Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is supporting several COVID-19 clinical research studies aimed at understanding the basic biology of the virus, its characteristics, course of action as well as finding potential treatments.
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The Trust is working in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to deliver COVID-19 studies which have been given priority status by the Chief Medical Officer for England and the Department of Health and Social Care.
 
Participation in these studies gives patients and colleagues the opportunity to contribute to research which in turn benefits the care of people locally and contributes to evidence driving the fight against the virus both nationally and internationally.
 
The studies are being delivered by integrated teams across the Trust including Intensive Care, the Emergency Department, Respiratory Medicine, Laboratory Medicine and surgical teams amongst others.
 
Dr Nana Theodorou, Head of Research and Innovation said:

 

“It is a great achievement for the whole Trust here – the medics, nursing teams, Research & Innovation team and colleagues from Labs, Pathology and Pharmacy, to establish the set-up of these trials so quickly and recruit over 1200 patients and 500 staff to COVID-19 research studies.

 

Over the last 4 weeks, we have increased our recruitment by 35%, that’s an impressive 450 patients. This is due to the dedication and support of everybody involved, because we understand that these trials are key to getting potential treatments to our patients.”
 
Key findings BHT clinical research has contributed to so far include:

• mapping the genes of the virus

• understanding why some people are affected more severely than others

• who is most at risk

• detecting antibodies and re infection rates

• identifying which and if any treatments are effective for hospitalised patients as well as the vaccine roll out.

 

Every time a patient takes part in research at BHT, such as the Recovery trial or a colleague in the SIREN study, now classified as one of the most urgent Public Health priority research studies (1a), it enhances the understanding of the virus. 
 
If you are interested in getting involved in research, or simply would like to find out more, please contact the Research and Innovation Department bht.research@nhs.net

 

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