Clinical trials

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out the clinical and cost effectiveness of Thromboprophylaxis in participants who have been placed in a plaster cast or splint after injury. The main questions it aims to answer are: * whether giving tablets to people at high risks of clots after a leg injury is as good as injections (standard care) * whether giving any medication after a leg injury is better than standard care (advice only) for people at low risk of clots. Participants will be assessed to be high risk (TiLLI High) or low risk (TiLLI Low). People who are at high risk of clots will have either tablets or injections to reduce their risk. People at low risk will receive tablets, injections or no medication. Drug treatments will be provided for the duration of immobilisation or up to 42 days (whichever is earlier), in accordance with current NICE guidelines. The participants will be followed up for 90 days following randomisation.

The goal of this pilot study is to describe the early wound healing molecular events and the vascularization pattern associated with the treatment of supra-bony defects with access flap alone or in association with a combined formulation of hyaluronic acid and polydeoxyribonucleotides gel.

Our primary aim is to investigate the prevalence and severity of Periodonotal Disease (PD) in a population of obese patients. Our secondary objectives are to: Investigate inflammatory biomarkers that have been associated with PD in the saliva of obese patients. Investigate the association of FTO gene (Obesity) polymorphisms with the prevalence of PD in this population. Investigate and describe the subgingival microbial flora in obese patients with PD from subgingival dental plaque samples as well as the salivary samples.

This study will evaluate the effect of A-PRF, a second-generation APC, on early wound healing in high-risk MRONJ patients following dental extractions, utilising advanced non-invasive methods to assess and associate molecular and blood flow changes during early healing. The early healing events of the post-extraction socket will also be characterised in terms of volumetric changes in relation to intra-oral thermographic changes, blood flow changes, in tandem with clinical measures of soft tissue healing and post-operative pain assessment. The early healing events will be analysed up to 15 days, and the final recall will be 180 days after extraction.

Slow-SPEED UK is an 18-month randomised, double-blind feasibility trial evaluating the delivery, adherence, and acceptability of a digitally supported physical activity programme in community-dwelling adults aged 40 and over with objectively confirmed hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and low baseline physical activity. Participants are randomly assigned 1:1 to either a full-dose activity-support programme (targeting a 100% increase in daily step count) or a very low-dose active control (targeting a 10% increase). Both arms are delivered via a smartphone application linked to a wearable activity monitor (Fitbit Charge 6), with personalised weekly goals expressed as relative percentages to maintain blinding. The study is not designed to test clinical efficacy.

The goal of this study is to see if physical activity in high air pollution is worse than rest in high air pollution.

The goal of this observational study is to see if there is a cyclical or exaggerated diurnal variation in aldosterone production in people with Primary Aldosteronism.

The goal of this clinical study is to evaluate a software device and its impact on clinician behaviour during the initial management of trauma patients in a real-world clinical setting. Known as the AI-TRiPS Device this software uses real-time prehospital data and machine learning-based risk predictions which are displayed digitally for hospital trauma teams prior patient arrival. The investigators will use a Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled study design with an integrated process evaluation. The Device will be deployed across the London Major Trauma System where the Major Trauma Centres will be the clusters. Each cluster will transition from control (standard care) to intervention at a pre-specified time (time of transition is randomised). Primary Outcome: Clinician behaviour, assessed via the accuracy of risk prediction and clinician confidence. Secondary Outcome: Clinician acceptability, care process metrics, patient outcomes, and safety endpoints. Primary study population: Hospital trauma clinicians, following initial resuscitation of each eligible trauma patient, who will complete electronic questionnaires. Secondary study population: Adult trauma patients, data will be collected for the duration of their index admission to hospital, to assess outcomes and enable comparison with clinician risk predictions.

