Trust leads the way in clinical research
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has seen the biggest increase nationally in the number of new clinical research studies it commissions and conducts, the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network has announced today.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust offered 421 studies to patients in 2015/16, 56 more than the previous year, tying with Barts London NHS Trust.
The 2015/16 NHS Research Activity League Table published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) show all Trusts across London and the rest of England are delivering clinical research, providing thousands more patients with access to better treatments and care. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust remains a leader in this field.
Paul Craven, Head of Clinical Research Operations, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust & Imperial College London said:
“Imperial has long been a world-class academic health science centre, dedicated to translating science into improvements in clinical care.
"We are extremely proud to see this tradition being carried forward with the largest increase in studies across the whole of England. This is a tribute to the many dedicated staff who work on setting up and delivering clinical research, and to our patients, whose active participation and involvement in studies is inspiring.
“Finding new and innovative ways to improve patient care and experience is at the heart of everything we do and we have ambitious plans to achieve even more in the future.”
More than 600,000 patients took part in research in England in 2015/16. Gillian, a renal patient at Hammersmith Hospital took part in the PEXIVAS study almost immediately after diagnosis with antibody associated vasculitis.
She said:
“I was told about the trial within an hour of my diagnosis with AAV on a Friday and was enrolled on the following Monday. It was both scary and positive, I was glad to be a part of it.”
The research trials carried out by the Trust and its academic partner Imperial College cover a range of conditions including cancer, fertility, neurology, diet and paediatrics.
Some of the Trust’s most recent studies include the iknife, a specialist surgical tool that can analyse cancerous tissue; a breath test for diagnosing esophageal cancer, and ‘PRISM’ looking at preventing miscarriages.
More information about research at the Trust including how to get involved in a trial, are available on the research pages on the Trust’s website.
