Research at SWFT

Research could not happen without the support of patients, carers and members of the public. Your help to assist us improve services is vital, both for the present and future generations. Each year about 750 new patients take part in our studies and we currently have approximately 40 studies open.

Taking part in a trial may include any of the following:

• Talking to researchers
• Completing questionnaires
• Letting us take blood samples or other measurements e.g. blood pressure, urine tests
• Taking a new medicine or trying a new treatment

Why take part?

• You may benefit from a new treatment or test or others may benefit in the future
• You may want to contribute to improving care for others
• You may feel that you like the extra attention and time that sometimes participation in a trial can provide.
• You may want to increase your knowledge about your condition.

Research Studies

Research Studies that we are currently involved in include the following specialities:

• Diabetes
• Critical Care
• Cancer and haematology
• Heart disease
• Surgery
• Midwifery
• Emergency Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Trauma and Orthopaedics
• Paediatrics
• Rheumatology

We support clinicians to open studies and actively seek to open studies in new specialities. Participation as a patient is voluntary and patients who do not wish to participate will still receive the best care that we can offer.

All research conducted within the Trust has been reviewed by the Research Governance department within the Research and Development team, to ensure robust standards are maintained.

Find out what you need to know about Research and Personal Data.

Should you wish to know more about the studies open to recruitment within any particular specialty please email research@swft.nhs.uk.

SWFT is one of the Partnership Trusts for the Research and Recovery Delivery Network (RRDN). 

South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust (SWFT) and the University of Warwick (UoW) are developing closer working relationships particularly in the field of academic and clinical research.

SWFT has a five-year research strategy. This research strategy is aligned to SWFT and Foundation Group’s values, including inclusivity, long-term ambitions and strategy.

The research strategy will focus on the needs of SWFT’s local community, role as a lead provider within the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Partnership and ambition to be able to apply for membership of the University Hospital Association.

To deliver this strategy SWFT will partner with the UoW. This will build upon established collaborations between a combined acute and community trust rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and internationally recognised centres of excellence at the University of Warwick.

SWFT will continue to collaborate with other local and national research partners, including Coventry University, the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West Midlands and the National Institute for Healthcare Research (NIHR).

SWFT’s research agenda will focus primarily on 6 identified work streams:

• Recruitment into local and national NIHR studies
• Establishing a Clinical Trials Unit to support data analysis for clinical studies including the development of clinical models regarding service delivery to support improvements in efficiency and cost effectiveness
• A basic science research collaborative that will enable researchers to collect clinical material for laboratory studies from our hospital group population
• A primary care collaborative that will investigate the management of chronic health conditions and the use of digital technology in primary care.
• A digital collaborative that will focus on the use of technology to support the management of chronic conditions, including the use of telemedicine
• A local partnership collaborative to focus on the care of patients with chronic health conditions across boundaries in primary care, secondary care, social services and the voluntary sector.

This will require recurrent funding, the establishment of a research faculty, a research delivery group, managerial support and joint appointments with local universities.

This summary is based on papers approved at SWFT trust Board and Management Board.

• To see if your idea is research.
• For research planning.
• For the approval process.
• For roles and responsibilities.

Please contact research@swft.nhs.uk for advice and guidance regarding Trust approval for Service Evaluations, Clinical and Educational Research.

SWFT Staff** When undertaking research, staff must adhere to the Trust's procedure in line with the Research Governance Framework.

GEH SWFT Knowledge and Library Service team are proud to help support colleagues undertaking research at both our NHS Trusts. Whether you are an experienced researcher or just starting the research project for your Apprenticeship, foundation degree or Masters, we are on site and online to help. The Research webpage on the library website is a good starting point but please don’t hesitate to contact any of our team. Here’s just some of the ways we can help:

• Information Skills training
  We provide regular group sessions on how to plan and do an effective literature search. Visit our training webpages to view details of our next sessions. Our Clinical Librarians can also provide 1:1 advice on refining search strategies, database selection and signpost you to further reading to support your research. Contact us.
   
• Critical appraisal training
  Why not book on one of our regular Critical Appraisal training sessions to develop or practise your skills in evaluating research? More information and future dates.

