Heartbeat: R&D – Leading the way to innovations in COVID-19
June 9, 2020
The strong research and development culture at our Trust has once again come to the forefront as out R&D team has stepped forward and stepped up our involvement in a range of research trials looking in to COVID-19.
With innovation and ideas flowing from clinicians across the world, all with the aim of tackling COVID-19 and stopping it in its tracks, research trials have stepped up pace and nowhere more evident is that than our own Trust where to date, we have already managed to recruit over 63 patients in to a range of studies.
To find out more about the work of R&D in COVID-19, Heartbeat caught up with Gina Dutton, Head of Research and Development, she said, “Our Trust is proud of its long track record of excellence in clinical research and we’re keen to use all of our knowledge and ability to develop more effective ways of looking after our patients. COVID-19 has undoubtedly had a significant impact on both patients and healthcare professionals and it’s an ideal opportunity to support research in to innovations in treatment and care of COVID-19 patients.
“The portfolio of COVID-19 studies is increasing rapidly and I am proud to say that we have already opened or have in set up six of the most important COVID-19 clinical trials and observational studies, completing local governance checks and set up processes in record time. Key to this has been our close working relationship with the trials pharmacy team. This has been a whole Trust effort with all colleagues in various medical specialties pulling together to ensure that patients are offered these studies during their hospital stay.”
Shortly after it was announced that the prestigious RECOVERY trial had nationally recruited its 5000th participant, the Trust recruited its 50th. This study is looking at a range of drug treatment options for patients who are admitted to hospital with COVID-19. It is a rapidly changing study so that it can assess a range of treatments quickly. The current medications in the study include Lopinavir-Ritonavir, a commonly used HIV drug, Low-dose Dexamethasone – a type of steroid, which is used in a range of conditions typically to reduce inflammation, Hydroxychloroquine (anti-malarial drug), Azithromycin (antibiotic) and Tocilizumab (an anti-inflammatory treatment).
Two other treatment trials are for patients who are more poorly; REMAP-CAP is a drug trial using similar treatments to RECOVERY and RECOVERY RS: Respiratory Support is looking at different types of breathing support, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and High flow nasal oxygen (HFNO). A fourth treatment trial, PRINCIPLE, is in set up with our GP colleagues in Your Health Partnership.
Two other studies are collecting data and samples to improve the understanding of genetics of COVID-19 and how it impacts on patients.