THE trust running Colchester Hospital says it is “leading the way” in helping children living with lifelong conditions such as autism and cerebral palsy through the opening of an innovative research centre.

The East Suffolk and North Essex Trust has launched the Synapse Centre for Neurodevelopment, bringing together paediatricians, speech and language specialists, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists and researchers.

The team will add to the trust’s established research and development program by taking biomedical research and applying it through practical therapies.

The centre will draw on a range of expertise from 47 trust staff including specialist research nurses, practitioners and administrative staff who oversee the day-to-day running of research studies.

The team will also work alongside universities and industry leaders to explore new approaches which will benefit young patients and their families.

The centre will focus on areas which affect brain development, such as bacterial imbalances in the gut, the role of the immune system and metabolism.

It will also explore new behavioural approaches as well as symptoms linked with neuro-disabling conditions, such as gastrointestinal problems, seizures and sleep disturbance.

Work carried out by the centre will also be influenced by its new parents’ network, which will meet regularly to help identify further themes for research so staff can ensure the studies they carry out are driven by need in Colchester, Tendring and Ipswich.

Regular webinars and journal clubs will also be held for junior doctors from the east of England to encourage more to pursue a career in the speciality.

Ben Marlow, consultant paediatrician and the centre’s clinical director, said: “We are incredibly excited that the trust is leading the way in this important area through the launch of the Synapse Centre.

The centre will seek to innovate and bring together the NHS, academia and the biotech industry to understand more about the factors which affect brain development in these young patients.

Gazette:

  • Dr Ben Marlow

“Neuro-disabling conditions have a significant impact on both children and their families throughout their entire lives.

“These children suffer from many associated health problems that can significantly impair quality of life and be life-limiting.

“Better understanding these difficulties and intervening early can have a positive impact on a child’s development and significantly reduce the health difficulties they will encounter in the longer-term, which is why this work is so important.”

Dr Marlow said the research will attract international interest.

“The centre has already attracted interest from paediatricians and researchers across the UK, Europe and the US,” he said.

We are really looking forward to working with many of these partners to further improve the care, treatment and outcomes for these young patients.

The team will work across both Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.

The centre will work to establish a database of families and children affected neurodevelopmental conditions to better understand the scale of need.

Dr Marlow said: “Knowing the numbers within the local population is one of the issues we have been struggling with.

“We really want to be shining a light on all the children and families living with these disabilities.

“There have been many families we know and treat who are really struggling during lockdown.”

For more information or to support its work visit www.synapsecentre.co.uk