Work of Leicester Real World Evidence Unit highlighted in recent Government policy document

Leicester Real World Evidence Unit celebrated for cutting-edge work.

Work by the Leicester Real World Evidence Unit at Leicester Diabetes Centre – a partnership between the University of Leicester and Leicester’s Hospitals – has been described by the Government as an exemplar of the Midlands’ ‘cutting-edge, data science-enabled ecosystem that is delivering large, collaborative, NHS partnering innovation platforms’ in a recent Government policy report.

Headed by Professor Kamlesh Khunti, the Real World Evidence Unit works with clinical, academic and industrial investigators to design and deliver high-quality real world evidence studies.

The Unit is funded by the University of Leicester, with additional matched funding from other academic departments and bodies, including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East Midlands (CLAHRC-EM).

Both the NIHR and the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) have welcomed the second Sector Deal, published in December 2018, which reports on progress made over the last year and includes new commitments from Government and industry.

Professor Khunti, Head of Department and Professor of Primary Care, Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: “We are delighted that our work was mentioned in this important Government Report. The Real World Evidence Unit was launched earlier this year and it is now evident that policy makers, patients and healthcare professionals are interested in data from real world practice.”

The Government is now investing in the infrastructure needed to support real-world studies, hoping to put the UK at the forefront of scientific and technological advances in healthcare, to optimise patient care and NHS resources.