We’re proud to announce Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust as our Q1 2026 Network Spotlight winner!
Led by Dr. David Wilson, Consultant Cardiologist at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, a groundbreaking quality improvement project is demonstrating how advanced digital technology can revolutionize the detection of a potentially life-threatening heart condition that often goes undiagnosed. This innovative initiative is leveraging the TriNetX LIVE™ platform—fueled by the largest federated network of global real-world data (RWD)—to identify patients at risk of transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).
The Challenge: A Hidden Cardiac Threat
Early identification and intervention are critical to improving patient outcomes, yet significant challenges remain in screening and diagnosing ATTR-CM efficiently. Traditional methods have struggled to identify at-risk patients from large hospital populations in routine clinical practice.
“We wanted to maximize recruitment for clinical trials, and TriNetX allows us to do that by proactively identifying patients who meet the trial inclusion criteria rather than relying on chance encounters in routine clinical practice,” explains Dr. Wilson.
A Digital Solution to a Clinical Problem
Recognizing the urgent need for a more systematic approach, Dr. Wilson and his team designed a quality improvement project with four ambitious objectives:
- Utilize advanced digital technology to identify patients at risk of ATTR-CM based on predefined clinical characteristics.
- Implement a dedicated ATTR-CM screening clinic for comprehensive diagnostic evaluations.
- Increase referrals to specialist amyloid services for confirmatory testing where necessary.
- Establish a replicable model for other NHS Trust hospitals across the UK.
The project secured over $41,000 (£31,000) in funding; a testament to its potential impact on patient care. At the center of this initiative is the TriNetX LIVE™ platform, which enables the team to search through vast amounts of patient data to identify individuals at risk.
Putting Technology to Work
The TriNetX LIVE™ platform has become an indispensable tool in Dr. Wilson’s clinical arsenal. He uses the technology for multiple applications:
- Pre-screening patients for clinical trial recruitment.
- Conducting real-world observational studies comparing treatments that haven’t been evaluated in randomized controlled trials.
- Estimating the prevalence of rare conditions (e.g. Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis) within the local hospital system.
The screening phase has already yielded remarkable results. The team has successfully identified over 100 potential individuals who may have the condition; a number that would have been nearly impossible to reach through traditional clinical pathways alone. These patients are now being invited to specialized screening clinics, where they undergo echocardiography and face-to-face consultations with a consultant cardiologist to clarify diagnoses and facilitate onward referrals to the Midlands Amyloid Service.
A Vision for the Future
Dr. Wilson’s enthusiasm for the platform’s potential extends far beyond this single project. He envisions a future where digital screening becomes standard practice across NHS research teams and clinical services.
“TriNetX offers a lot of opportunities. I think all research teams involved in clinical trial recruitment should be familiar with conducting searches with the TriNetX LIVE™ platform,” Dr. Wilson advocates. “Clinical teams can also use it in quality improvement projects to optimize current clinical pathways.”
The applications he foresees are diverse and impactful: identifying patients eligible for new treatments or medications with new indications, such as determining which individuals with previous myocardial infarction qualify for novel lipid-lowering therapies. This proactive approach transforms clinical care from reactive to preventive, ensuring patients receive appropriate interventions before their conditions deteriorate.
A Model for Healthcare Innovation
What makes this project particularly significant is its potential for scalability. By establishing this proof-of-concept model, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is paving the way for others to replicate similar initiatives. The combination of advanced digital screening technology, dedicated clinical pathways, and specialist service integration creates a framework that can be adapted for various conditions beyond ATTR-CM.
The project exemplifies how healthcare organizations can harness data and technology to overcome diagnostic challenges while maintaining the human-centered care that defines excellent clinical practice. The identified patients don’t simply become data points; they receive comprehensive evaluation and personalized care pathways tailored to their specific needs.
Celebrating Innovation in Healthcare
TriNetX is honored to recognize Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust as our Q1 2026 Network Spotlight winner. Dr. Wilson and his team demonstrate how forward-thinking clinicians can leverage digital tools to address real-world clinical challenges, improving patient outcomes while advancing the broader mission of healthcare innovation.
As this quality improvement project continues to unfold, it stands as an inspiring example of what’s possible when clinical expertise meets cutting-edge technology: potentially saving lives by ensuring that a rare and dangerous condition no longer remains hidden in plain sight.
Interested in more?
Check out these inspiring stories from previous TriNetX Network Spotlight Winners: