Parliamentary Drop-in Event to Support High Quality Ovarian Cancer Services

By Luke Newman, Senior Account Executive (Kapler Communications - Our Sister Company)

 

On May 9 2005, my Mum, Jen Newman took her last breath after a brave 19 month battle against ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed with the ‘Silent Killer’ in October 2003 and went through three different courses of chemotherapy before the disease spread, in the form of cancerous cells, to her stomach. 

 

As the fifth most common cancer among women in the UK, and one of the hardest cancers to detect, ovarian cancer has raised particular challenges for the policy makers, commissioners and healthcare professionals. Ovacome, a support network for women with ovarian cancer, their families, friends and healthcare professionals is working to raise awareness of ovarian cancer among MPs. Ovacome develops local quality profiles to give parliamentarians key information on the quality of ovarian cancer services in their local area, including the latest data on outcomes of the therapies and on the effectiveness of the services offered to the patients. MPs then use the information to design and execute campaigns for better ovarian cancer services and also ensure that the experiences of women with ovarian cancer are well recorded and highlighted in their campaign to benefit the society.

Ovacome recently organised a ‘drop-in’ briefing event and invited MPs to meet with its members to find out more about ovarian cancer and to receive the regional quality profile. The aim of the program was to raise awareness of the problems that patients encountered during the course of the treatment and to highlight the part of the processes that worked well. It was also aimed at encouraging MPs to take action to tackle ovarian cancer and improve outcomes. As a member of Ovacome, I was also invited to attend the event and to talk to MPs about my experiences with my Mother’s diagnosis and treatment of the cancer.

Louise Bayne the Chief Executive of Ovacome briefed us on the importance of the day and encouraged the members who pointed out the following points to be included in the MP regional profiles:

·         Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women in the UK, and one of the harder cancers to detect.  This means that it has been difficult for policy makers, commissioners and healthcare professionals to tackle.

·         The outcomes of ovarian cancer patients living in the UK are still poorer than in comparable countries

·         Improving early diagnosis will be key to improving outcomes.  There is good evidence to show that the UK is a relatively low user of newer cancer drugs, including those for ovarian cancer. 

·         There is variation across the country on the percentage of patients who understood their condition.  Ovarian cancer patients were 10% less likely to be offered information about their condition than all cancers combined, in data from the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.

Out of the attendees there were few women who volunteered and discussed about their experiences while they fought the disease. One of them had her last chemotherapy 5 days ago, and then there was another woman who has been in remission for 5 years but left with severe walking difficulties. She is unable to work and due to the economic climate she has seen her benefits cut. She is struggling to survive. There was also a woman who survived Ovarian Cancer 25 years ago, who now dedicated her life to fundraising for many cancer charities.

After the group discussion members were given a chance to have a brief discussion with MPs.  I was also able to discuss my Mother’s Ovarian Cancer to a selective few. I talked to Lorely Burt who is Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull recognised the problem of the late diagnosis.  However, from her own research, she claims that every GP will only encounter Ovarian Cancer once in their career. I also had a brief converstaion with Norman Lamb  who is Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk. He lost his Mother to Ovarian Cancer but, was delighted with her treatment by her hospital. He felt that they treated her well. During my discussion with Barry Sheerman, a labour MP for Huddersfield, he highlighted how the cancer is very close to his  heart.  His daughter survived the disease in her early 20’s.  She has now been able to conceive four children.  Each through IVF Treatment, due her inability to conceive naturally from her chemotherapy.

The day was really successful due to the sharing of the experiences, knowledge and assurance of help from MPs to execute awareness campaigns in the society. MPs collected a press release to use with their local media.  The photos of the event were used by MPs local media to publicise their support for the report. Each MP who attended the Parliamentary ‘drop-in event’ will be contacted in early 2013 by MHP Health Mandate to discuss the day and the methods to improve the treatment of Ovarian Cancer.

After attending the successful event I am now keen on taking the initiative forward by supporting Ovacome in every awareness program. I am running the London Marathon 2013 for Ovacome and I am sure that many more will join this program and help in making the event successful.

