Who we are

Research

The trust research team is a dedicated group of nurses and clinical research practitioners who promote research within the trust.

Important notice

Due to Covid-19 the Research Team are working predominately from home, so any queries should be directed to us by email. If you would like to speak to someone, please call 01242 634490 our office is manned Tuesday to Friday, 9am – 1pm and our administrator will be able to direct your call.

Following guidance from study teams and the National Institute for Health Research, we are looking to begin resuming work on suspended studies. However, details of the current Covid -19 studies we are working on have been added to our current studies page.

The Research Team

The Trust’s Research Team is a dedicated group of nurses and clinical research practitioners who supports and promotes research in Gloucestershire.

The Research Team is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). This group works with educational providers, hospitals and commercial companies to promote research studies. Two of our senior research nurses are funded by Cobalt. This enables us to run commercial research projects.

Contact us

Email research@ghc.nhs.uk
Telephone 01242 634490

Our Policy

Our Trust is research-focused. We look for opportunities to promote research and development and are willing to provide the necessary training for our staff to be involved in research.

Whilst we have our dedicated research team, we require all of our staff to be proactive in promoting research so that the maximum number of our patients have the opportunity to take part in research studies.

All research carried out by the research team is only undertaken once a study is approved by the IRAS (Integrated Research Application System) and the HRA (Health Research Authority).

Patient safety is at the forefront of our choices when deciding if we will undertake a research study, and therefore we have strict standard operating procedures (SOP), to ensure that our patients are adequately cared for. All research staff including non-clinical have undergone medical emergency response training.

We will endeavour to undertake studies that include not just our patients, but also their families and carers, to better understand the needs of families, as well as the patients.

Studies currently recruiting participants

If you are interested in taking part in any of our studies, or would like to find out more, contact the research team.

Telephone: 01242 634490
Email: research@ghc.nhs.uk 

 

Mental health studies

Romantic relationship status and wellbeing

Does being more satisfied with romantic relationship status increase wellbeing in people who experience psychosis?

A study which aims to understand how romantic relationship status is linked to wellbeing for people with unshared experiences such as hearing voices, feeling persecuted, and seeing things others can’t.

You are eligible to take part if you:

  • Are over 16 years old
  • Have ever received professional support for unshared experiences/psychosis

Participants can choose to be entered into a prize draw to win one of six £50 shopping vouchers.

The survey is available online here but it is also possible to complete a paper version of the survey if you would prefer.

If you would like further information please contact the research team directly or contact Rebecca White at rebecca.white@manchester.ac.uk to discuss the study.

Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN): Molecular Genetics

A genetic study looking into how genes and external factors (like stressful life events) interact with each other to make people more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others.

Who can get involved?

Participants must:

  • Have had a Bipolar diagnosis with at least one episode of mania/hypomania at any time in the past (including: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, bipolar disorder not otherwise specified, post-partum psychosis or schizoaffective disorder)
  • Be over 18
  • Speak and understand English fluently

What do participants need to do?

  • An interview in your own home or over the telephone to ask about your experiences and the kind of symptoms you’ve had in the past.
  • Complete some questionnaires.
  • Potentially give a small blood sample: this is for the genetic aspect of the investigation.
NCMH - National Centre for Mental Health

A large genetic study which looks at background and life experiences to understand why some people experience difficulties with their mental health.

Participant Eligibility

  • Must be over the age of 18
  • Have a diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, PTSD, learning disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder.

Participant Requirements

  • Provide a blood or saliva sample
  • Complete a 30 minute questionnaire.
GLAD - Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression

The GLAD Study is exploring genetic risk factors in individuals who have experienced depression and/or anxiety at any time in their lives, including those with bipolar disorder, OCD, or related disorders.

You can take part in this study via the website by yourself, or contact the research team to support you.

Participant Eligibility

  • Have experienced depression and/or anxiety.
  • Aged 16 or over.
  • Currently living in the UK.

Participant Requirements

  • Complete some questionnaires.
  • Provide a saliva sample.
CAP-MEM - Exploring the Cause and Prevalence of Memory Problems

The study involves completing a short questionnaire about nervous system symptoms, such as dizziness. You may also be offered the chance to complete brief memory tests.

The study team aims to find out if the nervous system works differently in people with mental health, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders. Both people with and without these disorders are invited to participate.

Who can get involved?

  • Anyone, whether or not they have a diagnosis of a mental health condition, learning disabilities, or neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia.
  • Aged 16 or over.

What do participants need to do?

  • Participants will be asked to complete a short questionnaire which will take approximately 15-20 minutes, with an optional opportunity to take part in a memory test.

 

Learning disability studies

CAP-MEM - Exploring the Cause and Prevalence of Memory Problems

The study involves completing a short questionnaire about nervous system symptoms, such as dizziness. You may also be offered the chance to complete brief memory tests.

The study team aims to find out if the nervous system works differently in people with mental health, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders. Both people with and without these disorders are invited to participate.

Who can get involved?

  • Anyone, whether or not they have a diagnosis of a mental health condition, learning disabilities, or neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia.
  • Aged 16 or over.

What do participants need to do?

  • Participants will be asked to complete a short questionnaire which will take approximately 15-20 minutes, with an optional opportunity to take part in a memory test.

Dementia studies

DLB - Dementia Lewy Bodies

Our current research into Alzheimers disease has been successful in finding many previously unknown genes that are involved in Alzheimer’s disease. The DLB study aims to use the expertise developed from studying Alzheimer’s disease to better understand the biological and genetic influences behind dementia with Lewy bodies.

