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NUH at forefront of clinical research on COVID-19
Statement from Professor Stephen Ryder, Clinical Director, Research and Innovation at NUH:
"In the unprecedented challenge posed by COVID-19, one of the important contributions that NUH can make for our patients and for patients across the world, is clinical research.
"Clinical research at NUH is already making ground-breaking advances in combating COVID-19. In the last week we have opened a number of COVID-19 trials, which have already recruited their first patients. For example we are part of an international consortium investigating novel pathogens causing severe acute respiratory illness and emerging infections; investigating the most effective ways of triaging people using emergency care with suspected respiratory infections; and identifying the most clinically effective interventions for adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit with community-acquired pneumonia and Covid-19.
"Through our flagship centre of excellence, the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, our expert Respiratory theme is investigating whether drug treatments originally developed for other conditions can also help treat patients with Covid-19.
"All of this research is responding to the international call-to-action to rapidly improve our knowledge, understanding and treatment options for this virus.
"The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has announced a national coordination process for COVID-19 trials which will ensure that the UK’s research contribution is focused and that it maximises our resources to ensure rapid patient benefit. We will be ensuring that in Nottingham we prioritise our research activities to enable us to contribute to the national research portfolio on COVID-19.
"Our rapid response to the COVID-19 challenge is a testament to the clinical research infrastructure, workforce and investments that we have been building over the last two years. Our guiding principle in all of this is to support frontline clinical care with the best knowledge, the newest treatments and the emerging technology that high quality clinical research offers for our patients. This has never been needed more than it is now.
"Finally, I would like to thank our clinical research teams for their continued hard work, commitment and care for our patients. Thank you also to our Team NUH colleagues for your support for this vital research and helping us to find rapid answers to the needs of our COVID-19 patients."