• Access to major research databases
  ​​​Visit the NHS Knowledge and Library Service Hub where you can find links to clinical and health management databases and other useful resources such Grey Literature resources and Cochrane Library.

• Current awareness
  We can help you keep up to date in your area of research. Sign up to receive personalised email bulletins from KnowledgeShare.

• Books for researchers
  The Library collection includes books on all aspects of research from doing a literature or systematic review to critical appraisal and research methods. Search our regional library catalogue HeLM here.

• Article request service
  Having trouble finding the full text of an article? Click here for handy search tips or complete our online request form

Writing up Research for Publication

Ellis P. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants 2023;17(10):380-384.

Writing for publication is a daunting task for many people, but it need not be. Writing up a piece of research for publication should be the pinnacle of the research process, the point at which the researcher gets to share their work with a wider audience.

This paper explains wat needs to go into a research paper that is being prepared for publication. It offers a step-by-step guide to the process to help the novice and more experienced researcher structure their research paper. This paper covers writing up both quantitative and qualitative research and examples, where used, may be drawn from either or both paradigms. This paper does not cover what is needed to publish a review or opinion piece.

Article available to view online with an NHS OpenAthens password. No OpenAthens account? Register for your free account.

NIHR Research Delivery Network

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to enable the health and care system to attract, optimise and deliver research across England. 

We consist of 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) and a Coordinating Centre (RDNCC), working together as one organisation with joint leadership. We contribute to NIHR’s mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.

Find Out More:

• NIHR Research Delivery Network 

Research Governance

Associate Medical Director of Research

Head of Research & Development

Email: Research@swft.nhs.uk Twitter: @Research_SWFT

Central Research

Lead Research Nurse

Email: Research.Nurses@swft.nhs.uk

Cancer Research

Rigby Senior Research Nurse

Email: cancerresearch@swft.nhs.uk Twitter: @CancerWarwick

Maternity Research

Research Midwife

Email: ResearchMidwife@swft.nhs.uk

The clinical benefit of undertaking cancer research includes access to the most novel and innovative cancer therapies. It has led to new drug treatments, a greater understanding of how to prevent cancer, new ways of delivering treatments and new surgical techniques. Cancer clinical trials are critical to advances in the understanding and treatment of cancer and to ensure patients have the opportunity to access world-class cancer treatments.

There is evidence to suggest that clinical research activity is a driver for high-quality cancer care with better outcomes for patients who are treated in research-intensive hospitals (National Institute for Health Research, 2014).

We have highlighted four of our current trials below:

The FOxTROT Programme is a collection of trials looking at the treatment of bowel (colon) cancer that has not spread elsewhere in the body (locally advanced cancer).

Traditionally, the treatment for locally advanced colon cancer would be surgery to remove the tumour then chemotherapy after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to kill any remaining cancer cells, where advised. Results from the FOxTROT1 trial turned this on its head. Giving chemotherapy prior to surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) as well as after surgery was shown to be safe, reduce complications following surgery, and reduce the chance of the cancer returning. This is now a standard treatment option in the UK for fitter patients.

Colon cancer becomes more common as we get older (the average age at diagnosis is 71). These patients, and those with additional significant medical problems, may not be well enough to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. FOxTROT2 is recruiting older (over 70) newly diagnosed patients and newly diagnosed patients at a higher risk of complications after surgery to see if giving neoadjuvant chemotherapy leads to fewer side effects.

Colon cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer death in the UK. FOxTROT3 is recruiting fitter newly diagnosed patients to see if giving more intensive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (three drugs rather than two) can reduce the change of the cancer coming back while being safe.

Myeloma XV (RADAR) is recruiting patients newly diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (MM) who are able to have a stem cell transplant. MM, also known as Myeloma, is a cancer that affects the bone marrow, spongy tissue found inside some bones that produces blood cells. Over 5,500 patients are diagnosed with MM each year in the UK. MM is an incurable relapsing-remitting cancer, meaning there are periods where the disease is active (relapsing) and requires treating, followed by periods where treatment may not be required (remitting). Significant progress has been made in developing new lines of treatment over the past 15 years. Newly diagnosed patients now survive on average 5-6 years, with 37% of men and 28% of women surviving 10 years. Currently all MM patients are given the same treatment, this UK-based Phase III study is investigating the personalisation of MM care. Some patients will have genetic markers that suggest their cancer will be more difficult to treat. These higher-risk patients, along with those whose cancer has not responded well to initial treatment, are offered more intensive therapy to extend the remitting period, while lower risk patients can receive reduced treatment with the aim of reducing side effects

SWFT is the first site in the West Midlands to open the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad (CVLP).

