PATIENTS from the North-East could be in line for revolutionary insulin cell transplant operations, it was revealed yesterday.

News of plans to link with scientists who carried out the UK's first successful islet cell transplantation last month emerged as a £4.5m Clinical Research Facility was unveiled in Newcastle.

Professor Mark Walker, co-director of the groundbreaking unit, said: "We want to develop an islet cell transplantation facility in Newcastle. We are linking up with King's College Hospital, in London, with the aim of bringing islet cells to Newcastle and transplanting them here in the North-East."

The prospect of North-East patients with an unstable, dangerous form of diabetes being able to stop twice-daily injections of insulin was one aspect of research that will benefit from the unit.

Professor John Isaacs, director of the Newcastle Immunotherapy Centre - who will also be using the research unit - is working on ways to treat diseases of the immune system, including multiple sclerosis, diabetes and arthritis.

Prof Isaacs said: "One of our particular interests is to develop treatments based on the use of patients' blood cells, as a natural form of immunosuppression. Within the UK, Newcastle is uniquely placed to bring such revolutionary treatments to the clinic."

What is unusual about the facility is that it will bring together doctors and scientists from many different disciplines.

It will mean North-East patients will be among the first in the UK to be treated with promising new drugs or therapies.

A joint venture between Newcastle University and the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, the clinic is a suite of rooms in the modern Leazes Wing of the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Using cash from a variety of sources, including the Government, the Wolfson Foundation, Newcastle Healthcare Charity, Newcastle University and a charitable legacy, a complete floor which used to house office and laboratories has been transformed into a well-equipped research unit.

Facilities include 16 beds with sophisticated monitoring equipment, seven consulting rooms, an exercise study room with treadmill procedure and specimen preparation rooms and meeting rooms.

Professor Gary Ford, director of the facility, who is researching ways to limit stroke damage, said: "The unit is particularly well placed to take discoveries from the scientists' bench and ultimately develop new clinical treatments."