Research studies
How research happens here, and what's open to patients right now.
Why research matters in general practice
Research is how primary care gets better. The treatments that are standard today were trial protocols ten or twenty years ago. By taking part you help the next generation of patients, and you often get more frequent monitoring, extra tests, or access to medicines that aren't yet available on the NHS.
Patients tell us they enjoy being part of studies. The study team takes time, the conversations are unhurried, and there's a sense of contributing something beyond your own care.
How we choose studies
Every study we offer has been approved by an independent research ethics committee before it reaches us. We then pick the studies that match our patient population and the conditions we see most often. Cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, vaccination, and women's health come up regularly.
There are several ways you might hear about a study:
- A doctor or nurse mentions it during an appointment and asks if you'd be interested.
- You receive a letter or text if our records suggest you might be suitable.
- You see it on the noticeboard in the surgery, on our website, or on our social media.
Taking part is always voluntary. You can say no at the start, change your mind partway through, or withdraw at any time without giving a reason and without it affecting your normal care.
What happens if you agree
You'll get clear written information about the study, time to ask questions, and the chance to talk it over with family or your GP before deciding. If you agree to take part, you sign a consent form that explains exactly which parts of your medical record (if any) the study team may look at.
No-one outside the practice sees your contact details or your records without your written consent. Confidentiality stays in place.
Studies we have been involved in
These are studies the practice has taken part in. They give a sense of the kind of research we do, but they are not all open to new participants right now. For what is currently recruiting, see the research board at the practice or ask the research team.
Harmonie Study - protecting babies from RSV
The Harmonie Research Study is looking at how well babies can be protected from serious illness caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using a single antibody dose. RSV is a common seasonal virus that infects nearly all babies by their second birthday. For most it's a mild cold, but for some it leads to bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
The study is enrolling up to 28,860 babies (newborn to 12 months old) across the UK, France, and Germany.
More information at rsvharmoniestudy.com.
GMRx2 - living with high blood pressure
A clinical trial run by Imperial College London (on behalf of George Medicines) testing GMRx2, a single pill that combines three widely-used blood-pressure-lowering medicines. The trial is looking at how effective and tolerable this combined approach is compared with current treatment.
Who can take part: adults 18 and over with a diagnosis of hypertension, currently taking three or fewer drugs for it.
Travel expenses are reimbursed for every visit to the clinic.
To find out more, contact the Ashfields Research Team:
- Phone: 01270 275053
- Email: janetrhodes@nhs.net
- Email: tracey.waller@nhs.net
IRAS number 1004214. Approved by South Central Oxford B Research Ethics Committee.
ZEUS - heart attack, stroke, or poor circulation
Ashfields Primary Care Centre is recruiting for the ZEUS study. It may be relevant for you if you've had a heart attack, a stroke, or you experience insufficient blood flow in your legs (peripheral arterial disease).
The study evaluates a new drug for its ability to treat inflammation and reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death from cardiovascular causes. Participants must be 45 or over.
Talk to your doctor or nurse if you're interested, or ask at reception for the ZEUS study information sheet.
Semaglutide for heart disease (Novo Nordisk)
Looking at whether semaglutide can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke) in patients who are overweight or obese and who have already had a cardiovascular event.
Participants are randomly assigned to either semaglutide or a placebo. Neither you nor the study team chooses which - the allocation is decided by chance, with an equal probability of either. The medicine comes in a pen and is self-injected into a skinfold once a week.
The study runs for around 2.5 to 5 years, with up to 25 visits to the study doctor over that time.
Search Novo Nordisk's clinical trials register for study EX9536-4388 to see full eligibility criteria and locations.
VESALIUS-CV - evolocumab for cholesterol lowering
The VESALIUS-CV study is looking at whether lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with evolocumab reduces major cardiovascular events in adults who are at high cardiovascular risk but who haven't yet had a heart attack or stroke.
If you have a strong family history, high LDL cholesterol despite treatment, or other significant risk factors, you may be eligible.
Study information on ClinicalTrials.gov (study ID NCT03872401).
GlaxoSmithKline shingles vaccine study
A GSK-sponsored study looking at whether vaccination can prevent a second attack of shingles in people who've already had one.
You may be eligible if you're 50 or over and have had shingles at least once before.
If you'd like to find out more, get in touch with the practice and ask about the GSK shingles study.
Important: Not every study we run is listed here
Some studies have recruitment restrictions that mean we can't advertise them publicly - we approach eligible patients directly. If we think a study might suit you, we'll get in touch.
We also have a research board on the landing at Kiltearn Medical Centre, on the second floor of Church View Primary Care Centre. It's updated weekly with our new studies and the opportunities patients can get involved in.
Hearing back about studies
Taking part in research can feel like a one-way street: you give your time, sign the forms, attend the visits. But what happens next? We try to close that loop.
Where the study sponsor publishes findings, we share them back with participants. That might be a results letter posted to you, a summary handed over at your next review, or for larger trials a plain-English breakdown of what the data showed. Some studies take years to complete and the published paper lands long after recruitment closed - we pass those on too when they reach us.
Patients who've taken part have told us things like:
"Felt I was giving something back to the NHS."
"Pleased to be helping with stroke prevention."
If you joined a study through us and haven't heard anything for a while, get in touch and we'll chase it up. Recruitment ending doesn't mean follow-up has finished, and findings sometimes take a year or two to come through.
Meet the research team
Our practice research team handles study recruitment, follow-up, and any questions about taking part. You can contact them directly on the numbers below if it's easier than going through reception.
GP leads
- Principal Investigator: Dr Carolyn Paul
- Sub Investigators: Dr Peter Flattery, Dr Julie Angus, Dr Plamenna Mateva, Dr Nathan Sznerch
Research nurses
- Janet Rhodes
- Lorna MacDougall
- Isabella Shaw
- Katie Powell
Research support
- Phoebe Lawler
- Yvette Twiss
Get in touch
Direct line: 01270 376925 or 01270 275053.
Email: scccg.sc.research@nhs.net
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Interested in taking part in research?
Mention it at your next appointment or call reception, and we'll connect you with the research team to talk through what's open at the moment.