University to analyse 'Big Data' for Astellas

Manchester Metropolitan University are teaming up with a leading global pharmaceutical company to develop and improve personalised treatment pathways for patients.

Astellas Pharma Europe provide innovative medicines in areas of health where there is urgent need for better treatments. With the help of Manchester Metropolitan University, the company will be able to identify these areas of health as well as which patient groups have the highest unmet medical needs.

By analysing the ‘Big Data’ in the anonymised patient records in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, University researchers will look at the economic and clinical health outcomes of certain medications. This will provide ‘real world’ evidence of which medications were clinically effective and cost-effective because of their continued use but also which medications stopped being used by patients. The adherence studies carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University will look at what factors influenced patients’ decisions to suspend use of certain medications.

This research will allow GPs to develop tailored medical treatment pathways for individual patients in an attempt to improve compliance and ensure patients continue to use the medications they need.

The £320,494 collaboration with Astellas Pharma Europe will be the first Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project for the University’s Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care – a venture funded by Innovate UK and the Economic & Social Research Council that allows businesses to tap into academic knowledge.

Health Economist Dr Francis Fatoye is a Reader in Physiotherapy and the lead academic on the KTP. He said: “I’m delighted that Manchester Metropolitan are working with Astellas and I hope that we can work with many more industry-leading companies in the future. There is no doubt that the findings of our research with Astellas will improve the lives and wellbeing of numerous patients both in the UK and internationally by providing them with personalised treatments.”

Dr David Woollard, KTP Manager, said: “This is an exciting time for the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care in achieving their first KTP and the Astellas project is cross faculty so it also combines expertise from our Faculty of Business.  Similar progress is being made across the whole University with KTPs developing in other faculties meaning Manchester Met can broaden its research impact, aid businesses and in this case, help individual patients with their care.”

The KTP will employ two University associates that will be based at Astellas in Chertsey in Surrey, creating jobs and opportunities for future collaboration.

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