News

People in Cornwall needed for study looking into whether COVID-19 and flu vaccines can be administered at the same time

15 April 2021

Researchers at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust are running a new study which could set the foundations for how booster COVID-19 vaccinations are delivered in the future. The study, supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula (CRN SWP), will determine whether booster COVID-19 vaccines should be given at the same time as flu vaccines.

Case Study: How Claire helped bring research studies to potentially at-risk patients in the South West during a pandemic

07 April 2021

It’s been nearly a year since Claire Bewshea’s work and personal life were impacted by COVID-19. As the Project Manager of a major UK study investigating whether patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of COVID-19, called the CLARITY Study, Claire has had to think outside of the box to bring research to at-risk patients, all whilst dealing with the physical ongoing effects of long COVID.

New results and case study released for record-breaking COVID-19 vaccine trial involving Devon residents

01 April 2021

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trial, delivered locally by the NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre: Exeter and involving over 500 volunteers from in and around Exeter, has now published a new set of promising results.

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Common inflammatory bowel disease treatment is linked to reduced COVID-19 antibody response, South West study finds

23 March 2021

New evidence indicates the commonly-prescribed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drug infliximab blunts the immune system to COVID-19 infection, potentially increasing the risk of reinfection.

Great grandfather from Cornwall proud to play his part in fightback against COVID-19 by joining vaccine study

22 March 2021

A 66-year-old great grandfather has spoken about his reasons for joining a COVID-19 vaccine research study in Cornwall.

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Novavax COVID vaccine volunteer recommends clinical trials to friends!

18 March 2021

An Exeter man who joined a clinical trial of a potential COVID-19 vaccine after his Grandson recovered from being seriously ill with COVID has said he was delighted with the successful outcome of the trials, and has suggested to his friends that they should volunteer in future.

Woman from Cornwall encourages more people to take part in COVID-19 vaccine research

16 March 2021

Forty-four-year-old Dottie, from Redruth, has shared her experience of taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine study in the hope more people will do the same.

People of the South West help UK COVID-19 research pass one million participants

15 March 2021

People across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset have played an important role in reaching this remarkable milestone, with more than 15,000 participants taking part in nationally-prioritised COVID-19 studies, supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula.

PRINCIPLE Covid-19 treatments trial in the South West widens to under 50s

04 March 2021

A NIHR-supported study, running across the South West, evaluating potential COVID-19 treatments that can be taken at home will now expand for the first time to include adults of any age.

Online talk: ask the experts about COVID-19 vaccine research

01 March 2021

Join healthcare specialists working in COVID-19 vaccine research in the South of England to learn what we know about COVID-19 vaccines so far and the role research can continue to play.

Thousands in South West back dementia research service but more needed, says local expert

24 February 2021

The South West is playing its part in the recruitment of volunteers to dementia research studies.

Now Open: South West Research Associate Scheme 2021-22

23 February 2021

The NIHR CRN South West Peninsula Research Associate Scheme for 2021-22 is now open for applications. This scheme offers financial support to researchers to support research careers, increase recruitment into NIHR portfolio studies and to acquire skills in research methodologies to support the development of a fellowship application or externally funded grant. Applications close at 5pm Wednesday 10th March 2021.

Cornish chaplain faces needle phobia head on by taking part in a COVID-19 research study to protect those she helps

22 February 2021

The lead chaplain of a Cornish NHS Trust has spoken about how getting involved in a COVID-19 research study has enabled her to continue to provide help to patients – and face her phobia of needles.

Data from COVID-19 study running across South West shows Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provides high levels of protection from first dose

22 February 2021

Early data from PHE’s SIREN study, which is being run by nine NHS Trusts across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) South West Peninsula (SWP), show a promising impact on infection in healthcare workers aged under 65.

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South West hospitals contribute to study which finds tocilizumab reduces deaths in patients hospitalised with COVID-19

11 February 2021

The NIHR-supported RECOVERY trial has shown that tocilizumab - an anti-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis treatment - reduces the risk of death for hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19.

Drug trialled in Cornwall contributes to approval of another treatment for most aggressive form of breast cancer

04 February 2021

A cancer trial which ran at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust has led to the approval of pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

Covid lockdown loneliness linked to more depressive symptoms in older adults

01 February 2021

Loneliness in adults aged 50 and over during the COVID-19 lockdown was linked to worsening depressive and other mental health symptoms, according to a large-scale online study.

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trialled in South West 89.3% effective

29 January 2021

The NIHR-supported Novavax COVID-19 vaccine – which was trialled in Exeter and Cornwall – has demonstrated that the vaccine is 89.3% effective at preventing COVID-19.This data was identified from interim analysis of the Phase III study and included effectiveness against the new variants.

Research mentorship scheme in Cornwall opening doors for PIs of the future

25 January 2021

A mentorship scheme being run by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is helping to bridge the gap between clinical practice and clinical research — with three new principle investigators having come to the forefront since its start just two years ago.

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South West healthcare professionals lead the way in supporting important research which has improved the global understanding of COVID-19

14 January 2021

NHS Trusts across the South West rallied to support a study which has given key insight into immunity to COVID-19, with healthcare staff volunteering to support the SIREN Study in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.

South West patients contribute to study which finds arthritis drugs effective in improving survival in sickest COVID-19 patients

13 January 2021

Patients across the UK who are admitted to intensive care units due to COVID-19 are set to receive a treatment that can reduce the time spent in hospital by up to 10 days, an international study supported by the National Institute for Health Research has found.

Devon researchers investigating whether mindfulness can help young people with depression

07 January 2021

Young people with depression and their parents, or carers, are being invited to take part in a new mindfulness research study being run by specially trained clinicians from Child and Family Heath Devon and Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Children with anxiety invited to take part in study looking at how treatments can be delivered in line with COVID-19 social distancing rules

07 January 2021

Parents of 5-12 year old children from Devon who suffer from anxiety are being invited to join a research study looking at the best way to deliver treatment for child anxiety problems when there are social-distancing restrictions in place due to COVID-19.

Exeter research nurse chosen for global celebration of women in healthcare

04 January 2021

Diabetes nursing professor and NIHR70@70 senior nurse research leader Maggie Shepherd is one of just four UK nurses and midwives to be included among the Women in Global Health’s 100+ Outstanding Women Nurses and Midwives.

Local MP shares his experience of taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine study in Cornwall

21 December 2020

Steve Double is one of the 267 volunteers who took part in a leading phase three COVID-19 vaccine study at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

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