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The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Research and Development department supports and facilitates health research in Cornwall. Research is a hugely important part of what we do at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals. It gives us new knowledge about how to treat and care for patients with different health conditions and helps us to provide our patients with the best and most appropriate care possible.
We are dedicated to developing ground-breaking treatments, technologies, and techniques as well as meeting your needs and identifying the best use of resources.
Find out about health and social care research that is taking place in your area and across the UK.
Links to reports on our performance in delivering research
More information about the department
Contact details
General Enquiries
Telephone
Patient and Public Information
Research ideas
Social media
- Facebook: NHS Research in Cornwall
- Twitter: @NHSResCornwall
Strategic Leadership Team
rcht.researchmanagement@nhs.net
Research Governance Manager & Archivist
Caroline Phillips: caroline.phillips38@nhs.net
Research Communications & Engagement Specialist
Amanda Datson: a.datson@nhs.net
Industry Operations Manager
Gina Townley: gina.townley@nhs.net
Audit & Monitoring Officer
Brendon James: brendon.james1@nhs.net
Research Sponsorship Facilitator
Vahid Harandi: vahid.harandi@nhs.net
How we approve research and make sure it is safe
- The NHS Research Governance Framework sets out the standards by which research is conducted. This includes the monitoring of protocols and procedures to make sure that these are followed.
- Any research we carry out must meet recognised ethical standards and respect the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of the people who take part.
- These standards must be assessed and approved by an independent Research Ethics Committee (REC)
Links to further information on clinical research
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
- Health Research Authority (HRA)
- Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Patient Information and health and care research
Get involved in NHS Research in Cornwall
There are many ways people get involved with NHS research in Cornwall;
- A healthcare professional may approach you about taking part in a relevant study.
- We may advertise for people with or without a specific condition, usually on posters in GP surgeries and hospitals.
- Search by condition on a national database for clinical trial
- You can also register and choose how you wish to get involved. You could receive our newsletter, hear about local events, share your views on patient documents or work with our research teams on what is best for patients.
- Any information we collect about you will be confidential.
- All information will be held securely on Royal Cornwall Hospital computer servers and only be accessible by NHS Patient & Public Engagement Representative staff.
- It won’t be shared with external organisations.
- Become a Research Champion for the Royal Cornwall Hospital
What are Research Champions?
Research Champions volunteer their time to help spread the word about health and care research to patients and the public. They can also help research and healthcare staff understand more about the experiences of those who take part in research.
Research Champions can be anyone; patients, carers, members of the public, people who have taken part in a research study before, as well as those who haven’t. Something that they all have in common is that they are passionate about getting more people involved in research so that we can develop better care and treatment for everyone.
What can Research Champions do?
What you contribute as a Research Champion will be shaped around your interests, skills and time. Some commit to regular activities while others may volunteer as opportunities arise. At the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust we hold monthly meetings that the Research Champions can attend at their convenience.
Research Champions may volunteer to get involved in some of the activities listed below:
- Spread the word to patients and the public about health and care research
- Raise awareness amongst friends and family about research and being a champion for taking part in health and care research amongst people they know
- Help to make patients, public groups find out about local events and initiatives, where they can access information about research and studies they may be able to take part in
- Encourage health care professionals to undertake research
- Take part in local actions to mark International Clinical Trials Day and health awareness days
- Speak to interest or patient groups about health and care research
- Give feedback on research promotion, initiatives and communications and help shape local research studies
How can I get involved?
If you are interested in becoming a Research Champion or finding out more, then please get in touch with our Research Communications & Engagement Specialist, Amanda Datson.
Deciding whether to take part in clinical research
- We will review the research set of eligibility criteria that participants must meet, we will give you information about the research and time to consider whether you want to take part.
- You’ll receive an information sheet about the research which will contain the contact details of the research study team so that you can speak to them about any part of the study.
- So that you can decide whether to take part, we will make sure you are fully aware of all study procedures and any changes to your standard care or treatment. We will also explain any risks or known potential side effects.
- You do not have to take part and you are free to withdraw at any stage, even after the study has started. Your standard treatment will not be affected if you decide not to take part at any stage.
