This article has been written by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (Oxford Health) and reviewed by Eli Lilly and Company Limited (Lilly) as part of the Collaborative Working Agreement between Lilly and four NHS Trusts: Greater Manchester Mental Health, Oxford Health, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and University Hospitals Sussex. The project is supported by Dementias Platform UK.
Oxford Health and it’s Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) is celebrating a landmark achievement after winning the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership of the Year Award 2025. This accolade recognises the importance of collaboration in driving innovation and improving patient care across the NHS.
The award was presented for the pioneering Alzheimer’s disease biomarker pilot project, delivered in collaboration with Lilly, and three other NHS Trusts: Greater Manchester Mental Health, University Hospitals Sussex, and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, with support from Dementias Platform UK. These organisations have worked together to improve early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, a disease that affects growing numbers of people and their families nationwide.
At the heart of this initiative is the introduction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing for biomarkers (biological indicators of disease) for Alzheimer’s disease (which is the commonest cause of dementia) into routine memory clinic practice. Currently, only 2% of patients have access to this advanced diagnostic tool. By testing its scalability across Mental Health Trusts and diverse geographic communities, the project aims to make early and accurate diagnosis a reality for many more people. This step is vital for improving treatment pathways and patient outcomes, given new medicines are on the horizon.
The collaboration has already delivered measurable impact. A toolkit for clinicians has been developed to support national rollout, including governance guidance, commissioning advice, and streamlined referral forms. Clinician engagement is growing, and patients are beginning to benefit from this new approach.
Winning the HSJ award is a proud moment for Oxford Health and its partners. It underscores the strength of cross-sector collaboration and the commitment to tackling one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges. Earlier this year, the project was also named Best Pharmaceutical Partnership with the NHS, reinforcing its status as a model for innovation and partnership.
Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist Vanessa Raymont, Director of R&D at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and lead on the project told us: “Winning the HSJ Partnership of the Year Award is a tremendous recognition of what collaboration can achieve. This project exemplifies how working together across NHS Trusts, academia, and industry can deliver real innovation for patients. Our shared goal has always been to improve early diagnosis and care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease, and this award reinforces the importance of partnership in making that vision a reality.”
Congratulations to everyone involved in making this achievement possible.
For more details, visit Oxford Health CRF or contact the team: [email protected]
CMAT-06186, January 2026
