News and events
NHS Covid-19 Vaccine research registry
A new NHS service has been launched today (20 July), helping people across the UK sign up for information on the new COVID-19 vaccine trials.
Please click on the links below for more information and details on how to sign up:
International Clinical Trials Day 2020
International Clinical Trials Day is held each year on 20th May and commemorates the date when the first controlled clinical trial was conducted in 1747. Since then, research has played a vital role in improving healthcare for everyone.
Now more than ever clinical research is crucial, as it will help us understand more about COVID-19, and progress the development of potential treatments and effective vaccines in the future. Developing drugs and vaccines usually takes a number of years, but now, internationally and nationally, funding bodies, researchers and regulatory authorities are working tirelessly together to accomplish this process much quicker for COVID-19 research. However, there are still challenges ahead, such as if a suitable vaccine is identified, how quickly can it be mass produced for the global population. Researchers and healthcare professionals from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working together at the forefront of this urgent research.
If you would like to hear more about how Sheffield is at the centre of this important work, you are invited to join a live online discussion via Skype with experts from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust about research into COVID-19 on 24th June 2020 at 6pm.
The live discussion will be hosted by Sheffield Culture Hub, a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, Sheffield City Council and Our Favourite Places, launched to host arts and cultural events online, as well as other activities from around the city to support the cultural and creative sectors during the coronavirus lockdown.
We are asking members of the public to submit their questions about COVID-19 research for our panel of experts by 10 June 2020, and they will try and answer as many as they can during the event. To submit your questions please complete this online form.
You can also keep up to date on all things ICTD throughout the day on our Twitter feed.
WORLD KIDNEY DAY 2019
Our CRF Renal Research Team celebrated World Kidney Day at a city centre event at Central United Reformed Church raising awareness of all of the research studies we are undertaking here in Sheffield CRF.
Around 50-60 patients, relatives and members of the public attended the event and learned all about the theme for this year '“𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲” from a multidisciplinary clinical and research teams including dietitians, the transplant and dialysis teams, research nurses and fellow patients and relatives.
The ins and outs of children transitioning into adult renal care and a couples experience of transplant, where a wife had received a kidney from her husband, were among the fascinating talks given on the day.
(Mar 2019)
MEDICAL STUDENT PLACEMENTS IN THE CRF
This year we were very excited to be a placement for medical students from the University of Sheffield for the first time.
We are a very unique clinical environment, working across sites, across specialties and as both an inpatient and outpatient facility. We were therefore able to offer a very varied placement from seeing patients in Gastroenterology and Renal outpatient departments, attending a pulmonary hypertension MDT and observing patient study visits from first in human Phase 1 trials to observational studies in such varied specialties as Oncology, Dermatology, Cardiology, Diabetes and Neurosciences. One student even attended an A&E trauma call on the helipad.
Embedding research as a key part of clinical care is a key aim for us here at Sheffield CRF and we hope that these placements will inspire medical students to make research a big part of their career and that we'll see some of them back here as the PIs of the future.
(Jan 2019)
new STUDY IN irritable bowel syndrome FEATURED IN SHEFFIELD STAR and sheffield telegraph
We're delighted to be supporting a new innovative study funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) looking at whether an anti-sickness drug, ondansetron, commonly given to patients having cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy could improve the lives of patients suffering with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (#IBS).
Click here and here to read more about the trial and visit the study website here
(Jan 2019)
ORANGE TEAM RECOGNISED IN TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
We're very proud of our very own Orange Team here at Sheffield CRF, who have been recognised for their outstanding contribution in the category of Team of the Year at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Thank You Awards 2018.
This category was to recognise teams that have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and made an outstanding difference to our patients or staff.
(Oct 2018)
Thermal imaging study shortlisted for Research Project of the Year
A study by Sheffield Hallam University looking at developing a thermal-imaging system to quickly identify the risk of infection in women who have given birth by caesarean section has been shortlisted for a Times Higher Education (THE) award.
The study, which was worked on by our research midwives here in Sheffield, has been nominated for Research Project of the Year: STEM.
The technique developed could also potentially be applied to patients undergoing other types of surgery and it is hoped that the study will eventually contribute towards a general reduction in antibiotic prescribing.
