Charity funded research published in prestigious medical journal

Charity funded research published in prestigious medical journal

30 January 2018

The charity-funded study, looking at patients’ ability to swallow after having their voice box removed, was published in Dysphagia, a leading journal in its field.

Dr Margaret Coffey, the Clinical Service Lead at the Trust who received the grant, said “The charity’s support was a huge help. I wouldn’t have been able to publish the paper without it because it provided me with backfill for my clinical post, allowing me to write up my research.”

Patients who have undergone a laryngectomy, usually to treat cancer, often have difficulties swallowing. Normally, patients will have to wait 4-6 weeks for an X-ray, to assess their problems but Dr Coffey’s research found that inserting a flexible camera through a patient’s nose is a speedier alternative that avoids exposing patients to X-rays.

“I’m hoping that my publication will change practice for these patients,” said Dr Coffey. “If they can be examined as soon as possible, then it means we can implement a treatment to allow them to swallow in an easier way, much faster.”

“I’m hopeful that because I’ve been able to publish this paper in an influential journal it’ll have an effect on clinical practice. Not just at this medical centre but at other hospitals.”

You can read Dr Coffey’s research here.

Visit our grants page to find out more about the support we offer.