We’re inviting GPs and practice nurses to take part in a short qualitative interview as part of the London Asthma Diagnostics Study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06383130).

This study is evaluating whether a triple diagnostic approach combining oscillometry with FeNO and spirometry with reversibility testing — can improve the diagnostic accuracy of adult asthma in real-world settings. Oscillometry is a quick, effort-independent lung function test that uses normal tidal breathing and may be more sensitive to small airways disease.

We’re keen to hear your views on:

• Current challenges in diagnosing asthma in primary care
• Your experience with diagnostic tools
• Thoughts on oscillometry, its result report, and how it might fit into existing workflows

Your insights will help assess the feasibility of using oscillometry in frontline asthma diagnosis. The session would comprise of a short demonstration of the device and the report output, and a Teams/Zoom interview which would last around 45 minutes – 1 hour. All responses will be anonymised.

If you’re interested in taking part or would like to know more, please get in touch by emailing Dr Eleanor Quek at e.quek@imperial.ac.uk

CLOCS-2 is an observational, retrospective case-control study that investigates whether or not everyday loyalty card use in high street retailers can help identify early signs of cancer. The cancer types in focus are bladder, bowel (also known as colon/colorectal), endometrial, liver, oesophageal, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, uterine and vulval. CLOCS-2 is using a case-control design to compare purchasing patterns of participants with (cases) and without (controls) these cancer types diagnose in order to potentially develop a way to detect cancer earlier. The study aims to include participants with and without cancer across the United Kingdom who use loyalty cards at two high street retailers. The CLOCS team will analyse past purchasing behaviour from about 1,500 participants (750 cancer cases and 750 controls) in the United Kingdom utilising information already collected through their use of loyalty cards.

Social isolation and loneliness (SI&L) have profound implications for public health, affecting both physical and mental well-being. With a focus on addressing the escalating incidence of SI&L, particularly in London’s Hammersmith & Fulham borough (LBH&F), our research seeks to assess its prevalence across England using online tools. Targeting vulnerable populations, including those with limited cognitive capacity, developmental disorders, dementia, and serious mental illnesses, we aim to identify effective interventions. Through dissemination in peer-reviewed journals, our findings aim to inform policies and practices to combat SI&L. Collaboratively led by Imperial College London’s School of Public Health, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and Hammersmith & Fulham Council, the Measuring Loneliness (INTERACT) study represents a pioneering effort to map loneliness at the borough and city levels. By engaging thousands of community dwellers aged 16 and over through online surveys, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of loneliness’s impact across various regions, supported by funding from NIHR Applied Research Collaboration NWL.

To find out more click here

Heart failure (HF) represents a serious condition where the heart struggles to efficiently pump blood throughout the body. Its impact surpasses that of many cancers, with a mortality rate of 50% at 5 years post-diagnosis, affecting approximately 900,000 individuals in the United Kingdom annually. This ailment not only profoundly affects quality of life but also exacts a significant financial toll on the NHS, consuming 4% of its annual budget, equating to over £625 million per year. Unfortunately, up to 80% of HF diagnoses occur belatedly during emergency hospital admissions, leading to worse survival outcomes and higher treatment costs. GPs lack accessible tools for timely HF detection, resulting in patients undergoing lengthy and often inconclusive diagnostic pathways. However, our groundbreaking study showcased the efficacy of the Eko DUO smart stethoscope, capable of detecting HF with 92% accuracy in just 15 seconds, even before symptom onset. Through the TRICORDER Study, we aim to determine whether equipping GPs with the Eko DUO enhances early HF detection, thereby mitigating emergency hospital admissions and reducing NHS costs. By leveraging patient involvement and cutting-edge technology, our initiative seeks to drive transformative change in NHS-patient access, ultimately saving lives and resources.

To find out more click here

Viruses exert diverse effects on our immune systems, many of which remain mysterious to us. Clinical studies play a crucial role in unraveling how the body responds to viral encounters, including common colds, in both healthy individuals and those with conditions like asthma. By gaining a deeper understanding of these mechanisms, we can devise more effective treatments and potentially eradicate prevalent viral illnesses. At FluCamp, our focus lies in conducting clinical trials centered on the common cold and flu, afflictions that affect billions annually. Through our research efforts and the dedication of our volunteers, we strive to develop and evaluate novel drugs and vaccines aimed at expediting recovery from these respiratory infections. Developing new treatments is a meticulous process that prioritizes safety, necessitating extensive research, screening, and testing involving healthy volunteers before wider deployment. This rigorous testing occurs through a series of five distinct phases in clinical trials.

For more information click here

This is a website called ‘Active Brains’ which is sponsored by the University of Southampton. Active Brains was made to support older adults to make simple behavioural changes such as increasing physical activity, playing brain training games and finding ways to eat more healthily. This study will trial the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of ‘Active Brains’. The trial will recruit two groups of older adults: 1) those with signs of cognitive decline, 2) those without any cognitive decline. Members of both of these groups will be randomly assigned to one of three trial groups: 1) care as they usually receive it from their GP practice, or 2) access to the Active Brains website, or 3) access to the Active Brains website plus brief support from a trained person. After five years, the different groups will be compared with each other to see which group went on to be diagnosed with dementia which will help determine if this website is useful for avoiding or delaying cognitive decline.

For more information please head to the Active Brains website here

This study is aiming to find out if pregabalin is an effective anti-anxiety drug when used on its own. We want to find out if a combination of an antidepressant and pregabalin is effective for anxiety where the antidepressant alone has not previously been very effective. The results of the study will let doctors give better advice to people with anxiety who have taken antidepressants but have not found them helpful.

This information is from the patient information sheet provided by the study team which can be found here: Study website

If you are interested, please contact your GP to refer you into the trial as a researcher will need to check if you are eligible to take part in the study

The Diamond study is a programme that is developed for people with type 2 diabetes to help them achieve remission. This means that a person has a normal blood glucose level and does not require any medication to manage their diabetes.

Being in remission will greatly improve a persons quality of life and will help them avoid the long term risks of diabetes.

This study is currently active but the study team have stopped with the recruitment. The study team have previously done a small scale feasibility trial for this programme which you can read by following this link: diamond feasability

The study aims to find out whether taking a low dose of amitriptyline soon after getting shingles can prevent pain associated with shingles.

This pain can reduce the quality of life of those affected and can be difficult to treat with standard painkilling medication. Amitriptyline is commonly used to treat pain but we do not know whether it can also prevent the nerve pain of post-herpetic neuralgia:

– A previous small study suggested that a low dose of amitriptyline taken when the shingles rash first appears can prevent post-herpetic neuralgia for some patients.

– This needs to be proven in a bigger trial before the medication can be routinely prescribed for this purpose.

To be eligible to take part you need to:
• Be 50 years old or older.
• Be diagnosed with shingles by a clinician soon after getting the shingles rash.
• Have a healthy immune system and be able to take amitriptyline.
• Be able to complete online or paper questionnaires about your symptoms and use of healthcare.
• Be able to provide informed consent to take part.

If you want to read more please follow this link https://athena-study.bristol.ac.uk/