Participant Eligibility

  • Diagnosed with Dementia Lewy bodies
  • Capacity to provide informed consent or available consultee/representative

Participant Requirements

  • Complete a consent form
  • Provide a blood or saliva sample for genetic analysis
  • White European ethnicity
  • Have a study partner
CGN-1801

This study is trialing the Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA) test. This is a five minute computerised test, which we hope will help identify whether people have issues like mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s dementia. The study aims to explore the ICA test’s ability to identify changes in thinking skills in working-age and older adults, in an easy and quick manner. We hope that use of the ICA will improve the detection and monitoring of cognitive impairment. This should allow for more tailored management of cognitive impairment and better outcomes for people.

Participant Eligibility

  • A diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or mind Alzheimer’s dementia
  • Males and females aged 55 – 90 years.
  • Willing and able to provide informed consent.

 Participant Requirements

  • Complete a consent form
  • Complete several memory tests and answer some demographic questions.

As a thank you for your participation in this study you will receive a £30 high street voucher.

Help Fight Dementia

Join us in finding new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease We’re starting a new, international research trial in Gloucestershire for a potential new medicine for Alzheimer’s Dementia.

If you’re aged between 60-80, are fit and healthy and have no memory problems – you can make a difference to the future of Alzheimer’s disease dementia by contributing to research.

Call or email our friendly Research Team on 01242 634490 or research@ghc.nhs.uk to find out more.

Covid-19 studies

PRINCIPLE

This is a study for those aged 65 and over, or aged 50 to 64 with certain health conditions, that have had symptoms of COVID-19. Further details can be found at www.principletrial.org

The Covid-19 Resilience Project

The COVID-19 Resilience Project is a UK-wide confidential survey exploring the psychological impact of COVID-19 on NHS frontline staff. The research aims to guide initiatives and resources that could be used to better support the needs of NHS professionals that are directly or indirectly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Who can get involved?
All NHS clinical staff (including nursing students, agency, and locum staff) who have direct patient contact and provide care to patients.

What do participants need to do?
Complete a 30-minute online survey on work and home environments, mental health and wellbeing, and factors such as resilience, self-compassion, and ways of thinking.

Take part in the survey here: https://is.gd/covid19resilience

For more information about the study, visit
www.manchester.ac.uk/covid19-resilience-project or contact the study team at COVID19resilience@manchester.ac.uk

Count Me In

Part of the NHS Constitution is to offer research to every NHS patient. To help us ensure that we can meet this aim, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust has set up the ‘Count Me In’ initiative.

Count Me In enables us to use patients’ information to contact them about research projects, and to offer them the opportunity to get involved. Under previous policies, participation in research was based on clinicians offering opportunities to our patients. Due to circumstances, time constraints and other factors, not all patients were offered the opportunity to be involved. This will no longer be the case.

Count Me In will enable the Research Team to access clinical records to establish a patient’s potential eligibility to a study. The Research Team will then supply details of the study to eligible patients so that they may consider participation.

No one has to take part in any study and we understand that not all our patients will want to be contacted in this way. Therefore, the Count Me In initiative allows a patient to opt out of research

When a patient is referred to the Trust, initial appointment letters will make patients aware of the ‘Count Me In’ initiative and refer them to this page of the Internet. If patients do not wish to take part in research they can inform us by emailing countmein@ghc.nhs.uk,  or by calling 01242 634490 with their name, date of birth and home postcode or first line of the address, and this preference will be recorded in the patient’s medical records held by the Trust.

Should you have any queries with regards to the Count Me In Policy, please contact the Research Team on 01242 634490, or email countmein@ghc.nhs.uk

Performance in Initiating and Delivering Clinical Research

The Government wishes to see a dramatic and sustained improvement in the performance of providers of NHS services in initiating and delivering clinical research. The aim is to increase the number of patients who have the opportunity to participate in research and to enhance the nation’s attractiveness as a host for research.

As part of the oversight of this aim, providers of NHS Services are required to publish information on recruitment to clinical trials and delivery to time and to target for commercial clinical trials. These reports can be found at the following link:

https://ccfctp.nihr.ac.uk/public-trustsubmissions/gloucestershire-health-and-care-nhs-foundation-trust-1104

The reports include two tables for each quarter:

Performance in Initiating Clinical Research This report provides information about studies with a date site selected that falls within the last 12 months. This applies to only Clinical Trials approved through the HRA systems. Clinical Trials approved under the old systems are now excluded. The table identifies where delays in set-up and recruitment of first patients have occurred, providing transparency of process. Where Sponsor expectations have not been met by the Trust, this information is recorded. In the table

Performance in Delivering Clinical Research This report provides information about Commercially Sponsored research hosted by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust in relation to meeting the Time and Target metric (HLO#2) and includes those studies that have closed in the last 12 months.

Where tables are empty, the Trust as reported a “NIL RETURN” for that quarter, meaning that no new Clinical Trials were opened or no Commercially-Sponsored Clinical Trials closed during that period.

If there are any questions about these reports or the benchmarks themselves, please contact Mark Walker, Head of Research and Development on 01242 634491 or mark.walker@ghc.nhs.uk

Our partners

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. They ensure that the NHS is able to support the research of other funders to encourage broader investment in, and economic growth from, health research.

They work with charities and the life sciences industry to help patients gain earlier access to breakthrough treatments. They also train and develop researchers to keep the nation at the forefront of international research.

Cobalt Health

Cobalt is a medical imaging charity.

Research4Gloucestershire (R4G)

Research4Gloucestershire is a collaboration between

  • Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • Gloucestershire CCG, Gloucestershire County Council
  • Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • University of Gloucestershire
  • Cobalt Health.

Our Regulator

The Health Research Authority is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care. 

They are one of a number of organisations that work together in the UK to regulate different aspects of health and social care research. Their core purpose is to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research. 

 In order to achieve this they:

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