- For further information and frequently asked questions please visit the NHS website.
Feedback
We are committed to improving the experience for research participants and often conduct participant experience surveys to gain feedback and help us to improve our services.
Patient Support Groups
If you are involved in a patient support group and would like us to come along and give a presentation about research or be available to give information to attendees please contact Amanda Datson via email on a.datson@nhs.net.
For further information and frequently asked questions please visit
Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF)
We have developed a new, evidence-informed, self-help manual (the “REACH-HF Manual”) for people with heart failure and caregivers. It aims to help them manage their condition using the principles of cardiac rehabilitation. The manual is designed to be used with the support of a specially trained cardiac nurse or ‘facilitator’.
We have evaluated the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and acceptability of the manual for people with heart failure and their caregivers.
Our research team benefits from the involvement of the investigators who led and published several major trials of cardiac rehabilitation in the UK. The team has expertise in methodology (medical statistics, health economics, qualitative research, psychology, health behaviour change, evidence synthesis and modelling) and clinical practice (cardiology, primary care, cardiac rehabilitation, nursing and physiotherapy), and uniquely involves service users. The Heart Manual Service, NHS Lothian (with extensive experience in delivery and implementation of the Heart Manual for people after myocardial infarction or revascularisation) is a key collaborator.
REACH-HF is an independent research programme funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research scheme (Reference Number RP-PG-1210-12004). It builds upon work previously conducted by the research team during an NIHR Programme Development Grant award (Reference Number RP-DG-0709-10111). The views expressed are those of the research team and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
REACH-HF Research Team Members
Beacon Site Steering Group
- Rod Taylor
- Hayes Dalal
- Colin Greaves
- Patrick Doherty
- Sinead McDonagh
REACH-HF Joint Leads
Click here for Dr Hayes Dalal and Professor Rod Taylor’s profiles
Useful links
- View all REACH-HF publications
- REACH-HF previous work
- REACH-HF feasibility study results
- REACH-HF latest news
Programme of Research
This programme consisted of four conceptually linked work packages building on existing evidence for self-managing heart failure.
Work Package 1
This work package used systematic intervention development methods to develop a home based self-help manual for people with systolic heart failure and their caregivers (‘the HF Manual’). It was divided into two sections:
Work Package 1A – Led by Dr Colin Greaves
Research Question: What are the necessary intervention components of a home-based, self-help manual for people with HF?
Work Package 1B – Led by Dr Jennifer Wingham
Research Question: What are the necessary intervention components of a home-based, self-help manual for the caregivers of people with HF?
This work package used qualitative research methods. The study was informed by thematic analysis involving 26 caregivers in individual interviews or a focus group.
Feasibility Study
Work Package 1 includes a feasibility study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the REACH-HF Manual for patients, caregivers and facilitators.
Work Package 2 – Led by Professor Chim Lang, Dr Karen Smith and Professor Kate Jolly
Research Question: How feasible is the HF-manual in people with heart failure?
This work package will conduct a pilot trial to assess the feasibility of a definitive trial of the heart failure manual in people who have a type of heart failure called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF).
Read the rationale for Work Package 2 here.
Work Package 3 – Led by Professor Rod Taylor
Research Questions: What is the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the HF manual vs. usual care in people with systolic HF? What is the impact for caregivers of using the HF Manual vs. usual care?
This work package conducted a randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of HF Manual vs. usual care. 216 people with systolic HF were recruited from four centres (Abergavenny/South Wales, Birmingham, Cornwall and York). Prior to the main trial, a 6-month pilot phase checked trial feasibility and intervention acceptability. Main trial outcome measures were collected at baseline and 6 and 12 months after randomisation. A process evaluation included assessing trial fidelity; evaluating patient and caregiver experience of using the manual and measurement of caregiver stress.
The results are being analysed now and expected in 2018.
Read the rationale for Work Package 2 here.
Work Package 4 Led by Professor Colin Green
Research Questions: What is the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the HF Manual vs. centre based CR in people with systolic HF? What is the expected value of information for future research, including a randomised controlled trial of the HF manual vs. centre-based CR in people with systolic HF?