Inorganic nitrate, found in leafy green vegetables and beetroot, can help lower blood pressure and support heart health. Early experimental work has suggested that dietary nitrate supplementation, in the form of beetroot juice or potassium nitrate capsules, can reduce blood pressure and improve endothelial function. Consequently, concentrated nitrate supplements like beetroot juice have become popular. However, these supplements can be expensive, high in sugar, and not to everyone's taste. Since more than three-quarters of adults with high blood pressure live in low- and middle-income countries, it is important to find safe, affordable ways to add nitrate to commonly eaten foods. The team at Queen Mary University of London has been developing nitrate-fortified products that may be more appealing to a wider population. With support from the food manufacturer Reading Scientific Services Ltd. (RSSL), they have successfully added nitrate to three oat-based products: cereal bar, porridge, and biscuits. This study aims to explore whether adding nitrate to commonly eaten foods can improve nitric oxide levels in the body and help lower blood pressure in healthy volunteers. Participants will receive the three nitrate-fortified food products in a randomised, crossover design. Nitrate and nitrite concentrations in biological samples, along with blood pressure, will be measured before and at multiple time points after supplementation with the nitrate-fortified products.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a coronary computed tomography angiography (CTCA)-guided strategy can reduce the risk of death, heart attack, stroke, and hospital admissions in patients experiencing angina or myocardial infarction following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can CTCA reduce major adverse cardiovascular events compared to standard invasive coronary angiography? * Is CTCA a cost-effective and safer alternative that improves patient quality of life? Researchers will compare outcomes between patients receiving CTCA prior to angiography and those undergoing standard angiography alone to determine if CTCA improves clinical outcomes and procedural safety. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either CTCA-guided care or standard angiography * Undergo coronary imaging and follow-up assessments * Complete questionnaires on quality of life and healthcare resource use

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test can help diagnose prostate problems, including cancer. The prostate is an organ in the pelvis. It is found in cisgender men, transgender (trans) women and some non-binary people. Anyone with a prostate can get prostate cancer. The prostate remains after genital (lower) surgery. The hormones and surgeries that trans women and non-binary people might have can lower the PSA. We do not have good data on the normal PSA levels are for this group TransPRIDE is a research study that will help us find the normal levels of PSA in trans women and non-binary people with prostates. Researchers will ask 500 trans women and non-binary people with prostates to take part. They will need to be aged 40 or over. They will need to be on hormones or have had lower surgery. They will be called after 6 months to recheck their health. If a person has a high PSA, they may be sent for more tests. Knowing the normal PSA level for trans women and non-binary people will help doctors to find and treat their prostate cancer more quickly.

To identify key characteristics of the tissue resident and peripherally circulating immune-phenotype in addition to blood markers, metabolic profile, faecal and oral microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The goal of this 12-month implementation science study is to generate the evidence required to ensure long-acting cabotegravir (LA CAB) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can be delivered in an equitable manner within the NHS. This study will recruit both PrEP users and healthcare professionals (HCPs). The main questions it aims to answer are: * What do healthcare providers think about the feasibility of delivering LA CAB PrEP within sexual health services in the NHS? * How many participants stay on/remain consistent with LA CAB PrEP injections at Month 12 (PrEP persistence)? Participants (200 PrEP users) will be followed for 12-months and asked to complete surveys at 3 study visits. A subset of 20 participants will also be asked to complete interviews about their experiences. We will also ask 20 HCPs at participating locations to complete surveys and interviews at both baseline and month 12. A core principle of equity (understanding any difference in impact on underserved populations) will be applied throughout the study. To ensure representation of a diverse group of participants that reflects the demographic groups most affected by incident HIV and most underserved by PrEP in the UK, enrolment targets will be applied and meticulously managed by the central study team, as follows: * A cap of 30% (n=60) will be applied to recruitment of White cisgender men who have sex with men who are not otherwise part of other under-represented groups (as defined below), * At least 70%% (n=140) of participants will represent groups currently underserved by PrEP and fall into one (or more) of the following socio-demographic categories: women (defined cisgender or transgender) OR as transgender men OR non-binary individuals OR age\<25 yrs, OR sex workers OR people who inject drugs OR racially minoritised heterosexual men.

