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Willows Health and De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have launched an innovative partnership aimed at transforming the quality of care provided to patients across Leicester and Leicestershire.
The new Willows-DMU Centre for Primary Care Research is designed to foster collaboration between expert clinicians in primary care, academic leaders in health and social care, and specialists in research design. This unique platform will enable ground-breaking research that prioritizes patients in community settings, rather than focusing solely on hospital care.
Willows Health, as Leicestershire’s largest GP practice, is committed to pioneering advancements in healthcare delivery. By working alongside DMU, a leader in impactful research, the new centre will focus on original studies that directly enhance patient care and outcomes. Unlike much of the existing research that is centred on hospital patients, this partnership will delve into primary care—the front line of the healthcare system—where GPs and community pharmacies deliver essential services.
Professor David Mba, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at DMU, emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “DMU has a proud history of research that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives. By collaborating with Willows Health, we have a tremendous opportunity to harness our academic research strengths to support and inform health interventions, practices, and policies that will enable people in Leicester to lead healthy, independent lives.”
Professor Rishabh Prasad, Co-founder of the Willows-DMU Centre for Primary Care Research and Chairman of Willows Health, added: “Every patient consultation gives us valuable data for research. The new centre will serve as a practical, hands-on unit aimed at translating this research into better everyday care. Our goal is to drive improvements in practice based on real insights from our clinicians and the data they generate.”
One of the first research projects underway focuses on how smart analytics can monitor the functional abilities of older adults remotely, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Bertha Ochieng, Professor of Integrated Health and Social Care at DMU and Co-director of the centre, remarked: “The pandemic has underscored the critical need for research that goes beyond healthcare delivery and actively engages with communities. Our ambition is to develop innovative solutions that improve healthcare quality, accessibility, and efficiency for Leicester’s diverse population. At the same time, we aim to offer educational opportunities that will shape the next generation of clinicians and allied professionals.”
In addition to the current projects, future research will explore mental health care, asthma management, diabetes care, and the link between Covid-19 and dental health.
Dr. Tariq Kapasi, Medical Director of Willows Health and Co-director of the centre, commented: “In the past year, we have demonstrated the ability to quickly adapt to the challenges posed by Covid-19, thanks in large part to our partnerships with academic institutions. Our collaboration with DMU will allow us to integrate research findings into practice more rapidly and effectively, not only across Leicester but on a national scale.”
The partnership has gained widespread support, with Professor Mayur Lakhani CBE, Chair of the West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and practicing GP, stating: “This collaboration is a dream partnership. By combining academic rigor with clinical expertise, the Willows-DMU Centre has immense potential to solve real-world problems in healthcare. With a clear vision, strong governance, and strategic research focus, we can drive meaningful transformation in patient care across the region.”
The Willows-DMU Centre for Primary Care Research is poised to make a lasting impact, ensuring that innovative research is rapidly translated into practice to benefit the health and wellbeing of patients in Leicester and beyond.