To read more please follow this link
(Sep 2018)
Working together to BEAT lupus
The BEAT-LUPUS trial which Sheffield CRF is taking part in, has been highlighted by the NIHR.
The study is testing the effectiveness and safety of a combination of two drugs to reduce Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) disease activity.
Please watch the below video to see the involvement of patients and researchers in this important trial.
(Sep 2018)
CRF CELEBRATES NHS @ 70 at INTERACTIVE CITY CENTRE EVENT
In a fantastic celebration focusing on the past, present and future of the NHS, bringing together staff from across the NHS in Sheffield, the CRF were able to give an opportunity to a varied range of people (from under 10s to those in their 90s) to experience what its like taking part in a clinical trial.
In our mock clinical trial, Tap v Cap, a randomised double blind water taste test, members of the public were able to see a study protocol, read an age appropriate information sheet and sign a consent form just like in a real clinical trial as well as learning about the terminology and stages in clinical trials.
For the 65 of you who took part and are eager to find out what randomisation group you were in, Jug A had bottled water and Jug B had tap water.
(July 2018)
CRF study in motor neurone DISEASE brace Features in BBC
The piece features ground breaking clinical research in MND which was supported by the CRF and overseen by Professor Chris McDermott.
To read the full article and see the impact this new brace is having for patient quality of life please click here
For information on clinical research studies available to participate in nationwide please visit the UK Clinical Trials Gateway at www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk
(May 2018)
world kidney day 2018
Our Renal Team were at Central United Reformed Church to raise awareness of the exciting and innovative research taking place here in Sheffield Clinical Research Facility.
The interactive drop in session in the center of the city offered a fantastic opportunity for patients and the public to find out more about the kidneys and how they can help improve healthcare by becoming involved in research studies in Sheffield
(Mar 2018)
Critical Care Research Festival
A study being run in the CRF in critically ill patients aged 65 years or over with vasodilatory hypotension was on the agenda at the Critical Care Research Festival on 19th January 2018.
The Festival, which took place at the Northern General Hospital involved an overview of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals research in Critical Care, short presentations on trials run in Sheffield, posters and informal drop in sessions
(Jan 2018)
PROFESSOR NAMED IN 'MOST HIGHLY CITED OF 2017' LISTING
Professor Rob Storey, Professor of Cardiology at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals has been named in the ‘most highly cited of 2017’ listing prepared annually by Clarivate analytics. The list recognises leading researchers in 21 fields of the sciences and social sciences from around the world. To receive this accolade, Professor Storey’s research has been ranked in the top 1% by citations for clinical medicine during the period 2005-2015. Professor Storey is a world-leading expert on antiplatelet strategies for acute coronary syndromes.
(Dec 2017)
PROFESSOR WINS National award FOR LEADING research into pulmonary hypertension
Professor David Kiely, Director of the Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit has won the award for outstanding research leadership in the NHS.
Professor Kiely and his team have participated in more than 40 studies, resulting in drugs that are now used to treat pulmonary hypertension. Collaborating with colleagues in other specialties in Sheffield, the team has pioneered PH diagnostic techniques such as MRI, which has replaced a number of invasive tests, making it safer and more comfortable for patients.
Click here to read more
(Oct 2017)
Sheffield Tops League Table for Recruitment into Lung Disease Study
Respiratory researchers working with the CRF to deliver a lung disease trial have been announced by the research sponsor as the top UK recruiter from six UK hospitals which were also participating in the trial.
Sheffield recruited 6 patients into the clinical trial.
CRF Orange Team clinical research nurses Michael and Faith are pictured with the Principal Investigator for the study, Dr Bianchi at the Northern General Hospital CRF.
For information on clinical research studies available to participate in nationwide please visit the UK Clinical Trials Gateway at www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk
(October 2017)
CRF Research Nurse Maqsood Khan Features in BBC 1 Inside Out Programme
The piece features ground breaking clinical research in eczema which was supported by the CRF and overseen by Professor Mike Cork. The item begins at 1 minute and is available for 30 days after 2nd October 2017. Click here to watch the film while there is still time!