Acute respiratory failure is a common, life-threatening condition where the lungs cannot provide enough oxygen to the body. Many patients are treated with non-invasive respiratory support (NRS) such as high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP). However, up to half of patients receiving NRS still deteriorate and require intubation and invasive ventilation, which is linked to longer hospital stays, more complications, and slower recovery. A major challenge in caring for these patients is that clinicians currently cannot directly see how well the breathing muscles (especially the diaphragm and parasternal intercostal muscles) and the lungs are working while the patient is using NRS. Existing bedside measures, such as respiratory rate or oxygen levels, only show part of the picture. They do not indicate how hard the patient is working to breathe or whether their respiratory muscles are becoming fatigued. This lack of information may delay important decisions about adjusting NRS settings or switching to other treatments. This study aims to find out whether two advanced but non-invasive, radiation-free bedside monitoring tools can be used effectively in routine care: 1. Ultrasound, which can measure breathing muscle thickness, movement, and lung aeration 2. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), which uses a soft belt of small electrodes around the chest to measure changes in air and blood flow within different regions of the lungs in real time These tools have shown promise in earlier research, and interviews with patients and clinicians suggest they are comfortable, well-tolerated, and potentially useful. However, they have not yet been evaluated together in a real-world hospital environment where many acute respiratory failure patients are cared for outside the ICU. What the study will involve: Up to 100 adults with acute respiratory failure requiring any type of non invasive respiratory support will be recruited with the goal of obtaining complete data from at least 50 patients. Each participant will undergo ultrasound and EIT assessments up to seven times during the first 72 hours after starting NRS, plus an additional measurement if they improve enough to stop NRS or if they deteriorate and require intubation. These assessments take place at the bedside, require brief exposure of the upper chest, and last approximately 15-45 minutes. Routine clinical data-such as heart rate, oxygen levels, and breathing measures-will also be recorded. In parallel, clinical staff caring for these patients will complete a short Healthcare System Usability Scale questionnaire to rate how useful, understandable, and practical they find the information generated by ultrasound and EIT. Some staff may also take part in optional interviews to explore usability in more depth. What the study is trying to learn: The primary aim is to determine the usability of these monitoring methods meaning understanding if they are practical, easy to use, and helpful for clinicians making decisions about NRS treatment. Secondary aims include understanding: * how the respiratory muscles and lungs change over time during NRS * whether these changes are linked to treatment settings (e.g., flow rate, pressure support) * whether certain patterns are associated with treatment success or failure (intubation or death) * whether these tools could help identify patients at risk of deterioration earlier Risks and benefits: Both ultrasound and EIT are widely used, safe, and non-invasive. They involve no radiation, needles, or harmful exposure. Minor temporary discomfort from the gel or belt placement is possible. Participation will not change any clinical treatments. Although patients may not directly benefit, the study may help future patients by improving understanding of breathing muscle function and supporting more personalised respiratory care. By contributing to this research, patients and clinicians will help determine whether advanced monitoring can be realistically implemented in busy hospital settings and whether it could lay the groundwork for future trials aimed at improving outcomes for people with acute respiratory failure.

The DIAMOND study is being carried out to evaluate if Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DX) in combination with Durvalumab is more effective than Dato-DXd alone in treating PDL1-negative advanced or metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second most common cancer overall. The term TNBC is used to define tumours that do not express oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 receptors. TNBC comprises 10 -15% of all breast cancers. It remains the subtype with poorest outcome and there is a significant need to develop new therapies for this group of patients especially. Moreover, the PDL1-negative tumour has demonstrated no benefit from standard 1st line treatment of chemotherapy plus immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Abdominal pain is a common symptom in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Up to 70 % of IBD patients experience pain when the disease is active. Even when patients with IBD are in remission, 20-50 % experience ongoing pain. The precise mechanism of developing chronic abdominal pain in patients with IBD in remission remains unknown. The aim of this study is to identify psychophysiological and biological risk factors for the development of chronic abdominal pain in patients with newly diagnosed IBD (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease). This study consists of 4 sections (Study 1A, 1B, 2, and 3): Study 1A: We perform a longitudinal study in 150 patients with new-onset IBD over 18 months to identify risk factors related to the brain-gut axis for the development of chronic pain. This is a collaborative study with IBD BioResourse Inception study. We administer online questionnaires, collect stool and blood samples, and record heart rate. Other physiological data collected by the Inception study will be also used for the analysis. Study 1B: This is also a collaborative study with the Inception study. We will apply for our detailed questionnaires for 7 days (as per study 1A) to be administered to all the new patients (n=450) that are included in the Inception study on a voluntary basis. Patients will be followed for 12 months. Study 2 and 3: Study 2 and 3 are a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study in patients with IBD. The participants for study 2 are patients registered in IBD BOOST study and those for study 3 are patients registered in IBD BioResource (but not in IBD Boost study). Detailed online questionnaires will be administered to them. These studies are just one-day assessment.

