Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis collaboration shortlisted in national awards
A Joint Working project between Lilly UK, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), and 3 other NHS sites, supported by Dementias Platform UK (DPUK), has been shortlisted in the prestigious HSJ Partnership Awards 2025, for helping the NHS to use cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing for early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.
Manchester is one of four NHS Trusts geographically spread across the UK, taking part in the groundbreaking pilot, which aims to enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease through CSF biomarker testing.
By the end of 2025, the project will have piloted four different models for providing CSF biomarker testing and a suite of resources to support expansion to other NHS organisations across the country.
The news of this shortlisting comes just days after NHS Greater Manchester announced that Greater Manchester is leading the way in dementia diagnosis, as the top performing region in the North West for dementia diagnosis and second best in the whole of England.
The HSJ Partnership Awards have become the most recognised and respected mark of the strongest relationships between partners and the NHS. They showcase the commitment to the core values and high standards that steer the NHS, demonstrating the shared journey towards improving healthcare for all.
With 23 categories, the awards are highly competitive. There were 1,351 entries for last year’s awards, which showcased an impressive array of projects, partnerships and collaborations that are shaping the future of our health care systems.
In 2023, the brainHealth Manchester team, led by Dr Ross Dunne, Later Life Psychiatrist and Dementia Specialist at GMMH, won the first ‘Modernising Diagnostics’ award at the HSJ Awards, for their work in helping diagnose the underlying diseases causing dementia. This pilot expands this service and provides an understanding on what is required for wider roll out across UK NHS Trusts, with a focus on collaboration.
Through the pilot, healthcare professionals, including mental health nursing staff in both Manchester and Oxford, have been trained to perform lumbar punctures for CSF. This fluid is then tested for biomarkers which indicate the presence of Alzheimer’s disease.
In Manchester, this process has already seen significant benefits, with diagnostic wait times reducing from what is believed to be up to five years to just over four months. Early diagnosis is important as it allows patients and their carers to plan better, adopt lifestyle changes to slow disease progression, and access early care, leading to better outcomes.
It is also demonstrating a significant cost saving for the NHS in Manchester, through the reduction in the number of investigations and tests a patient receives, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Neuropsychology, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
Dr Ross Dunne, Later Life Psychiatrist and Dementia Specialist at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) said:
“Teaming up with Lilly UK, DPUK and three other NHS Trusts has allowed us to address the scale of the problem of Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis, by providing blueprints and support for wider adoption across the NHS, to benefit as many patients as possible.
“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. However, currently, approximately 1 in every 4 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease through clinical diagnosis alone (without biomarkers) are misdiagnosed. The diagnosis process can currently be lengthy, but it is important that early and accurate diagnosis happens as soon as possible, so that patients and their carers are able to make informed choices, plan, and access appropriate care.
“In Manchester, biomarker testing has been shown to be a faster, more accurate and more cost-efficient form of testing compared to non-biomarker methods. It also offers clarity to those who don’t fit neatly into existing diagnoses based solely on pen-and-paper testing. This includes people from minoritised communities, those living with serious mental illness (SMI) or people with literacy difficulties.
“We believe this ambitious pilot has potential to transform the diagnostic landscape for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease across the UK.”
Stephanie Harvey, NHS Collaborations Programme Lead at Lilly said:
“Lilly, in partnership with the NHS, recognises that early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is critical to optimal patient care. We believe this project has the potential to change the diagnostic landscape for patients experiencing memory problems, allowing them to plan for the future and access the most appropriate healthcare before their illness progresses. Lilly is proud to be part of this project, which has been shortlisted for best Pharmaceutical Partnership with the NHS in the HSJ Partnership Awards. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved.”
The winners of the HSJ Partnership Awards will be selected following in-depth presentations and interviews with the judging faculty, ahead of a private awards ceremony atEvolution London, on 20 March 2025 where the winners will be announced.
