

“It has been a major factor contributing to our present world-leading position in haemorheology (the science of blood flow in the circulatory system) and blood clotting diagnostics.

“The ESPRC Healthcare Impact Partnership award underpins the continued development of this research with the NHS, and its translation into clinical practice."

Professor Evans added: “Although our research is still in its early stages, during the next three years we hope to have a better understanding of how these diseases affect clotting.

“Having the EPSRC recognise and fund this latest phase is an excellent indictment of the importance of the research carried out jointly between the health board and the university.”


 This is an ABMU Health Board news release. 


Established in 2004, Swansea University’s College of Medicine is an internationally-recognised centre of excellence in medical research, education and innovation. The College of Medicine delivers a comprehensive education and training portfolio, from undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in medicine and life sciences, to professional graduate training and research. It also works closely with its NHS partners in achieving excellence in teaching, research and clinical service. Visit one of the UK’s fastest growing medical schools at http://www.swansea.ac.uk/medicine/.