Many people live with the knowledge that their cancer might come back. Cancer vaccines are personalised to each patient, they are designed to train an immune system to recognise a cancer and destroy it if it tries to come back.

CVLP will attempt utilise the mRNA vaccine technology and clinical trials methodology developed during the Covid-19 pandemic for the benefit of the those affected by cancer. It will optimise the pathways for patients to access cancer vaccine trials across the UK and accelerate the development of this next frontier in cancer treatment.

The first patients in South Warwickshire to benefit will be those with colorectal (bowel) cancer. They will be given the opportunity to enrol in BioNTech's BNT122-01 trial at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Over time, cancer patients will be able to access multiple trails across different types of cancer.

We are also recruiting to the following trials: COSMOS (Smouldering Myeloma), Cutaneous Tumour (Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Keratoacanthoma), Mithridate (Polycythemia vera), MyMelanoma (Melanoma), PETReA (follicular lymphoma), Rudy (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia), Prelude (Breast cancer-related lymphoedama), REMoDL-A (Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma) and UKAITPR (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura).

For more information please visit, Be Part of Research or contact us directly.

BaBi Warwick is a large-scale data collection project which aims to recruit ALL women who have their babies at Warwick Hospital. The project aims to answer research questions that serve our local population to help make a difference and improve outcomes for families in our area. The research questions are to be decided by Warwick Hospital and involve the council, local charities, universities and others. BaBi Warwick is the first study of its kind in the Midlands, and we are so excited to be one of the first hospitals taking part.
BaBi Warwick will collect data from each woman who agrees to participate in the study to answer relevant research questions around our local population. This data will be kept secure and used only for research and service planning.

The PRESTIGE-PTB Study

The PRESTIGE-PTB study is a nationwide project using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to explore the genetic causes of spontaneous preterm birth (PTB). PTB, affecting around 53,000 UK births annually (7.6%), can have serious health impacts, yet its causes remain unclear. While some genetic factors have been identified, more research is needed. This study supports the UK government’s goal of reducing PTB rates to 6% by 2025.

A genome is the body’s ‘instruction manual’, inherited from our parents. WGS reads all 3 billion DNA letters in a genome, helping to predict, diagnose, and personalise treatments. However, genetic data from diverse ethnic backgrounds is lacking. By analysing genetic features across populations, this study aims to improve PTB prediction and prevention.

The SURFSUP Trial

The SURFSUP Trial (SURFactant Administration by SUPraglottic Airway) is a research study comparing two methods of giving surfactant treatment to premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Surfactant is a liquid medicine that helps babies breathe more effectively. The standard method involves using a laryngoscope to place a thin tube into the airway, while a newer approach uses a supraglottic airway, a flexible tube inserted without a laryngoscope. Both methods are currently used at the Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, but it is unclear which is better.

Supraglottic airways are easier to place and may reduce the number of attempts and risks compared to the standard method. Early studies with around 350 babies suggest this approach is effective, but a larger trial is needed to determine whether it should become the standard treatment. The SURFSUP Trial aims to find out if this newer method is as effective as the current standard.

OBS UK

The OBS UK Study (Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness of a Maternity Quality Improvement Programme to Reduce Excess Bleeding and Need for Transfusion After Childbirth) is investigating better ways to manage heavy bleeding, the most common complication of birth. The OBS UK study team has developed a new approach, the OBS UK care bundle, designed to recognise and treat heavy bleeding more effectively. When introduced in Wales, it reduced the need for blood transfusions and the number of severe bleeds.

This study will assess whether these benefits can be replicated across the wider NHS. If the OBS UK care bundle significantly improves outcomes, it could help shape new national guidelines for managing heavy bleeding during and after childbirth.