The goal of this study is to improve understanding of tendon health and disease by using surplus tendon tissue that is routinely removed during planned orthopaedic surgeries in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: \- What can tendon tissue and tendon cells tell us about how healthy and diseased tendons function? Participants will not undergo any extra procedures. Instead, researchers will use only tissue that is already being removed as part of normal surgical care and would otherwise be discarded. Participants will: * Be asked for permission (consent) before their surgery to donate any surplus tendon tissue. * Have a small piece of tendon tissue (normally waste material) collected during their planned operation. * Allow the research team to access some non-identifiable medical information (such as age, reason for surgery, and relevant medical history) to help interpret research findings. What the researchers will do with the donated tissue: * Isolate different types of human tendon cells. * Build advanced laboratory cellular models to study how tendon diseases develop. * Analyse whole tendon tissue sections to understand cell types, tissue organisation, and disease-related changes. This study does not involve testing treatments, and it does not change any aspect of a participant's clinical care. Although there is no direct benefit to participants, the donated tissue may help researchers develop better ways to study tendon injuries and improve future treatment options for tendon disease.

The main research question of this study is whether wearable devices have utility in monitoring patients with Long QT syndrome.

Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is a widely used technique during dental implant surgery to help rebuild bone around the implant and improve its long-term appearance and stability. This study investigates whether the amount of bone that regrows depends on a person's original bone shape, known as the Individual Phenotypical Dimension (IPD). The aim is to compare the bone stability and overall results between two approaches: adding bone only up to the original bone line (IPD) or adding bone beyond it (over-contour augmentation). Over the course of a year, the study will assess not only bone and soft tissue healing, but also gum blood flow, implant success, and patient satisfaction. There will be two treatment groups in this study - one group will receive bone grafting just up to their natural bone shape, while the other group will receive a slightly larger graft that extends about 3 mm beyond it. Throughout the study CBCT scans will be taken to assess bone changes around the implant area in order to measure how the bone shape and thickness change over time after surgery.

Left Ventricular Thrombus (LVT) is a blood clot that can develop in a poorly functioning heart. In around 1 in 6 patients who have had a heart attack or diagnosed with heart failure tend to develop blood clots in their main heart chamber. Having a blot clot in the main heart chamber can lead to serious complications such as stroke. Treatment for blood clots is blood thinning medications, which if taken for a prolonged period of time can result in bleeding which further complicates treatment. We hope to gather information to better understand the factors associated with blood clot formation and management in the lower left chamber of the heart. This understanding will hopefully enable us and others to improve management of this condition in the future and therefore help the wider population. As part of this study, bloods and scan results will be recorded and we will complete a short quality of life questionnaire. When participants come in for routine MRI scan, we may capture additional images for further research analysis. A sample of blood no more than one tablespoon will be collected for research analysis at the same time as routine blood test. This will occur at baseline and at around 6 months. At 12 months we will repeat the quality of life questionnaire and collect final data.

This is an adaptive, open-label, randomised phase II trial that aims to evaluate the impact of 3 vs 6 cycles of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy followed by maintenance avelumab in the quality of life of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. Initially, 224 eligible and evaluable patients (112 in each arm) will receive 3 cycles vs 6 cycles of 3-weekly gemcitabine plus cisplatin/carboplatin, followed by 2-weekly maintenance avelumab until disease progression or intolerable toxicities. Avelumab treatment will be given up to a maximum of 2 years from the end of chemotherapy.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder that is characterized by the repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, resulting in sleep deprivation. Mandibular Advancement Appliances (MAA) or Oral Appliances (OA) is prescribed for the patients with OSA and they have been shown to be effective. However, they rely entirely on the patient's acceptance and use. The aim of this study is to assess whether interventions- additional support approaches, will help patients use their MAA more as compared to those who receive routine care. The investigators also will try and identify factors that help us to understand why some patients choose to wear the MAA more than others. Adults (≥40 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of OSA (apnoea-hypopnoea index \>5) and referred for MAA therapy will be included in this study. It is a multicentre study comprised of recruiting patients from secondary care. Patients will be provided with information in relation to the study and written informed consent obtained at their subsequent appointment for placement of MAA. Patients will be randomly assigned to Intervention Care (IC) and Standardised care (SC). Patients will also be provided with a sleep diary to subjectively record their hours of sleep and usage of MAA and an objective adherence record from the micro-sensor included in their MAA design. Data indicating adherence will be collected and evaluated, both subjectively at 3- (T2) and 6-months (T3) and objectively by downloading the data stored within a micro-sensor placed in the MAA device. At the end of the follow-up, the investigators also plan to undertake a qualitative one-to-one interview with patients compliant (users) and non-compliant (non-users) to identify their views of what helps and/or prevents their adherence.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer, and one of the most common cancers worldwide. The majority of CSCCs are easily removed by surgery and have excellent prognosis. However, a small subset has poor outcomes, including secondary spread in the body (metastasis) and death. The investigators will look at existing CSCC in people from two UK dermatology centres. The investigators will then evaluate the accuracy of current staging systems in predicting risk of poor outcomes in people. The investigators hope that this project will improve the management of patients with CSCC by validating the predictive power of currently available histological staging classifications for cSCC. In the second stage of the study, The investigators will see whether better prediction tools can be found.

