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Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

COVID 19

COVID-19 Research

As well as dealing with the on-going care of our COVID-19 patients, it’s vitally important that we contribute to national research efforts to understand the disease and how we can develop ways to respond in the future.  We are recruiting positive COVID-19 patients in hospital to a variety of different studies.

The Research Department has opened  eight  research studies looking at COVID-19; all these studies have been categorised as an Urgent Public Health Research by the Department of Health and Social Care.

 

RECOVERY - Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy

There are currently no approved anti-viral or host-directed treatments for COVID-19. This study allows reliable assessment of the effects of multiple different treatments (including re-purposed and novel drugs) on major outcomes in COVID-19. All patients will receive usual care for the participating hospital and will be initially randomised will be between four treatment arms.

The study is sponsored by The University of Oxford.

The Principal Investigator is Dr Andrew Wight and the Research Nurse is Liz Bailey.

 

CCP - ISARIC/WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol for Severe Emerging Infections in the UK

This study was initially approved in 2013 in readiness for a severe emerging infection and was activated in March 2020. 

This is an observational study collecting clinical data at frequent time points during an in-patient stay that will summarise the illness episode and outcome.

The study is sponsored by The University of Oxford.

The Principal Investigator is Dr Kavya Mohandas.

 

GenOMICC – Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care

This study was opened in 2019 and has recently been amended in include patients identified with COVID-19.  Thousands of patients severely ill with COVID-19 will have their genetic code studied to help scientists understand whether a person’s genetics may influence their susceptibility to the virus.  Patients will only be enrolled in the study if they, or their next of kin, have given their consent.

The study is sponsored by University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian Health Board.

The Principal Investigator is Dr Girendra Sadera and the Research Nurses are Reni Jacob and Cathy Jones.

 

UKOSS - UK Obstetric surveillance system

UKOSS is an on-going national registry / database that is usually completed by obstetric staff.  A recent amendment has been submitted to include pregnant ladies with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The Research Midwife is Julie Grindey. 

 

PAN-COVIDPregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes in COVID-19

This is a global registry of women with suspected COVID-19 or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and their neonates; understanding natural history to guide treatment and prevention.

The objectives of the study are to form a disease registry linked with other national data sources for women with suspected COVID-19 or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy and their neonates.   The study will produce weekly reports to answer the principle research questions:  Is SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, stillbirth, pre-term birth, or vertical transmission to the neonate?

The study main sponsor is Imperial College, London

The Principal Investigator is Julie Grindey, Research Midwife.

 

PROTECT ASUC - Covid-19 Pandemic Response of Assessment, Endoscopy and Treatment in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis.  A multi-centre observational case- control study.

The Study is sponsored by Hull University Teaching Hospitals.

The Principal Investigator is Dr Paul Flanagan.

 

PREPARE IBD - Physician Responses to disease Flares and Patient Adaptation in Relation to Events in Inflammatory Bowel Disease during COVID-19 pandemic:  A multicentre cohort analysis.

The Study is sponsored by Hull University Teaching Hospitals.

The Principal Investigator is Dr Paul Flanagan.

In addition to the studies above open at the Trust – the following study may also be of interest:

COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Clinical Trial

The NHS Blood Transfusion (NHSBT) Service is looking to collect plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 for more than 28 days. This is either 28 days from hospital discharge (for people who went into hospital) and 35 days since diagnosis (for people who were not admitted to hospital).  Convalescent Plasma (CP) is plasma donated by people who have recovered from a particular virus, (in this case COVID-19) and whose plasma contains antibodies to that virus.

The NHSBT service is keen to recruit donors who tested positive for COVID-19 and have now recovered. Please register via their website: https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/how-you-can-help/convalescent-plasma-clinical-trial/