With these startling figures in mind, the aim of the NMPN is to use established infrastructures and research strengths in respiratory and gastrointestinal / liver diseases to produce world-class innovative research and progress new biomarkers from discovery, down the development pathway into the clinic.
10 work streams have been identified within the Node, each with its own outcomes and deliverables:
WS1: Intelligent search informatics - Lead Prof Jon Garibaldi
Creating Informatics Spider (IfS)with search capabilities into UKCRC Tissue Directories and, ultimately, NHS clinical data
WS2: Computational data analytics - Lead Prof John Garibaldi
Advanced data analysis algorithms for representing data and empirical modelling data (to identify biomarkers) and mechanistic modelling
WS3: Histogenic Molecular Mapping (HMM) - Lead Prof Mohammad Ilyas
Novel algorithms providing for the needs of biomarker research projects and for the needs of diagnostic service delivery of Empath.
WS4: Chronic fibrotic lung disease - Lead Dr Gisli Jenkins
Molecular endotyping of chronic fibrotic lung disease
WS5: Activity of destructive lung diseases - Lead Prof Simon Johnson
Markers of tissue remodelling to determine the activity of destructive lung diseases
WS6: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) - Lead Dr Andrew Fogarty
Molecular microbiological signal to stratify patients and monitor therapeutic responses in Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
WS7: Chronic liver disease - Lead Prof Will Irving
Stratification of chronic liver disease and evaluation of efficacy of interventions
WS8: Helicobacter pylori-induced gastro-duodenal disease - Lead Prof Guru Aithal
Prognostic biomarkers for Helicobacter pylori-induced gastro-duodenal disease.
WS9: Training courses - Leads Dr Sally Chappell/Prof Mohammad Ilyas
Molecular pathology training courses
WS10: Management/Governance - Rebecca Braybrooke
The research, infrastructure and training workstreams WS1-8 will fit into the management and governance structure. This management/governance structure will create a dynamic environment where workstreams are monitored, shaped and contracted or expanded depending on their success
The NPMN is committed to developing molecular pathologists to NHS and industry standards and will do this by offering high quality MSc level programmes, short taught courses and summer training schools.