PROTECT-C is a research study offering genetic testing to people to see whether they have a genetic change that increases their risk of breast, ovary, bowel, and/or womb cancer. This is regardless of whether they or their families have had cancer. Breast, ovary, bowel, and womb cancers make up half of all cancers in women. Around 15-20% (15 to 20 in 100 cases) of ovary and 3-4% (3 to 4 in 100 cases) of breast, womb, and bowel cancers are linked to cancer genes and may be prevented. People with a genetic change that puts them at increased risk of any of these cancers have ways to help them manage their risk through the NHS. This may include screening to find cancers earlier when they are easier to treat, and surgery or medication to prevent cancers from developing. This can save lives. Currently, genetic testing is only available on the NHS to people who meet certain criteria. For example, those who have had certain cancers, have a strong family history of cancer, or those with Jewish ancestry. But many people may not have a strong family history or meet NHS testing criteria. This means that this system of testing misses 50% to 80% of people (50 to 80 in 100 people) who have a genetic change. It is thought that only around 3 in 100 people overall who have a genetic change that increases their risk of cancer know about it. Given the effective screening and preventive options that are available, this represents a huge, missed opportunity to prevent cancers or find them earlier. The PROTECT-C study aims to evaluate the option of offering genetic testing to everyone who may want it. This is regardless of whether they or their families have had cancer. We will offer genetic testing to 5000 people. People may take part if they: * Are over the age of 18 years and * Are a woman, trans man, or non-binary person with female reproductive organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes, and/or a uterus) and * Have never had genetic testing for the cancer genes tested for in the study and * Do not have first-degree family members (e.g.: parent, sibling, child) or second-degree family members (e.g.: aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandchild, grandparent, half-sibling) with genetic changes in the cancer genes tested for in the study PROTECT-C is a completely digital study. The study team will give participants access to an app developed specifically for this study. They can download this app using a smartphone or tablet or access it on any internet browser using a computer or laptop. Before they can access the app, participants will need to complete a consent form. They will also be asked to fill in a short questionnaire about themselves and their health. The PROTECT-C app contains information to help participants decide if they would like to have genetic testing. If they decide to have genetic testing, they will complete a consent form for genetic testing on the app. The study team will send them a saliva based test kit in the post. The study will look at how many people decide to have genetic testing and how many of them are found to have a genetic change. It will evaluate their experience with using the app and how this approach to genetic testing affects their quality-of-life, satisfaction, and mental well-being. This will give us a better understanding of how well the app works as a way of offering genetic testing to people. The study is interested to see how people found to be at increased risk decide to manage their risk. We will assess the uptake of screening and prevention options. Few participants will be invited to have 1:1 interviews by the study team. This will evaluate their experience of making a decision about genetic testing and taking part in the study. Taking part in these interviews is optional. The study will also assess if this way of offering genetic testing to people is affordable for the NHS.

This is an observational clinical study aiming to further the wider understanding of patients who develop persistent pain after Thoracoabdominal Aorta surgery, a surgical cohort who are disproportionately affected. This will be undertaken through a prospective biopsychosocial characterisation of the phenotype of patients undergoing this operation. Increasing numbers of patients are undergoing surgery on the chest for treatment of heart or lung cancer disease. Over the last twenty years, the medical community has become increasingly aware of the long-term effect of this surgery in producing persistent pain, approximately half of all survivors are still in pain around their surgical incision at three months postoperatively and beyond. There is currently no accepted method for preventing this phenomenon. The nervous system mechanisms for the development of persistent pain after surgery are unclear. Some studies suggest it may involve the patient's ability to dampen down pain signals travelling from the incision site to the brain. Humans have an in-built system that produces opiates as well as other pain-relieving molecules in response to injury, e.g. surgery. However, this response varies hugely from person to person and may even be impacted by the psychological state of the individual at the time of surgery. Some of these pain modulating mechanisms can be measured before and after surgery in patients using sensory testing, a robust and established objective method to assess patients'. Identifying patients who are most at risk of a persistent pain state will allow both academics and clinicians to investigate and better target appropriate treatments. Undertaking these longitudinal observational assessments will facilitate an improved mechanistic insight of the transition from acute to pathological pain, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients'.