This work will use evidence synthesis/modelling methods to bring together the trial evidence on home and centre based cardiac rehabilitation. After this is complete, the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the HF Manual (home based CR) vs. centre based CR will be assessed.
Work Packages 3 and 4 will provide commissioners with evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the HF Manual vs. usual care and vs. centre based CR. We believe that an evidence based home CR intervention could substantially improve the current suboptimal provision of CR in HF. This would thereby result in important improvements in patient and caregiver health outcomes and reductions in hospital admissions.
Feedback about your research experiences
We actively encourage our research participants to give their feedback on their experiences of study participation. This helps us to recognise our staff and improve our service.
To enable us to do this, we hold an annual, snapshot experience survey as well as welcoming feedback through Care Opinion. https://www.careopinion.org.uk/ Care Opinion allows people to anonymously share their experiences, good and bad, of healthcare services across the country. Stories are then passed to department representatives who will review and respond via the website.
Research news
If you would like to read about some of the positive, life changing impacts research and development has achieved in our recent past, you may do so by viewing our research and development news page.
Links to some of our previous studies
Please see below sample of published research results from some of the studies that the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust have been involved in. We are aiming to increase the number available on this webpage in the future.
Please note there is often a significant time lag between the end of patient participation in a study and the availability of the results.
Anaesthesia
- PROBESE- Effect of Intraoperative High Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) With Recruitment Manuevers vs Low PEEP on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Obese Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Cardiology
- HPS2-THRIVE randomized placebo-controlled trial in 25 673 high-risk patients of ER niacin/ laropiprant: trial design, pre-specified muscle and liver outcomes, and reasons for stopping study treatment.
- Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF) – See further up this page.
- ORION 4- Life-saving anti-cholesterol drug recommended on NHS thanks to groundbreaking clinical trials.
COVID
- REMAP-CAP- A Randomised, Embedded, Multi-factorial, Adaptive Platform Trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673620305377 - COMMFLUCOV Study – Combining Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination (ComFluCOV)
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2021/september/comfluvcov-study.html - GenOMICC- Another life-saving Covid drug identified.
- Novavax: Novavax COVID-19 vaccine researched in the South West approved in UK by MHRA.
- Recovery: Results.
Critical Care
- Risk Adjustment In Neurocritical care (RAIN)– prospective validation of risk prediction models for adult patients with acute traumatic brain injury to use to evaluate the optimum location and comparative costs of neurocritical care: a cohort study.
- POPPI– A nurse-led, preventive, psychological intervention to reduce Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptom severity in critically ill patients.
- Early Active Mobilization during Mechanical Ventilation in the ICU
Dermatology
- Effect of Topical Imiquimod as Primary Treatment for Lentigo Maligna: The LIMIT-1 Study
Diabetes
- ALTITUDE: ALiskiren Trail in T2 Diabetes using cardiorenal endpoints
Emergency Medicine
- Need for recovery and physician well-being in emergency departments, European Journal of Emergency Medicine
- CRASH 3
- Randomised Evaluation of modified Valsalva Effectiveness in Re-entrant Tachycardias (REVERT) study.
Gastroenterology
- PANTS Personalised anti-TNF therapy in Crohn’s disease study
- Implications for sequencing of biologic therapy and choice of second anti-TNF in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: results from the IMmunogenicity to Second Anti-TNF therapy (IMSAT) therapeutic drug monitoring study.
- Clarity IBD Vaccine escape, increased breakthrough and reinfection in infliximab-treated patients with IBD
Haematology
- Targeting of Antithrombin in Hemophilia A or B with RNAi Therapy
- CHOP versus GEM-P in previously untreated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (CHEMO-T): a phase 2, multicentre, randomised, open-label trial
- GAZELLE Study- Obinutuzumab short-duration infusion (SDI) in previously untreated advanced follicular lymphoma Roche – Roche’s Gazyvaro shorter 90-minute infusion time approved in Europe for people with previously treated or untreated follicular lymphoma
- ENRICH Ibrutinib for untreated mantle cell lymphoma
Hepatology
- Hepatitis E virus in patients with decompensated chronic liver disease: a prospective UK/French study.