For information on clinical research studies available to participate in nationwide please visit the UK Clinical Trials Gateway at www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk
(October 2017)
PHARMACY PLACEMENTS IN THE CRF
This year we were delighted to welcome our first ever trainee pharmacists from the University of Sheffield to the CRF as part of their placements.
The research week rotation involved the students spending the week learning about protocols involved with clinical trials and the process of dispensing with our colleagues in the research pharmacy team in Sheffield.
They then had the opportunity to come up to the CRF, enabling the students to follow the research process and learn about the patient’s perceptions of being involved in research and what it means to them.
The feedback from the placement has been very strong and we are hoping to welcome even more new pharmacy trainees in the future, inspiring an interest in working on clinical trials throughout their careers
(Mar 2019)
atrial fibrillation procedure could slash waiting lists
Results from the AVATAR-AF trial which we ran here in Sheffield CRF were presented at EHRA 2019, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress on 17th March 2019.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder. It causes 20–30% of all strokes and increases the risk of dying prematurely. Catheter ablation, aimed at burning or freezing heart tissue causing atrial fibrillation, is recommended to restore normal rhythm after failure of, or intolerance to, drug treatment.
The AVATAR-AF study stripped back the procedure of catheter ablation to the bare essentials to see if similar outcomes were achieved as the more complex procedures currently used.
As Principal investigator Professor Prapa Kanagaratnam, of Imperial College London said, the results showed that “some of the more technical parts of the procedure can be omitted, making it easier, cheaper and quicker, without sacrificing results. In the UK, patients with atrial fibrillation have to wait months for catheter ablation. The simpler protocol could shorten waiting lists within the same budget.”
Please read more here
(Mar 2019)
Liver drug trialled in Parkinson's patients for the first time
A pilot study looking to assess the potential of a drug to slow down disease progression of Parkinson's is being run in Sheffield CRF in collaboration with NIHR Sheffield BRC for Neurological Disorders.
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been used to treat liver disease for over 30 years and has been identified as the most promising drug to rescue mitochondrial function in Parkinson’s in a drug screen where 2,000 drugs were assessed for their rescue effect on mitochondrial function directly in the tissue of patients with Parkinson’s.
Professor Oliver Bandmann, who's leading the research has said:
"This is a pilot trial, which if successful, will lead to a bigger study to firmly establish the effectiveness of the treatment to slow down progression of Parkinson’s. Currently, Parkinson’s is relentlessly progressive but patients tend to respond very well to symptomatic medication in the early stages of the disease.
A drug which will slow down the progression of the disease – even after the first few years of diagnosis – would help people to have an improved quality of life for longer.”
For more information about the study please click here
(Feb 2019)
CRF RESEARCH SISTER INVOLVED IN TRUST REVERSE MENTORING SCHEME
In 2018-19, the Trust Board of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals adopted a reverse mentoring initiative whereby traditional mentoring has been ‘reversed’.
Faith, one of our wonderful Research Sisters, has been involved in the scheme and she has found it to be an extremely valuable experience.
Faith said "As one of the black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) members of staff as ‘Mentor’ for the last six months, I’ve had an opportunity to be matched with a trust executive director who took the role of ‘Mentee’. This allowed me to share my experiences with my mentee both inside and outside of STH and also allowed the mentee to see what it is like to work in the organisation from a BAME perspective. This also gave me access to shadow and see life in the organisation from a senior member of staff’s point of view."
Faith, and her mentee, are going to continue their partnership to further progress the valuable skill and knowledge transfer which the scheme has already brought to them, their immediate departments and the Trust as a whole.
(Jan 2019)
CRF RESEARCH THERAPISTS TO PRESENT AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE
In Sheffield CRF, we are very lucky to have two research therapists working with us. Kate, our Physiotherapist and Louise, our Occupational Therapist are an extremely valued part of our team and they are great advocates for other Allied Health Professionals to get involved in research.
We're therefore delighted to be able to announce that they will be presenting at the The Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference in 2019. Their presentation 'Building allied health professions (AHP) research capacity: the impact of introducing an occupational therapist into a nurse led clinical research facility' will demonstrate the importance of having a multi-disciplinary workforce involved in research.
