The Scarborough Multiple Long Term Conditions Research Hub launched in January 2022 and is a collaborative initiative between York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The National Institute for Health Research Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN), and the Hull York Medical School (HYMS). The aim of the Hub is to grow and develop clinical research in Scarborough for those experiencing multiple long term conditions with a drive to improve access to research opportunities for its large, under-researched population.

Multi-morbidity has been defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as “the presence of two or more long-term health conditions, which can include: defined physical or mental health conditions, such as diabetes or schizophrenia.”. Professor Chris Whitty, in his 2021 Annual Report titled “Health in Coastal Communities”, aptly described towns such as Scarborough and the importance of tackling these complex health needs.

In Scarborough, there were 1,287 deaths in 2018 for those aged under 75. Nearly three quarters of these deaths fell under three broad causes: 299 (23%) due to cardiovascular diseases; 506 (39%) due to cancer and 136 (11%) due to respiratory diseases.

Through the opening of new research studies, grant submissions, and the generation of partnership working the Multiple Long Term Conditions Research Hub is already contributing towards addressing the above as well as the under recruitment issues in many of the eight NIHR CRN priority areas namely COPD, Asthmas, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, all of which are of high prevalence in Scarborough. We have an excellent team of researchers led by Dr Vijay Jayagopal, Consultant Endocrinologist and Clinical Dean for HYMS and a research workforce to support our ever growing activity as well as a series of educational programmes for Primary Care clinicians and Allied Health Professionals to promote the Hubs aim and development.