Clinical Research

Clinical research is vital for developing and improving care and treatment for patients across the NHS.

Paxton Green is proud to be a Research Ready Accredited Practice.

We work collaboratively with the research arm of the NHS, the National Institute of Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN), to participate in clinical research projects that can help improve people’s quality of life.  Our GP Research Lead is  Dr John Denny.  Paxton Green supports several types of Primary Care research studies all of which have received ethical approval.

If you are a patient at Paxton Green, you may receive invitation letters asking you if you wish to take part in a research study. Patients at Paxton Green have participated in a wide range of different research studies and we are grateful to all those who have supported research at the practice over the years.

Participation in research projects is completely voluntary so if you do not wish to be contacted about research studies at the practice please complete a Clinical Research Opt Out Form from reception.

Some research studies involve the research study team collecting data from medical records directly to study health conditions or the effectiveness of treatments across populations. As a patient you have a right to opt out of your GP practice sharing data in this way, called a Type 1 Data Opt-out.

Current Research Studies

Aspire DNA

The ASPIRE-DNA clinical trial is being run by Imperial College London and is investigating the effectiveness of a DNA-based diet on reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Patients over the age of 18 who have had bloods tests in the past that have shown they might be at increased risk of diabetes (something called ‘pre-diabetes’) will be contacted by Paxton Green with information about the study via text message.

A DNA-based diet is one where dietary advice is tailored to individuals based on their genetic traits. People who choose to take part in the trial will undergo a genetic test by taking some saliva from the inside of their cheek. This test will be analysed to identify a small number of genetic markers which might affect how their body absorbs and uses nutrients. This information will be used by the study team to provide dietary advice for trial participants.

Trial participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups of the trial. Some participants will receive their DNA results and subsequent dietary advice to improve their general health and identify any change in their glucose regulation. In addition, some participants will use an App to deliver this nutrition information. All participants will be monitored over the course of 12 weeks to identify any changes in glucose regulation (a primary indicator of diabetes risk), with a final follow-up measurement at 26 weeks.

Find more information about the ASPIRE-DNA Trial

OPTYC

This study is a randomised controlled trial of online Cognitive Therapy for young people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is being run by a team of psychologists from Kings College London who specialise in the treatment of PTSD. They have developed a website and smartphone App for young people to use at home, with telephone support from a therapist. This new App can be used by children and young people aged 12-17 years old, who have developed PTSD after experiencing a one-off traumatic event, like an assault or a road traffic accident. The trial will compare online Cognitive Therapy using the new App and therapy website to a Waiting List (delayed therapy) condition.

Find more information about the OPTYC Trial

Active Brains Study

This study is being conducted by the University of Southampton. Researchers at the University have developed a website called Active Brains which supports people aged 60-85 to make healthy lifestyle changes and do activities such as playing brain training games that can help to keep their brain fit. It is hoped that this can help with people’s memory and thinking skills.

The research aims to test how well the website works by comparing people who use it, with people who do not. This study has invited a random selection of patients aged between 60 and 85 to take part. Of those choosing to take part, two thirds will be offered the chance to use the website. All people participating in the study will be followed up for 5 years by the research team to see whether the website has been beneficial to their physical health, memory and thinking skills.

HepCAPP Study

If you are aged 40-64 years old, you may be invited to take part in the HepCAPP Study.

Hepatitis C is a common virus that anyone can catch. It can cause severe liver disease. Some people with Hepatitis C don’t know that they have it. It is easy to treat. If you take part in this study you will be offered a free Hepatitis C test.

What is Involved?

You will be sent an oral swab home testing kit in the post. Taking the test is simple! It involves rubbing a swab along your gum line (not down your throat or up your nose). There will be instructions and a pre-paid envelope to send your sample back to the research team.

Why are we doing this study?

To help find out how many people can be tested for Hepatitis C in this way and to estimate how many undiagnosed patients there are in the general population.

Who is doing this study?

The study is being conducted by a research team from the University of Bristol and the UK Health Security Agency (formerly known as Public Health England). They are working with GP Surgeries to undertake this study.

Do I have to take part?

No. If you would prefer not to be sent an invitation letter, please contact the practice.

COVID-19 Research Studies

Due to the COVID pandemic, many research studies are currently on hold.

However many people are keen to help research into treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 and may be interested in the following:

PRINCIPLE Trial

This study tests pre-existing antibiotic treatments to see if they improve symptoms and reduced hospital admission for people with COVID-19.  It is open to people aged 65+, or people aged 50-64 with certain underlying health conditions, with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the community. 

Learn more about the study and sign up

Researching a vaccine for COVID-19

There are a number of vaccines being identified and safety-tested at the moment, but only large scale studies can give researchers the information needed about how effective they are.  Researchers are looking for people from all backgrounds, ages and parts of the UK – including both people with or without existing health conditions – to take part in vaccine studies, to make sure that any vaccines developed will work for everyone.

If you are interested in helping with this research you can sign up for the NHS COVID-19 vaccine research registry.  The service is available to anyone aged 18 or over, living in the UK. There is no obligation to join in any study, if you are contacted. But by taking part, you could help researchers find vaccines to protect us all more quickly – which in turn could help the NHS and save lives.

Sign up today

PANORAMIC Trial

Panoramic is a UK-wide clinical study sponsored by the University of Oxford and funded by the National Institute for Health Research to find out in which people new antiviral treatments for COVID-19 in the community reduce the need for hospital admission and get better sooner.

The study is recruiting volunteers aged 50 and over, or aged 18 and over with certain underlying health conditions which might place them at higher risk of COVID-19. Those volunteers will be randomised into receiving a new antiviral treatment for COVID-19 or standard care. PANORAMIC is open to everyone in these groups with ongoing symptoms of COVID-19 and a positive PCR or Lateral Flow test, regardless of vaccination status.

People can participate in their own home from anywhere in the UK. No face-to-face visits are required. Follow up will be by answering questions each day online and/or telephone calls with the study team, who will be there to support you to throughout the study.

Find further information and sign up