Clinical research van reaching rural communities
A specially-designed van is visiting rural parts of Cornwall to make it easier for people in "underserved and remote" areas to take part in clinical research.
The Mobile Research Unit (MRU) is part of a pilot project exploring how bespoke vehicles can improve clinical trial accessibility and efficiency.
The unit is part of a clinical trial called NOVA 301 investigating the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine for norovirus. The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) is one of 39 trusts in the country taking part.
Bianca Mills, head of research and development at RCHT, said the MRU was a "transformative step in overcoming geographical barriers to clinical research in Cornwall".
She said it was "a vital step towards reducing health inequalities, improving patient outcomes and positioning Cornwall as a leader in accessible, community-driven research."
The trial has recruited about 3,000 participants nationally, with 30 of those from Cornwall.
The MRU is going to visit areas including Penzance and Hayle, where research participation has historically been low.
The van features a "high-quality clinical space" with an "ultra-low temperature freezer to store biological samples".
The project is a collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway, pharmaceutical company Moderna and EMS Healthcare.
Professor Andrew Ustianowski, interim executive director at the NIHR Research Delivery Network, said: "The team at RCHT has a strong track record of delivering commercial research and ensuring that local populations have opportunities to participate.
"We look forward to seeing how this pilot, which includes mobile units in Cornwall and Blackpool, improves the participant experience and expands access to research."
Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
Trust awarded £3.5m to establish research centre
Woman's hopes for brain tumours breakthrough
Silent nurse call bells on trial in baby ward
NIHR
RCHT
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Women less likely to get care for potentially fatal heart condition, study finds
Women are less likely than men to be given treatment for a potentially fatal heart condition, according to a new analysis. Researchers found women are 11% less likely to be referred to a hospital specialist after a diagnosis of the heart valve disease aortic stenosis. Academics said the findings show 'inequities in management and care of this common and serious condition' after they also found differences in care among south Asian and black patients as well as those from poorer backgrounds. Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve or the area immediately around it, leads to obstruction of the blood flow from the heart, which leads to symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, chest pain and breathlessness. The condition is more common in elderly people. It is not possible to reverse but treatments can include a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or valve replacement surgery. If left untreated it can lead to serious complications, including heart failure, heart rhythm abnormalities, and death. The analysis suggests some people are less likely to receive this treatment. Experts from the University of Leicester examined GP data on 155,000 people diagnosed with aortic stenosis between 2000 and 2022 in England. Presenting their findings to the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester, experts said as well as women being less likely to be referred for hospital care, they are 39% less likely to have a procedure to replace their aortic valve. Researchers also found people living in poorer neighbourhoods are 7% less likely to be referred for hospital care after a diagnosis compared to people from wealthier neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, black patients are 48% less likely to undergo a procedure to replace their aortic valve compared to white patients. South Asian patients are 27% less likely to undergo a procedure compared to their white counterparts, according to the study, which was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and supported by NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. Dr Anvesha Singh, associate professor at the University of Leicester and consultant cardiologist, who was involved in the research, said: 'Previous studies have shown lower rates of valve replacement in women, and clinicians had assumed that women were less likely to be diagnosed with aortic stenosis. 'This analysis using large, real-world data clearly shows that this is not the case, giving us the clearest picture yet of what is happening in day-to-day clinical practice. 'Our study highlights potential inequities in management and care of this common and serious condition. More research is needed to understand the reasons for this and the true prevalence of aortic stenosis in different groups.' Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation, which supported the research, and consultant cardiologist, said: 'This study of over 150,000 GP records has unveiled disparities in access to aortic valve treatment for women, south Asian and black people, and people living in more deprived communities. 'We don't yet have the full picture, but these findings are concerning and we need more research to understand what is driving the differences seen. 'This will be crucial to enable action to address any underlying causes stopping some people from having access to the heart valve treatment and care they need, when they need it.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man with life-threatening peanut allergy now eats them every day thanks to study
