CRF spotlights 2025/26
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You can find information about key updates and highlights from the NIHR Sheffield CRF from 2025/26 below.
Our achievements and good news stories - September 2025
Some of our staff members share the recent highlights at attending events around the world.
August/September 2025 achievement stats
August 2025 Achievements
August 2025 Achievements
It's been a busy month in the CRF. Thank you to our wonderful staff for all their hard work
September 2025 Achievements
September 2025 Achievements
It's been another busy month in the CRF. Thank you to all the Teams!
Sheffield top in patient recruitment - EXPERT-ALS study
The Sheffield site currently holds top position out of 9 sites alongside Oxford in the number of patients randomised into the EXPERTS-ALS study, with 14 participants enrolled to date, progressing towards the overall site target of 70.
The EXPErimental medicine Route To Success in ALS (EXPERTS-ALS) is designed to accelerate progress towards highly-effective drug therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, the commonest form of motor neurone disease, MND). The study screens candidate drugs in those living with ALS, more quickly identifying those with signals of likely clinical benefit, that may then be prioritised for testing in larger placebo-controlled trials.
EXPERTS-ALS is led by Professor Chris McDermott at the University of Sheffield and Professor Martin Turner at the University of Oxford. It involves 11 MND centres around the UK and is being sponsored by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
It is a flagship study within the broader portfolio of the UK MND Research Institute.
(August 2025)
Sponsor acknowledges team’s vital role in achieving recruitment target
We were delighted to receive a thank you email from the sponsor of the ChariotMS study — a phase 2 clinical trial taking place in our CRF. The study is investigating whether cladribine can help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) maintain the use of their arms and hands.
Our team at NIHR Sheffield CRF successfully recruited 7 participants, exceeding our site’s recruitment target of 4. This achievement contributed to the study’s overall success, with a total of 204 participants enrolled across multiple sites throughout the UK.
The email from the sponsor said:
"With immense gratitude, we celebrate a remarkable milestone - the completion of recruitment for the ChariotMS trial, with 204 patients randomised! This achievement is a testament to your dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to advancing research for people with MS.
Each of you played a vital role in reaching this goal, and we couldn't have done it without your efforts. Thank you for your perseverance, teamwork, and belief in the importance of the study.
As we move into the next phase, let's continue this momentum, ensuring high-quality follow-up and impactful results for the MS community."
Well done team CRF!
(July 2025)
NIHR Sheffield CRF hits UK first patient, first visit milestone!
Back in April, the team here in Sheffield successfully recruited the first UK patient to the FLORAL trial, who progressed from the Hibiscus parent trial. This rollover study aims to characterise long-term safety and efficacy of an investigational medication (etavopivat) in adults, adolescents and children who have sickle cell disease or thalassaemia and have completed a treatment period in an etavopivat study.
Congratulations and sincere thanks to all the team for reaching this important milestone!
(May 2025)
Participant appreciation: a message of thanks
One of our CRF Research Sisters recently received a nice email from a participant involved in the commercially sponsored study, FIND CKD. The message expressed sincere appreciation, stating: “Thank you again for today and for going out of your way to help.” It is always encouraging to receive positive feedback from our participants, as it reassures us that the hard work and efforts made by our staff are making a meaningful difference to those taking part in research.
(April 2025)
A big 'thank you' from one of our research participants!
Some members of our team were delighted to receive a heartfelt thank you card from a participant taking part in the StarMS study. StarMS is a study sponsored by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation trust, which aims to compare treatments for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
The message read:
“Thank you for everything you have done for us. You all have changed our life for the better — there are no words that can ever repay you for everything.”
Messages like these are a powerful reminder of the meaningful impact our work has on the lives of others, and they continue to inspire and motivate our team every day.
Well done team!
(April 2025)
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