HHTU News Roundup
We are recruiting 2 Trial Managers!
The HHTU are expanding again! We are looking to recruit two new trial managers. If you would like to join a friendly and growing team working dynamically to deliver clinical trials that will have a real impact on patient health and well-being we are keen to hear from you.
Full job details are available here: https://jobs.hull.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=UOH-TA-0191
2 studies get greenlight
It has been a really good month for the opening of studies. Two studies, DOORStep and FanFIRST both were given the greenlight to start participant recruitment this month.
DOORStep is a Yorkshire Cancer Research funded study that is looking the effectiveness and acceptability of free door to door transport to increase the uptake of breast screening appointments in Yorkshire.
FanFIRST is for people living with COPD and high short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) inhaler intake. It is looking at whether using an intervention which includes using a fan and providing guidance reduces their breathlessness.
Mahe and Saphsa, the trial managers, for two studies have worked hard to get them underway and we look forward to the first recruits.
Trial Manager presents at a conference
Our trial manager Mahe was invited as a keynote speaker to present at 8th National Conference on Interdisciplinary Research in Management & Medical Sciences at Tehran University in Iran which she attended virtually. She was also included on the panel discussion. This was a very exciting event for Mahe as she was graduated from Tehran University years ago!
Mahe presented the final findings of the REDUCE Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (reviewing long term antidepressant use by careful monitoring in everyday practice) in Farsi. There is concern about inappropriate long-term antidepressant use and limited evidence for successful discontinuation strategies. This trial tested practitioner review and antidepressant tapering, combined with practitioner and patient internet support, and patient psychologist telephone support, compared to practitioner review alone. In the REDUCE study, 131 GP practices in England and Wales participated to recruit 330 patients on antidepressants who were willing to try supported discontinuation of treatment.
MOI-A recruits it’s first participant
It has been an excellent month for Mahe who also had her first recruit to MOI-A which she is also a trial manager for.
MOI-A is for patients with the rare disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta which causes bone fragility and it is hoped that it will establish the effective dose of losartan that will reduce bone turnover in these patients. All UK sites are now open and it is hoped that the Italian sites will be able to open at the end of the Summer.
John becomes Chair of UKCRC group
And finally, we are delighted to report that a member of our senior team, John Turgoose has been appointed joint chair of the UKCRC Data and Information Systems Operational Group. The UKCRC (United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration) is a network of over 50 academic clinical trials units across the country. John is “honoured to be given the opportunity to chair the operation group. Given the rapidly changing and challenging landscape for academic CTUs, working together has never been more important.”
All at HHTU congratulate John on this appointment.