Clinical trials in one of the world's most diverse neighbourhoods

Partnering with Barts Health to address inequalities in health research

Our long running partnership with Barts NHS Trust combines research and clinical expertise with one of the most diverse patient populations on earth to provide an unrivalled centre of excellence for commercial clinical trials. Our shared strategy builds on our research strengths in cardiovascular disease, cancer, trauma, population health, and precision medicine.

Our researchers support early translational and experimental medicine research, from studies testing new treatments in patients for the very first time through to early safety and efficacy trials.

Ethnic diversity has historically been lacking in clinical trials, limiting the value of research. By opening trials to more people in our own neighbourhood, our research is far more impactful for improving health outcomes locally, nationally, and globally. This was particularly evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. We contributed to a trial of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to ensure people would have access to different types of vaccines that work for all.

We’re now building on this long running partnership to develop our campus at Whitechapel and provide a space for our researchers, scientists and clinicians to work directly alongside businesses and entrepreneurs, creating the healthcare solutions of tomorrow. This will allow us to share ground-breaking ideas, develop new ways of working, improve health outcomes and reduce the costs faced by health systems.

Working with Charco to bring life-changing support to people with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurodegenerative condition worldwide, affecting over 10 million people. We’re proud to be working alongside the MedTech startup Charo Neurotech to help further develop and test their CUE1 device.

CUE1 is a wearable and discreet device which delivers individualised peripheral nerve stimulation to alleviate motor symptoms such as slowness, stiffness and freezing while walking. 

Via a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, our researchers are helping to test the device’s feasibility for treating a much wider range of Parkinson’s patients. We’re assessing its tolerability and clinical outcomes, determining the best settings and positioning, and drafting a design for a formal clinical trial.

“We could not be more happy to be working together with QMUL on this project. Working with such an institution and leaders in the world of Parkinson's will be instrumental and invaluable in translating research and development to support this intervention. This will help us to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's.” 

Lucy Jung, CEO and co-founder, Charco