CUH in Brief: June 2025

In this issue of CUH in Brief, we highlight a series of firsts for our hospitals, from pioneering cancer treatment using ultrasound technology, to the first NHS patient in Europe receiving a new drug for a rare inherited condition.

We also share national recognition for our staff, welcome a new Non-Executive Director to our Trust Board, and mark progress towards the future Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. Plus, don’t miss details of an upcoming public event exploring breast cancer risk in women with dense breast tissue.

Groundbreaking cancer treatment to be offered at our hospitals – a UK and Europe first

Patients at Addenbrooke’s will be the first in the UK and Europe to receive incisionless ultrasound treatment using a pioneering histotripsy machine, which is a major milestone for our hospitals.

The Edison Histotripsy System was purchased thanks to a generous donation to the University of Cambridge from Li Ka Shing Foundation .

Our clinical teams will use the new system to treat cancer using pulsed sound waves, which create ‘bubble clouds’ to destroy tissue without radiation, heat or surgery.

We welcomed Solina Chau, Director of the Li Ka Shing Foundation, and Baroness Merron from the Department of Health and Social Care , who visited to witness the system being demonstrated by Dr Teik Choon See, our Consultant Interventional Radiologist.

👉 Read more

Sharing ideas and expertise through The Cambridge Perspective

We’ve launched The Cambridge Perspective, a new series from our hospitals, showcasing insight and innovation from across Cambridge University Hospitals and our partners on the Biomedical Campus.

The first piece features Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald , Honorary Consultant at Addenbrooke’s, who shares how a simple ‘pill-on-a-thread’ test developed through our research community could transform early detection of oesophageal cancer.

👉 Read the full article

First NHS patient in Europe receives pioneering treatment at our hospitals

Mary Catchpole, 19, is the first NHS patient in the UK and Europe to receive a new treatment for a rare inherited condition at Addenbrooke's, a milestone for personalised care delivered through our hospitals.

Mary, who has lost close family members to APDS, was treated at Addenbrooke’s with leniolisib (Joenja), the first targeted drug for the condition, made available thanks to work by our clinical and research teams.

👉 Read Mary’s story

CUH doctor recognised nationally for Crohn’s disease research

Dr Nurulamin Noor has been named Young Gastroenterologist of the Year by the British Society of Gastroenterology – recognising the impact of his research at our hospitals.

Dr Noor joined CUH in 2014 and is helping shape a new standard of care for people living with Crohn’s disease. His work is an example of how our Trust supports clinical research that improves outcomes for NHS patients.

👉 More about Dr Noor’s work

Archaeology underway ahead of building our new cancer research hospital

Groundwork is now underway for the future Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, a collaboration between CUH and the University of Cambridge that will bring world-leading cancer care, research and innovation into one purpose-built facility.

The new hospital will be located on the corner of Keith Day Road and Robinson Way, and will be part of our commitment to changing the story of cancer, not just for our region, but for patients worldwide.

👉 Find out what has been found in the ground!

New Non-Executive Director joins our Trust Board

We’re pleased to welcome Philippa Hird to our Board as a Non-Executive Director at Cambridge University Hospitals.

Philippa brings wide-ranging public and academic leadership experience to support the continued development of our hospitals, and lives locally in Cambridge.

👉 Find out more

National award for diabetes research led by CUH nurse

Andrea Lake , one of our diabetes specialist nurses and a PhD student, has received national recognition for her research, which could reduce hospital stays for people with diabetes.

Andrea’s award reflects the strength of our hospitals as a place for research-led practice and improving care for people living with long-term conditions.

👉 Read more about Andrea’s work

Behind the scenes with our sterile services team

Tucked away on Level 1, the sterile services team might be out of sight but they’re playing an essential role in the patient story behind the scenes.

They’re responsible for cleaning, preparing and packaging equipment used in clinical procedures across our hospitals, helping keep patients safe every day.

"While the team is incredibly diverse, one thing they have in common is their commitment. Our teamwork is our greatest strength, and we’re proud of the role we play in keeping patients safe.”

Upcoming event: Dense breast tissue and breast cancer risk

Dr Fiona Gilbert, consultant radiologist at CUH, will present findings from the BRAID research study, which involved over 9,000 women and helped improve early detection of breast cancer in those with very dense breast tissue.

Thanks to this research led from our hospitals, 85 women had their breast cancer diagnosed early. CUH patient Louise Duffield, who took part in the trial, will also share her experience.

📅 Register to join the webinar

Watch: take a tour of the Bridgerton Garden at the Rosie

Last month, we opened the Bridgerton Garden to staff, patients and visitors, now beautifully relocated just outside the Rosie Hospital.

Join garden designer Holly Johnston Design for a short video tour of the space, which was originally created for the Royal Horticultural Society RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

A huge thank you to Netflix for making this possible and helping bring a little calm and colour to our hospital grounds.

If you've made it to the end - thank you!

We launched CUH in Brief last year to keep you updated on the work happening here at CUH, and we’re delighted to have more than 17,000 subscribers.

We hope you’ve found the updates useful and informative, and we look forward to continuing to share our news with you.