HOSPITAL staff are being encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to help secure research funding through a Dragons Den style pitch.

The Research & Development (R&D) team, based at the South Tees Institute of Learning, Research and Innovation (LRI) at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is holding the event for the second year running.

Inspired by popular BBC programme, the competition sets health professionals the challenge of developing a clinical trial or research idea, in return for up to £30,000 to turn their idea into reality.

Jo Cresswell, R&D director, said: “Our Dragons, ably led by Trust Chair, Deborah Jenkins, will leave no stone unturned in considering where to invest their research funding.

“The selected project will receive pump-priming funding to develop a national research grant application.”

Last year’s winner Mike Tremlett, consultant paediatric anaesthetist at The James Cook University Hospital, believes the funds he secured could ensure children receive appropriate treatment for a condition known as sleep disordered breathing.

He said: “It has provided me with money to recruit a child psychologist for a year to work with me and Dr Anna Weighall to form a research team and given me access to experts to help design a clinical trial.”

He hopes to report on his findings next year.

Recent clinical trials and innovations to benefit patients at the trust have included leading edge robotic surgery for prostate cancer patients and the first HeRO (Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow) graft operation.

Shannon Barstow, a dancer at Teesside University, also benefited from a trial comparing two different types of treatment for hip impingement.

The 20-year-old is now recovering following surgery and officially opened the LRI in October.