Please click here to find out more about the conference
(Jan 2019)
MEET OUR FIRST RESEARCH CHAMPION
We are extremely excited to welcome our first ever Research Champion here to the Sheffield CRF. Laura is a staff nurse from Chesterman 4, one of the cardio-thoracic wards at the Northern General Hospital.
In her role as a Clinical Research Champion, Laura will be the key link between the research team, clinical staff and patients and will be a vital support in embedding research and innovation alongside clinical care
Laura will help increase the profile of research in cardio-thoracics, engaging with her colleagues on the ward and all of her patients to ensure everyone is given the opportunity to become involved in research.
This is a really exciting step on our journey to ensuring research is embedded in our care here in Sheffield, and we're hoping that Laura will inspire others to take on the role of Clinical Research Champion in their clinical area to spread knowledge and engagement with out vital research throughout all areas of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
(Nov 2018)
dr rachel tattersall wins outstanding ACHIEVEMENT award
Dr Rachel Tattersall, one of our Rheumatology Principal Investigators here in Sheffield has won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Thank You Awards 2018.
The award recognises an individual or team that has made an outstanding contribution to patient care, patient experience, staff experience, clinical/research or innovation.
Dr Tattersall was presented with the accolade for her brilliant work helping young adults transfer between children's and adult health care in Sheffield.
(Oct 2018)
MS trial features in evening standard
An article on the MS-STAT trial, for which Sheffield CRF are on of 30 sites, has been featured in the Evening Standard.
The trial will use a statin drug that is already used for lowering cholesterol with the hope the treatment will slow or stop disability progression and transform the lives of thounds of patients living with multiple sclerosis
To read more please follow this link
(Sep 2018)
crf leg ulcer trial RESULTS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
The EVRA study which investigated whether treating the varicose veins of patients with leg ulcers at an early stage could speed up healing has been selected for a quick take video of the trial and result which is now available to watch at The New England Journal of Medicine website.
To view the video and read the publication please click here
(July 2018)
EVRA TRIAL FEATURES IN DAILY MAIL
An article on the EVRA study which ran here in the CRF and investigated whether treating the varicose veins of patients with leg ulcers at an early stage could speed up healing has been featured in the Daily Mail.
To read the article and find out more about the study and its results please click here
(July 2018)
Tour of the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility
To celebrate International Clinical Trials Day, on Friday 18th May the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility opened its doors to the public for a tour of the facility. Led by one of our experienced research nurses, it was a chance to meet our diverse team and ask any questions about clinical research.
There was also an opportunity to try out some research activities with one of our research therapists and also an opportunity for people to become a research participant themselves by taking part in our Yorkshire Health Study too and help to change healthcare in the future.
(May 2018)
PROFESSOR WINS 'INNOVATION IN SURGICAL SITE INFECTION' AWARD
Professor Charmaine Childs has won a prestigious Innovation in Surgical site infection from the Journal of Wound Care Awards 2018. This award is to recognise individuals and groups who’s work has led to decreases in surgical site infection reducing the burden on both the patient and the health-care system. Her work in thermal imaging of the human abdomen was supported by the CRF midwife team at Jessop Wing
To read more about the awards please visit -
(Mar 2018)
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Chief Nurse on New Year honours list
Professor Hilary Chapman, chief nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has received a damehood for services to nursing in the Queen’s New Year Honours (2018).
Hilary is one of the country’s most prominent Chief Nurses, and has made major contributions to health policy, healthcare delivery and system reform.
Click here to read more
(Dec 2017)
Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre Public Launch Event
On the 14 December the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) hosted the public launch event of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) for Translational Neuroscience.
The Sheffield BRC is focused on pulling through translational discoveries into early phase and experimental medicine studies to improve the lives of people living with chronic neurological disorders.
Click here to read more
(December 2017)
major new international text book led by crf pi
Dr Ever Grech, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist has edited and led the third edition of 'Practical Interventional Cardiology'.
The textbook includes 14 chapter contributions from interventional cardiologists based at the Northern General Hospital’s South Yorkshire Cardiothoracic Centre – the largest contribution of any centre in the world.
Click here to read more
(Oct 2017)
