Innovator Insights blog: Uniting industry, NHS and academia in respiratory innovation with Dr Gareth Kitchen
Author: Dr Gareth Kitchen View External profile (opens in new window)
Co-Lead for Industry and Commercialisation
Welcome to our Innovator Insights blog series where we invite pioneering National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) researchers to share their personal innovation journey, how they have developed impactful research alongside industry and commercial partners and the lessons learnt along the way.
In this blog Dr Gareth Kitchen emphasises how cross-sector partnerships, translational research, and patient-centred thinking are essential for turning scientific discoveries into real-world healthcare solutions. The journey described is deeply rooted in blending clinical expertise with technological innovation and commercial partnerships, all anchored around the goal of better patient care.
I am the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Co-Lead for Industry and Commercialisation as part of the Innovation and Partnerships team, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at The University of Manchester and an Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
I graduated from The University of Manchester’s School of Medicine then continued to specialise during my anaesthesia training in the North West which was punctuated by a three-year Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellowship at the Manchester Centre for Biological Timing. During this period, I investigated the circadian clock’s influence on the immune response to pneumonia. I discovered clock control of macrophage function (an important immune cell) in relation to pneumonia, and an example of circadian disruption leading to a beneficial physiological effect. Prior to this most disturbances of the circadian clock had resulted in damaging effects.
Advice for innovation with industry
Having recently taken on the role of Manchester BRC Co-Lead for Industry and Commercialisation, I am excited to support academics and clinicians to translate new discoveries into benefits for patients and have the following advice for aspiring colleagues working in this space.
- Always keep the patient at the heart of what you do. Don’t get lost in the exciting technology or the academic theory. Make sure your innovation is genuinely addressing a real problem faced by patients. Spend time on the wards, talk to patients, understand their needs firsthand. That’s where the most impactful ideas come from.
- Don’t try to go it alone. Collaboration is key. The best innovations often arise from bringing together different perspectives and skillsets. Seek out colleagues in engineering, data science, business – anyone who can bring a different lens to the problem. Those interdisciplinary partnerships are invaluable in turning an idea into a reality.
- Be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint. Taking an idea from the lab or the drawing board and implementing it in clinical practice is a tough journey. There will be setbacks, regulatory hurdles, and unexpected challenges. You need resilience, persistence, and a willingness to adapt and learn along the way. Keep your eye on the goal of improving patient care, and don’t give up easily.
There are many potential benefits to working with industry in medical research including:
- Speeds up translation: Research to real-world solutions faster.
- Provides resources: Access to funding, tech, and expertise.
- Focuses on impact: Ensures research benefits patients.
- Drives innovation: Combines diverse knowledge for new solutions.
Combining expertise in industry and academic innovation
Driven by a translational focus, I initiated a research project to quantify circadian gene expression in patient blood samples, aiming to understand the clinical relevance of circadian regulation of the immune system. This led to my interest in less invasive methods for circadian rhythm monitoring, specifically wearable technology.
Through collaborations facilitated by iMATCH, a Manchester-based consortium focused on Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), I explored the application of wearable devices for patient deterioration detection and peri-procedural cancer monitoring. This experience provided valuable insights into research focussed at the intersection of industry, academia, and the NHS. This project also resulted in establishing the Manchester Wearables Group in collaboration with Dr Anthony Wilson, Chief Investigator of EMBRACE-GM, a wearables research project that I support which investigates the benefits of wearable devices in different cancer populations.
Developing an entrepreneurial mindset
To further develop my expertise, I was awarded an NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award (DSE). This provided targeted training at the Manchester Masood Enterprise Centre, University of Manchester Business School, and facilitated direct collaboration with industry partners.
The DSE is an excellent NIHR opportunity for Clinical Academics wanting to gain experience and training in a different field to the area they already have training in. For me this was working with industry, for others, it may be a basic science researcher wanting to gain more experience in clinical trials methodology.
The DSE enabled me to gain industry insights relevant to working collaboratively with Qualitech Healthcare limited, who are supplying their system free of charge to my trial. I was able to understand potential challenges around the supply chain, and ensuring that my device trial had access to the right technology.
I am Chief Investigator for the PROTECT Airways trial, an NIHR Health Technology Assessment-funded study examining advanced airway protection devices in critical care. This trial benefits significantly from industry collaboration. Qualitech Healthcare Limited is generously supplying the study device and delivering essential clinical training, both without cost to the NHS. This industrial collaboration significantly improved the facilitation and day to day running and delivery of the trial.
For more information or to discuss collaboration opportunities, please complete the NIHR Manchester BRC Industry Enquiry Form or get in touch with the BRC Innovation and Partnerships team by emailing brc-crfpartnerships@mft.nhs.uk .
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