 

Optibrium and Digital Chemistry Announce Technology Collaboration to Guide Successful Drug Discovery

Integration of bioisostere database with automatic application and prioritisation will guide the identification of novel, high quality compounds in drug discovery

 

CAMBRIDGE and SHEFFIELD, UK, December 4^th, 2012 – Optibrium and Digital Chemistry, providers of software and database solutions for drug discovery, today announce an agreement to collaborate on the integration of Digital Chemistry’s unique BIOSTER™ database of precedented bioisostere replacements with Optibrium’s StarDrop™ software suite. This combination will allow drug discovery teams to quickly identify novel, high quality compounds based on the BIOSTER molecular transformations and prioritise these within StarDrop’s intuitive environment that guides the design and selection of compounds with an optimal balance of properties.  

The BIOSTER database contains over 25,000 bioisostere replacements, hand-curated from the literature by Dr István Ujváry and is distributed exclusively by Digital Chemistry. As part of the collaboration with Optibrium, the BIOSTER database will be converted into transformations that can be applied in StarDrop’s Nova™ module, which automatically generates new, chemically relevant compound structures to stimulate the search for high quality chemistry related to initial hit or lead compounds. The combined functionality of Nova and BIOSTER will allow for the application of this comprehensive database of precedented bioisostere replacements to generate novel structures with a high likelihood of biological activity and synthetic accessibility. StarDrop’s unique capabilities for multi-parameter optimisation and predictive modelling will allow efficient prioritisation of the resulting compound ideas to identify those with the best chance of achieving the property profile required for a successful drug.

The applications of these technologies extend throughout the drug discovery process, including the rigorous exploration of chemistries around early hits, scaffold hopping to overcome issues with a lead series or to identify diverse back-up series and protection of patent space around a candidate drug.

Matthew Segall, CEO of Optibrium commented, “We are very pleased to announce our collaboration with Digital Chemistry. This furthers our on-going strategy to work with other leading developers of informatics solutions in drug discovery to provide project teams with seamless access to the best technologies to guide the efficient discovery of novel, high quality drugs.”

Julian Hayward, Managing Director of Digital Chemistry added, “The deployment of BIOSTER data within a predictive software environment fulfils a long-held ambition to enhance the usefulness of this uniquely valuable database for the discovery of novel active compounds. The ability to generate highly focused libraries of both ‘obvious’ and ‘non-obvious’ drug candidates in this manner, will, no doubt, be a welcome addition to the armoury of drug discovery tools.”

István Ujváry, Managing Director of iKem and developer of BIOSTER, concluded: “Since its conception two decades ago, BIOSTER has strived to analyse and catalogue historically documented fragment replacement strategies to assist medicinal and pesticide chemists in their quest for new bioactive molecules. The sophisticated Nova module of Optibrium’s StarDrop software suite offers an exciting new tool for navigation through the chemical space of sets of bioisosteric and other transformations of this unique database. I am certain that the collaboration between Optibrium and Digital Chemistry will result in a versatile and popular new product.”

The results of this collaboration will be available in a future version of StarDrop, expected to be released during 2013.

For further information on Optibrium and StarDrop, please visit www.optibrium.com, contact info@optibrium.com or call +44 1223 815900.

 

For further information on BIOSTER or Digital Chemistry’s other products and services, please visit www.digitalchemistry.co.uk, contact info@digitalchemistry.co.uk or call +44 113 2678667.

Opinion piece by Rob Parker - Print Vs Online

Over the last 18 months I am hearing more and more from clients the word “online”. Some clients are increasing their already present online activity, some are totally new to this way of promotion and some are even thinking of totally dismissing print promotion in favour of “Online”.

I recently received a flyer in the post, all about taking control of my advertising spend, get more people to see my company, pay as I Go advertising etc, all very interesting. The surprise behind this posted and printed flyer? Well it was from Google, yes, the largest search engine in the world use a printed A5 flyers to promote their Adwords products. So needless to say that when I hear that companies and marketing companies are considering dropping printed media, I feel a little shiver, the hairs on my neck go up, and I think to myself, what a mistake.

The  phrase “online Vs print” should be “online and print”, this powerful marketing mix should be used together, like salt and pepper on a freshly cut loin of meat, they work together increasing the performance, enhancing the flavour. A well designed mixed marketing activity can be extremely effective.