- Steroids or Pentoxifylline for Alcoholic Hepatitis (STOPAH) trial
Neurology: Multiple Sclerosis
- The Cannabinoid Use in Progressive Inflammatory brain Disease (CUPID) trial: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group multicentre trial and economic evaluation of cannabinoids to slow progression in multiple sclerosis.
- Towards a better understanding of MS pain: a systematic review of potentially modifiable psychosocial factors.
Neurology: Parkinson’s Disease
Oncology
- Cohort profile of the Sloane Project: methodology for a prospective UK cohort study of >15 000 women with screen-detected non-invasive breast neoplasia
- Developing a central database and virtual biobank for rare gynaecological cancers in the UK: Rango (rare neoplasms of gynaecological origin)
- c-TRAK TN trial: a clinical trial utilising ctDNA mutation tracking to detect molecular residual disease and trigger intervention in patients with moderate- and high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer
- CONCEPT: A Phase II pilot study of 3 weekly Cabazitaxel versus weekly Paclitaxel chemotherapy in the first line treatment of Her2 negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC)
- ATNEC A multicenter, randomized trial investigating whether axillary treatment can be avoided in patients with T1-3N1M0 breast cancer with no residual cancer in the lymph glands after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- A phase II trial of cemiplimab alone or in combination with standard of care chemotherapy in locally advanced or metastatic penile carcinoma (EPIC Trial).
- FAST-Forward: Randomised clinical trial testing a 1-week course of curative whole breast radiotherapy against a standard 3-week schedule in terms of local cancer control and late adverse effects in patients with early breast cancer.
- The POUT trial: PeriOperative chemotherapy or sUrveillance in upper Tract urothelial cancer
- The PAKT Trial: Capivasertib Plus Paclitaxel Versus Placebo Plus Paclitaxel As First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Trial of intraoperative cell salvage versus transfusion in ovarian cancer (TIC TOC): protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study.
- Body mass index and sexual function in women with gynaecological cancer
- AspECT A Phase III randomised study of aspirin and esomeprazole chemoprevention in Bareett’s metaplasia
- Randomized Phase II Study Evaluating Palbociclib in Addition to Letrozole as Neoadjuvant Therapy in Estrogen Receptor–Positive Early Breast Cancer: PALLET Trial.
- Esomeprazole and aspirin in Barrett’s oesophagus (AspECT): a randomised factorial trial
- Intermittent chemotherapy plus either intermittent or continuous cetuximab for first-line treatment of patients with KRAS wild-type advanced colorectal cancer (COIN-B): a randomised phase 2 trial
- Intermittent versus continuous oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine combination chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced colorectal cancer: results of the randomised phase 3 MRC COIN trial
- 3 versus 6 months of adjuvant oxaliplatin-fluoropyrimidine combination therapy for colorectal cancer (SCOT): an international, randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial
- Fulvestrant-Palbociclib vs Letrozole-Palbociclib as Initial Therapy for Endocrine-Sensitive, Hormone Receptor–Positive, ERBB2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial | Breast Cancer | JAMA Oncology | JAMA Network
- Peruse- A Study of Pertuzumab in Combination with Trastuzumab (Herceptin) and a Taxane in First-Line Treatment in Participants with HER-2 Positive Advanced Breast Cancer.
- Parsifal- Fulvestrant-Palbociclib vs Letrozole-Palbociclib as Initial Therapy for Endocrine-Sensitive, Hormone Receptor–Positive, ERBB2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer.
- UK Prosper: Exercise versus usual care after non-reconstructive breast cancer surgery: multicentre randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation.
Orthopaedics
- Rehabilitation versus surgical reconstruction for non-acute anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL SNNAP): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial
- Hip arthroscopy versus best conservative care for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (UK FASHIoN): a multicentre randomised controlled trial
- HEALTH – Total Hip Arthroplasty or Hemiarthroplasty for Hip Fracture
- UK Star – Plaster case vs functional brace for non-surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture.
