“Taking part in research is not only helping me but provides the evidence needed to help people who will tackle cancer in the future”

Grandfather Anthony Rendell, 72, from Rogiet in Caldicot was diagnosed with a rare cancer called mantle cell lymphoma in Spring 2022.

As a retired senior nurse himself with a family of clinicians, as soon as he received his diagnosis, he wanted to know all the options available to him.

His daughter Emma Heron, a research nurse at the new Research and Development, Clinical Research Centre at the Royal Gwent Hospital was with him at the time he was diagnosed and suggested a clinical trial being carried out in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

Mr Rendell decided to take part the BeiGene study looking into the efficacy of an investigational anticancer drug combined with an antibody infusion.

Participants were randomised into two groups, one receiving the new treatment and the other standard care. Anthony was selected for the new treatment has now been on the research study for eight weeks, he said:

I’ve always been interested in research and appreciate we need evidence to understand the most beneficial treatments and care.

It was a clear decision for me to take part as I knew I would receive excellent care; you get monitored very closely and I knew if I had any serious side-effects I could stop at any time.

I know the haematology research nurses by name and they make me feel at home.”

As well as regular treatment, Anthony has a booklet and daily chart to fill in, logging the exact time he takes his tablets, any side-effects, his blood pressure and temperature. He continued:

I’m quite pragmatic. When I had the diagnosis, I wanted to know all the facts and how I could live the best life I could, as well as help others.

I do get tired. There are days when I walk to pick up my granddaughter from school and take her to the park or Brownies and occasionally I have to drive. All our grandchildren understand I’m not as active as I once was, but I still enjoy being with them, sometimes sitting on the bench watching them play and chatting to my family or people in the park.

My daughter works in the new research centre and I’m proud to be part of this study. She occasionally pops in to see how I’m getting on and tells me to do as I’m told! I am pleased to have this great opportunity and for it to be conducted in such an impressive centre, right on my doorstep.”

The new Clinical Research Centre at the Royal Gwent Hospital can now contribute to national and global phase 2 and 3 trials, providing people in south Wales the opportunity to access state-of the-art new treatments. There are currently over 100 active studies taking place within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, including investigating treatments for respiratory conditions, genomics, cancer and more.

This investment allows Welsh researchers to build on the lifesaving COVID-19 research already been conducted in Newport which included the development of the first COVID-19 vaccine which went on to save millions of lives.

Dr Nicola Williams, National Director of Research Support and Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, said:

This investment for south Wales allows for a significant increase in Wales’ capacity to carry out potentially life-changing research.

Across Wales we now have a number of dedicated Clinical Research Facilities creating a network opportunity to continue to contribute significantly to national and global studies to ensure we stay at the cutting edge of health and social care.”

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s new Chief Executive Officer, Nicola Prygodzicz, opened the centre and was delighted to have the occasion as her first public engagement. She said:

This truly shows the remarkable contribution our Health Board has made and I’m so pleased that such important work will be carried out in a state-of-the-art facility here in Gwent. I am very grateful to the partners who have worked with us along the way and am pleased to have had many of them attend this official opening event.”

Dr Sarah Aitken, Executive Director of Public Health and Strategic Partnerships and Chair for Research for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said:

It’s incredible to see the work that’s been done over these past few challenging years result in something as positive and important as this Clinical Research Centre. I am so proud of the team and am hugely encouraged by the future work and insights that will derive from these new facilities.  Ultimately, this crucial work will play a key part in improving the health of the people of Gwent.”

For more information about the studies being conducted in Newport or to take part in other research across Wales visit healthandcareresearchwales.org/withoutresearch