The reality is that those companies looking to only do online marketing tend to then expect that the performance will just by magic increase, when realistically online campaigns need as much, if not more preparation than a printed campaign, obviously campaign size depending.

There are many ways of using print to drive online registrations or downloads if some key areas are well thought out and planned well in advance, web address urls should be easy to remember, the WIIFM (What’s in it for me) factor needs to be there, why should a reader action an advert, insert etc, are there discounts? Is there a Free Trial Offer? The incentive to action needs to be present. That said, a brand awareness campaign, with a lovely colour glossy Ad taking up a billboard, or magazine front cover is hard to replicate online, the tangible feeling is only really present in printed material, and a really nice photograph of a product, in a seductive light, with little or no wording and maybe just a corporate logo, just doesn’t’ look right in a banner advert on a website.

In my opinion, and this little blog is simply that, my opinion, print is still a vital component to the marketing mix. If Google are still sending flyers, then I leave you with this question – Are they wrong?

Rob Parker 

Head of eCommerce at International Labmate (http://www.labmate-online.com/)

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust working in partnership with HCL Clarity

London, 29 November 2012 – Innovative workforce management platform, HCL Clarity, is set to be implemented at Worcestershire Royal Hospitals Trust this month.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, which has an annual health budget of about £320m, is facing a series of significant financial challenges to provide sustainable services to its 570,000 residents.

HR Director Bev Edgar says the Trust needs to find £50m savings over three years as part of the £200m efficiency target for Worcestershire as a whole.

“Our Trust’s three sites, Worcester Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre and the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, will be working in partnership with HCL to meet these resourcing challenges in respect of middle grade and specialist doctors. This collaborative pilot will reduce our cost of agency staffing and deliver efficiencies and allow us to reinvest those savings into patient care.” Ms Edgar said.

Worcester Acute Hospitals Trust carries out more than 95,000 planned and emergency operations each year, with 140,000 A&E attendances and 500,000 outpatient appointments.

HCL Workforce solutions Chief Executive Stephen Burke confirmed the partnership, adding HCL was delighted with the opportunity to add value.

 “The Trust is currently working towards become a Foundation Trust and a key element of this goal is to identify innovative ways to deliver efficiency savings without compromising patient care. HCL Clarity delivers this and more,” Mr Burke said.

HCL Clarity is a managed service which controls and streamlines the entire temporary worker process from start to finish, taking the agency staff headache away from Trusts.

“We developed HCL Clarity specifically for the NHS – we know Trusts want to regain control and reduce costs in the face of their £20bn savings target, and with staffing costs accounting for nearly two thirds of the NHS annual budget it’s clear to see HCL Clarity’s potential to deliver huge savings without affecting front line services,” He said.

 

Temps permanently here

London, 22 November 2012: Latest figures from the Recruitment and Employee Confederation (REC) show the UK has the highest number of temporary workers in Europe, with over 1.3 million temps working in the UK – that’s 5% of the UK workforce and growing.

HCL Nursing Managing Director Helen Rudanec says the trend is seeing more and more workers trading in their permanent contracts to become freelancers, consultants and temporary staff, looking for genuine working flexibility and a better work-life balance to suit their personal needs.

“It’s easy to see why - temporary staff enjoy most of the rights of their permanent colleagues, typically earn more and have the ability to develop and improve their own skill base through exposure to numerous employment situations. Many are attracted by the independence and flexibility temporary work offers,” Ms Rudanec says.

Temporary employment is now a permanent feature of the UK’s business landscape and for many organisations, integral to business strategy.

“Temporary workers can be quickly deployed to cope with unforeseen job demands, cover sickness, holiday absence and maternity leave and provide extra support during seasonal periods like the Christmas rush or financial year end.

This is especially important for a sector such as healthcare; an inadequate level of skilled staff carries potentially life threatening consequences.”

Matching employers with short-term needs to employees with short-term availability or flexible preferences is a win-win for business and workers juggling various responsibilities such as childcare, education and higher learning.

