Sunderland firm combining community health and research.
It’s a simple fact of life that many people reading this will, at some point in their lives, face a serious health condition.
It’s also a fact that some life-threatening conditions are preventable… conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Many of these conditions are influenced by lifestyle, environment and access to support, and can often be better managed or reduced through earlier awareness, preventative action and appropriate care.
And one of the leaders taking this approach into local communities, is Sunderland-based Civia Health.
“When people think about clinical research, they often picture large hospitals or academic medical centres, but the future of healthcare innovation will increasingly be built in communities, in the places where people live, work and access everyday care,” said Civia Health CEO, Mark Campbell. “That’s one of the reasons why Sunderland is such an important location for Civia.
“Conditions we focus on affect working-age populations, families and communities across the UK. If we want clinical research to reflect real-world populations, it needs to be embedded in those communities, not separated from them. Sunderland is an ideal environment for this approach because it’s a city with a strong sense of community, a diverse workforce, and employers who are increasingly focused on employee wellbeing and preventative health. At the same time, this region faces a disproportionate burden of conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, meaning there is both a need and an opportunity to improve access to research and preventative care locally.”
While research is a key part of Civia Health’s work, its model starts earlier focusing on engagement, education and access within the community. The company operates clinical research centres and community health hubs to support earlier engagement with health and improve access to care and research.
The aim is to support earlier awareness and ongoing engagement with health, helping individuals better understand and manage their risk over time. One of the best ways to do this is to make people fully aware of those diseases and give them the information which explains what they can do to improve their situation. This includes accessible screening, education and ongoing interaction rather than one-off interventions.
Of course, this is not only something which benefits the individual… it also benefits companies by reducing the levels of absenteeism, improving mental health and therefore increasing levels of productivity.
“By working with local employers, we can bring preventative health activity closer to the workplace by offering screenings, raising awareness of health risks and supporting individuals who may benefit from further evaluation,” adds Mark. “For businesses, this supports existing wellbeing strategies. For employees, it provides accessible insight into their health, and the option to consider participation in relevant research which helps ensure studies reflect working populations, not just those already engaged with healthcare services.”
It’s a win-win for people and businesses. People gain valuable information about their standard of health and how they can stay healthy. Businesses benefit from a healthier and more motivated workforce, and Civia Health and their valued partners such as Boots, gain key information about how they can formulate new health strategies and undertake targeted research. Over time, this also helps build stronger connections between communities and research.
“It is about building a more informed and engaged community over time. When individuals become familiar with clinical research, what it involves, why it matters, and how it is delivered, participation becomes a considered choice rather than an unfamiliar proposition. That benefits both research and the wider healthcare system.”
Through its Civia Membership, a community-based programme, it enables individuals to engage with their health through screening, education and ongoing interaction. Civia Health is looking for companies to share details of their Civia Membership with their teams and, if relevant support clinical study participation. Civia is engaging with a number of businesses in the area who are keen to offer this as part of their health and wellness programmes.
It is a Civia sponsored opportunity for firms to give something back to their employees and Civia Health will offer a 30-40 minute health check and, at the end, participants can join Civia Health membership and access tools and resources that can help them better manage their health. Over time, this approach helps individuals build a clearer picture of their health and become more confident in considering participation in research if appropriate.
Interested? If you would like your company to be involved in ‘Thrive with Civia’, contact Rebecca Granger at Thrive on info@civiahealth.com