Heartbeat: Clinical Research Facility – are you ready to open a study?

July 10, 2020

Just over a year ago, the brand new clinical research facility (CRF) celebrated its launch. The CRF which boasts nine clinic rooms and associated facilities is available for research clinics and research related procedures. During May this year, new monitors with webcams were installed to ready the facility for Visionable web-clinics.

Prior to suspension of face to face clinics, the CRF was regularly used to approach and consent discussions and follow up visits for a variety of research projects for patients with a number of health conditions including cardiac problems and metabolic disorders, gastroenterology and haematology. Preparations to transfer in Dr Diana Kavanagh’s Friday respiratory clinic had been underway immediately prior to the shutdown of non-essential face to face clinics at the start of the pandemic. There are also plans to move in some of the haematology outpatients.

“You don’t have to only see patients who are going to be taking part in research to use the clinical research facility,” said Gina Dutton, Head of Research and Development. “Clinics that are suitable to take place in the CRF are those where a high proportion of patients are suitable to take part in research. So we would expect you to have a study open or ready to open and a plan for pipeline of studies to use the facility for a full clinic. “The CRF has been an excellent investment and has meant that we have the facilities available to enable Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to be chosen to deliver staff research.

“We are keen for new investigators to come forward and make grant applications to expand both within Trust research and to have a wider influence.”

The CRF is an ideal location to undertake research where a new treatment modality or intervention which can be delivered in an outpatient setting can be tested. There is a research laboratory with facilities to process blood and other samples for refrigeration and freezing for storage and dispatch to analysis labs. The CRF is also used for research project site initiation visits and monitoring visits, where sponsors visit the Trust to check source data for licencing studies. Face to face external visitor meetings are temporarily suspended and so our new web equipment has proved invaluable in making sure that these important activities can continue.

Colleagues are encouraged to contact R&D early in your discussions about new SWB originated research. The team can show you the facilities available as well as provide advice on grant applications and ethics and approvals processes. Contact Zaida Khalil on zaida.khalil@nhs.net.

Be sure to check out this short video featuring Gina Dutton, Head of Research and Development talking about our clinical research facility at the Trust.