“Temporary workers are now a permanent fixture in the modern workforce. At HCL Nursing we support the career choices of our nurses - they choose the shifts they want, at the location they decide for the length of time they require. We invest in the development of our temporary nurses and this has long term benefits for us, them, our clients and most importantly, the patients they care for.
 
Image: HCL Nursing Managing Director Helen Rudanec. For link to image please click here: http://bit.ly/QccsKe

HCL plc congratulates winners of the 2012 HSJ Awards

London, 21 November 2012: As a proud sponsor of the Health Service Journal Awards 2012, HCL would like to extend sincere congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists.

Over 1,400 healthcare professionals gathered at Grosvenor House Hotel in London last night to recognise and reward leading healthcare services across the country in the UK’s most prestigious awards evening.

HCL sponsored the ‘Workforce’ category, and HCL CEO Stephen Burke was thrilled to announce York Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust as the winner on the night for their healthcare assistant recruitment initiative.

“York Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust is a worthy recipient of the Workforce award. Their identification of a system to lower the turnover of healthcare assistants through initial training and induction and has already seen a significant increase in retention.” Mr Burke said.

Previously, the Trust’s turnover of healthcare assistants was significantly higher that the trust average and more than half of those leaving the role had less than a year’s service. Following the Trust’s recruitment overhaul, just six per cent of healthcare assistants recruited under the scheme have left, and only 34 per cent of these had less than a year’s service.

“York Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust’s submission is an example of the importance of innovative workforce practice in the current healthcare industry, and HCL is pleased to pay due credit to the people sharing best practice in this ever-evolving profession. As an organisation, we are committed to deliver the best standard of care in the most efficient way.” He said.

With no additional resources required to deliver the initiative, substantial savings have been recognised by the Trust, and judges praised a “progressive approach” to recruitment and selection on the night.

Congratulations once again to this year’s winners, finalists and all who submitted entries.

Optibrium's StarDrop 5.3 Offers Intuitive Virtual Library Design

Optibrium extends StarDrop’s capabilities to guide the design of high quality compound libraries for drug discovery

CAMBRIDGE, UK, 20^th November 2012 – Optibrium™, developer of software solutions for drug discovery, today announces a new version of its StarDrop™ platform. Version 5.3 introduces new features focused on the design of virtual libraries, guided by StarDrop’s unique multi-parameter optimisation capabilities to prioritise compounds with the best balance of properties for synthesis and testing.

Version 5.3 introduces its virtual library design capability as part of StarDrop’s Nova™ module, providing flexible and easy scaffold-based enumeration of a virtual library to allow drug discovery teams to rapidly explore new chemistry ideas. After drawing the scaffold on which the library will be based, users can select multiple functional groups, atoms or fragments to vary at each point of modification. These lists may be selected from a user-defined or centrally managed library, or sketched on an individual basis. A fully combinatorial library may be generated for detailed investigation or, alternatively, a subset of compounds can be automatically selected based on a predicted property or StarDrop’s unique Probabilistic Scoring algorithm for multi-parameter optimisation.

These new capabilities are supported by further enhancements to StarDrop’s core features, including easy-to-use tools for clustering, filtering based on substructure or properties and extensions to its interactive data visualisation. StarDrop offers a comprehensive desktop environment that saves time and reduces costs in drug discovery by guiding compound design and selection to quickly target high quality chemistry. These include plug-in modules providing: rigorously validated ADME QSAR models; quantum mechanical prediction of P450 metabolism; automatic generation of robust QSAR models; compound idea generation; application of 3D SAR based on Cresset’s™ Field technology; and the ability to integrate seamlessly with other informatics and modelling platforms.

Matt Segall, CEO of Optibrium, commented, “StarDrop offers a seamless workflow allowing our users to go from design and enumeration of a virtual library, through property prediction to prioritising the resulting compounds against the profile of properties they require for their project objective. Supported by interactive visualisations in StarDrop’s intuitive user interface, chemistry teams can quickly identify novel compounds with a high chance of success.”  Matt goes onto explain, “Many of the enhancements to StarDrop come as a direct result of working collaboratively with our users, which now include over 50 companies world-wide and seven of the top-ten pharma.”

For more information and to arrange a free trial of StarDrop, visit www.optibrium.com, contact info@optibrium.com or call +44 01223 815900.