A man with a life-threatening peanut allergy is able to eat several per day thanks to a "ground-breaking" study. Richard Lassiter, 44, says he has been admitted to hospital twice due to his severe nut allergy, but now eats four peanuts every morning as part of a trial which has seen him gradually increase his exposure to them. One of his reactions came during a holiday in Chile with his wife in 2018, when he had a reaction so bad he had to stay in a high dependency unit overnight and have adrenaline and oxygen. He is one of 21 people between the ages of 18 and 40 who took part in the research conducted by King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The study was the first entirely on adults with severe allergies to test whether daily doses of peanuts taken under strict supervision can be safely tolerated. Other "desensitisation" studies are focused on children, the experts say, meaning adults don't get the opportunity to counter their allergies. The study, called The Grown Up Peanut Immunotherapy trial, saw participants with allergies slowly increase their daily dosage from 0.8mg peanut flour mixed in with food. Once they could tolerate 50-100mg of peanut protein, they were switched to eating whole peanuts, peanut butter or other peanut products. By the end of the study, which was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, two thirds were able to eat the equivalent of five peanuts without reacting. Speaking to Sky's Wilfred Frost, Mr Lassiter said: "There was definitely a sense of nerves at first. You know, you have to get your mind around the idea of eating something you've tried to avoid your whole life. "But I think at the point that I found out about the trial, it was something I was really keen to do. I obviously had a couple of [dangerous] incidents reasonably fresh in my mind." He said the trial had changed his life, adding that he took the nuts like "medicine". "The idea that I take four peanuts a day now after my breakfast is well-worn routine," he said. "I know it's something I'll do for the rest of the rest of my life. "I'm certainly much more confident and calm when I go out to dinner with my wife, or when we go travelling. I know that that accidental exposure to peanuts isn't going to cause a serious reaction like it has done in the past." Read more: He added that he knew it still wasn't safe to order a meal with a strong presence of nuts. Chief investigator Stephen Till, professor of allergy at King's College London and consultant allergist at Guy's and St Thomas', told Sky News the trial provided hope for those with nut allergies, but was definitely "not something to do at home". He said the next step would be to conduct larger trials and identify "the group of adult patients who would most likely benefit from oral immunotherapy, and see whether it can lead to long-term tolerance in this age group". Asked if such trials could potentially benefit people with other types of allergies, Prof Till said: "Potentially, yes. The principle should be applicable to other food options, but what I would say is that different foods can behave differently in terms of the amounts that are required to cause reactions and how severe the reactions are. So to do it in other foods, you really do need to do trials for those specific foods individually." Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: "This ground-breaking research offers hope to thousands living with peanut allergies. For too long, people have navigated daily life in fear of accidental exposure that could be life-threatening. "I'm proud the UK is leading this vital work through NIHR funding. These results show how we're transforming lives through science, potentially changing care standards for adults with peanut allergies worldwide."
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
ADHD medications 'generally safe' for heart health, Southampton study finds
A study led by the University of Southampton has found that ADHD medications have a small effect on blood pressure and heart rate. The research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, looked at the cardiovascular effects of ADHD medications based on randomised controlled trials. There have been concerns about the side effects of ADHD medications, but the new findings suggest that the benefits of taking these medications outweigh the risks. Professor Samuele Cortese, senior lead author of the study, said: "When it comes to taking any medication, risks and benefits should always be assessed together. "We found an overall small increase in blood pressure and pulse for the majority of children taking ADHD medications. "Other studies show clear benefits in terms of reductions in mortality risk and improvement in academic functions, as well as a small increased risk of hypertension, but not other cardiovascular diseases. "Overall, the risk-benefit ratio is reassuring for people taking ADHD medications." The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), analysed data from 102 randomised controlled trials, including a total of 22,702 participants with ADHD. It is estimated that ADHD affects around 4 per cent of children in the UK, with around 45 per cent of these treated with medication. The researchers found that all ADHD medications were generally associated with overall small effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG parameters. No significant differences were found between stimulants (including methylphenidate and amphetamine) and non-stimulants (atomoxetine and viloxazine) with regard to their effects on blood pressure and heart rate. Dr Luis Farhat said: "Our findings should inform future clinical guidelines, stressing the need to systematically monitor blood pressure and heart rate, both for stimulants and non-stimulants. "This should be particularly relevant for practitioners who might assume that only stimulants have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system." The researchers say that those with existing heart conditions should discuss the side effects of ADHD medications with a specialist cardiologist before starting treatment. The research team will now look to see if some groups might be more vulnerable to cardiovascular side effects than others.