Paediatrics
- MAGNEsium Trial In Children (MAGNETIC): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial and economic evaluation of nebulised magnesium sulphate in acute severe asthma in children
- Oxygen saturation targets in infants with bronchiolitis (BIDS): a double-blind, randomised, equivalence trial
- Adjunctive rifampicin for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (ARREST): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Early or Delayed Enteral Feeding for Preterm Growth-Restricted Infants: A Randomised Trial ADEPT
- Oxygen saturation targets in infants with bronchiolitis (BIDS): a double-blind, randomised, equivalence trial
- Oxygen Saturation and Outcomes in Preterm Infants (BOOST II)
Pathology
- Use of the Biocartis Idylla™ Platform for the Detection of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, BRAF and KRAS Proto-Oncogene Mutations in Liquid-Based Cytology Specimens from Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
- Idylla microsatellite instability assay versus mismatch repair immunohistochemistry: a retrospective comparison in gastric adenocarcinoma
Pharmacy
- Antibiotic review kit for hospitals (ARK-Hospital): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial
- Real-world evidence of long-term survival and healthcare resource use in patients with hepatic encephalopathy receiving rifaximin-α treatment: a retrospective observational extension study with long-term follow-up (IMPRESS II)
Renal Medicine
- SPEAK study (Surveying People Experiencing young Adult Kidney failure)
- PIVOTAL Intravenous Iron in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis
Rheumatology
Stroke
- REstart or STop Antithrombotics Randomised Trial
- Antiplatelet treatment compared with anticoagulation treatment for cervical artery dissection (CADISS): a randomised trial
- Efficacy of nitric oxide, with or without continuing antihypertensive treatment, for management of high blood pressure in acute stroke (ENOS): a partial-factorial randomised controlled trial
- TWIST: Does the Use of Nintendo Wii SportsTM Improve Arm Function? Trial of WiiTM in Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Economics Analysis
Urology
- Thulium laser transurethral vaporesection of the prostate versus transurethral resection of the prostate for men with lower urinary tract symptoms or urinary retention (UNBLOCS): a randomised controlled trial https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673620305377
Women’s Health & Obstetrics
- Induction of labour for predicted macrosomia: study protocol for the ‘Big Baby’ randomised controlled trial:
- Two-year outcomes following a randomised platelet transfusion trial in preterm infants
- Prednisolone in Nephrotic Syndrome: The PREDNOS Study
- Intraoperative cell salvaged blood as part of a blood conservation strategy in Caesarean section: is fetal red cell contamination important?
- Immediate delivery compared with expectant management after preterm pre-labour rupture of the membranes close to term (PPROMT trial): a randomised controlled trial
- Upright versus lying down position in second stage of labour in nulliparous women with low dose epidural: BUMPES randomised controlled trial
- Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes of COVID-19 (PAN-COVID)
NHS Staff Research
- Hair today, gone tomorrow: How personal protective equipment guidance changed doctor’s facial hair during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Radiography
The Cornwall research charity fund
Much of the Research and Development programme in Cornwall would not be possible without the generosity of our supporters.
Your charitable donations help us provide:
- Patient amenities
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Innovative research opportunities
- Funding towards additional staff so that we can offer more research opportunities
Recent fundraising has helped us transform one of our research clinic rooms into a child-friendly environment where children can play, read books, play computer games or watch films. These facilities act as a distraction for our younger visitors during their clinic visits as well as provide play facilities for them when accompanying others to their appointments.
Support the Cornwall research charity fund
You can get involved by:
- Supporting our fundraising at events
- Leaving a legacy gift
- Nominating us as charity of the year
- Fundraising for us
- Making a donation
How to make a donation
Research Charity Fund Applications
If you are a contracted member of staff at the Royal Cornwall Hospital and are looking for funding to support or facilitate research please visit Research Charity Fund Applications
There are a number of ways you can donate to the research or cancer research funds through the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity, please visit their website to find out more.
If you would like your donation to go to either of these (research, or cancer) funds, please ensure you specify this at the time of payment and leave contact information so that we can confirm receipt. Alternatively, you can email RCHT.Charity@nhs.net or phone 01872 252690 with details of your donation.
Working With Us
Current vacancies for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals, Research & Development Department can be found at NHS jobs.
Links to useful information:
Find out what a career in NHS Research at the Royal Cornwall Hospital could offer you in the video below:
Page last reviewed: 17 May 2023
