Research updates from Pilgrims Hospices
We’re excited to share the latest news from our Research team, who support Pilgrims Hospices in delivering compassionate end-of-life care across east Kent.
Celebrating our first internship awardee to support future research leadership and improve patient care
One of our trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Lisa Gower, has been successful in winning a funded award to undertake a Research Internship with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration.
Lisa is one of 24 in the first cohort of interns across the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region who started their nine-month placement in March 2026.
The initiative is designed to help more health and care staff build research skills, support evidence-based improvements to services, and widen access to research opportunities across the region. Interns gain valuable experience through placements, mentorship, academic modules, and small-scale research projects. Lisa plans to undertake some palliative care research modules and networking time with Kings College London, and develop a research project to help support referral of patients with end- stage liver disease to the hospice.
Well done, Lisa!
For further information about the Applied Research Collaboration, visit:
arc-kss.nihr.ac.uk(opens in new tab)
Research to understand biological changes in cancer patients to improve their care
Towards the end of life, the body undergoes a profound shift in metabolism. Dr Coyle and researchers at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool have organised the METEL research study to look at changes in the body of cancer patient’s as their disease progresses and towards the end of life. There is very little known about these changes in a person’s body at this incredibly important time, and they will be using urine samples to look at these changes.
The aim of the study is to help accurately predict when someone is nearing the end of life, which is currently hard for clinicians to do, and often occurs only hours or a few days before death. Knowledge of these changes will help clinicians with decision making about care and help avoid treatments that may be unnecessary or burdensome.
In the future, the researchers may also be able to use the samples for other research, for example to help develop various tests and/or treatments that will hopefully improve the care future patients receive.
Pilgrims Hospice Thanet inpatient unit is one of 30 research sites around England that is collecting samples for this study. Dr Anna John is leading the study at the hospice. If a patient is eligible to take part, the patient/loved one will be approached by the study team at the hospice to see if they would like to participate. Participation is voluntary and will not affect the care they receive.
Watch a short video about the METEL study:
Would you be interested in helping the hospice review its research?
Pilgrims undertake research and receives many requests from researchers to undertake research in the hospice. All projects are reviewed by the hospice Research Facilitation and Governance Forum for their agreement to start, and their oversight whilst projects are running, through quarterly meetings.
We’re currently looking for a public member to join the forum as a volunteer to provide their perspective. This role will help us to ensure the research we do is designed and conducted appropriately for the people we care for.
Interested in this role?
To find out more, please contact our Research Facilitator:
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 01227 812 625
To find out more about Pilgrims Hospices’ Research, visit pilgrimshospices.org/research.
