HHTU News Roundup

DOORStep survey collection ended

The DOORStep study is evaluating the effectiveness and acceptability of free door to door transport to increase the uptake of breast screening appointments in Yorkshire. To assess how women travelled to the screening sites they were asked to complete a travel survey. One for women in the intervention arm and one for those in the intervention arm. The survey collection phase of DOORStep has officially ended, and a total of 3696 responses have been collected!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and helped us gather valuable insights. Work now moves onto the next phases of DOORStep including qualitative interviews and their subsequent analysis.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES
01: The ACESO Study

The ACESO study is a UK clinical trial investigating a promising new treatment approach for acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC), a life-threatening flare of ulcerative colitis that often requires hospitalisation and intensive therapy.

Currently, patients with ASUC are treated first with intravenous corticosteroids. However, about half do not respond sufficiently, leading to the use of additional “rescue” therapies or even surgery, including colectomy. The ACESO trial tests whether adding upadacitinib—an effective, fast-acting medication approved for ulcerative colitis—at the start of steroid treatment can improve patient outcomes and reduce the need for further interventions.

Trial Design

This Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled study plans to recruit 300 participants across approximately 30 UK hospitals. The trial will evaluate if combining upadacitinib with steroids leads to faster clinical response, fewer surgeries, and shorter hospital stays.

Leadership and Collaboration

The study is led by Prof. Shaji Sebastian at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and coordinated by the Hull Health Trials Unit and collaborating with many NHS trusts and academic centres across the UK. The Hull Health Trials Unit team is expertly lead by Trial Manager Mahe Haji Sadeghi and her hardworking team of Trial Coordinators Charlotte Thompson and Paul Bradley as well as skilled Data Managers Beccy Acaster and Sarah Sumpter.

Study Progress

The study launched earlier this year, with 10 sites now open and actively recruiting participants. An additional 10 sites are currently going through the approval (“greenlight”) process to begin recruitment soon, while another 10 are being set up to meet the target of 30 sites. To date, ACESO has successfully enrolled 24 participants across five sites:

Hull University Teaching Hospitals
St George’s Hospital
Royal Devon University Healthcare
Cambridge University Hospitals
Kettering General Hospital

We sincerely thank all our participating sites for their ongoing commitment and collaboration in driving this vital research forward.

Impact and Outlook

If successful, the ACESO trial could significantly improve the care pathway for patients experiencing acute severe ulcerative colitis, reducing the burden of surgery and prolonged hospital stays. This trial represents a critical step toward faster, more effective treatment for a condition that affects thousands of people annually.