For more information: https://www.obsuk.org/

Perioperative Quality Improvement Programme (PQIP)

PQIP is a national research and quality improvement initiative which is looking at the perioperative care of patients having elective surgery. The aim is to investigate how these patients are treated, how they feel their care and recovery has been and if any complications have occurred. This data can then be used to improve patient care and ensure best practice is maintained throughout the whole country.

Here at Warwick Hospital, we have successfully recruited over 250 colorectal patients to the study.

More information on PQIP.

The PART Trial

The PART Trial is a study investigating whether resurfacing the kneecap during total knee replacement leads to better long-term outcomes. This procedure involves replacing the back of the kneecap with an artificial implant, which may reduce pain and wear but also carries risks such as fractures or tendon damage. With over 109,000 knee replacements carried out annually in the UK, optimising surgical techniques is a key research priority.

For the study, surgeons will either resurface the kneecap in all patients or selectively choose based on individual factors. While guidelines suggest routine resurfacing may be beneficial, many surgeons tailor their approach. The PART Trial will compare these strategies to determine the best approach for improving patient outcomes.

The TaILOR Study

The TaILOR study aims to determine whether Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) is a better approach than routine outpatient appointments for individuals with inflammatory arthritis. Currently, patients are seen in hospital clinics every 6–12 months, even when they are feeling well and have no issues with their arthritis. This can lead to unnecessary appointments, which some patients find inconvenient and a waste of NHS resources. NHS England has proposed a shift towards PIFU, where patients are only seen in hospital when they feel they need an appointment, rather than attending routine follow-ups. The study will compare these two approaches by dividing participants into two groups: one will continue with standard appointments every 6–12 months, while the other will have no planned appointments for 24 months but will have access to hospital care if needed. Throughout the study, all participants will be asked about their general health and arthritis symptoms at four time points over the two years. By comparing quality of life, disease activity, and potential cost savings for the NHS, the study aims to determine whether PIFU is a more effective and efficient way of managing follow-up care for people with inflammatory arthritis.

ColoCap Study

The ColoCap study aims to assess the accuracy of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) in diagnosing bowel diseases such as cancer, polyps, and inflammation by comparing it to the standard colonoscopy procedure. Colonoscopy, while highly effective, can be uncomfortable, often requiring sedation and recovery time, which may delay diagnosis due to high demand. CCE is a newer, less invasive alternative that involves swallowing a small capsule with a built-in camera, which captures images as it passes naturally through the digestive system. Patients taking part in this study will undergo both procedures on the same day, with CCE performed first, followed by a colonoscopy. The study will evaluate whether CCE can be a reliable alternative to colonoscopy, potentially improving access to timely diagnosis.

Surviving Crying

The Surviving Crying project was created to support parents and carers who have babies up to five months old who cry for prolonged periods. Excessive crying affects one in five babies, with peak crying often happening around five weeks of age. This is sometimes known as infant ‘colic’, although it often has nothing to do with digestion or any physical illness.

The project team has developed a support package to help parents understand and cope with prolonged crying, which can be extremely traumatic for parents and carers. This includes written and online materials and a support programme provided by specially trained health visitors.

This trial aims to find out if our support package used in conjunction with standard health visits is more effective in helping parents and carers cope with an excessively crying baby than standard health visits alone.

PRES is a survey used to collect views and experiences of individuals participating in National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) supported research. Responses to PRES are kept anonymous. PRES is led by the Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) to help improve research experiences.

Why do we deliver PRES?

We deliver PRES surveys at SWFT to better understand the experiences of our research participants. SWFT is supported by the Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) who annually produce a local and regional report of the PRES findings. PRES findings from our research participants are shared back to us, giving us the opportunity to understand what we are doing well and where we can make improvements in the delivery of our research studies. Nationally the NIHR bring together all PRES responses to produce a national level report.

Find out more about PRES.

• Find out more about the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
• More information about what clinical trials are, why you should join, and what’s typically involved.
• Be Part of Research allows users to search for opportunities to participate in research.
• An online resource online resource where researchers and research organisations advertise opportunities for members of the public to get involved in research.