Thursday, 02 April 2020
As most people face weeks of staying at home to try to stop COVID-19 spreading, researchers at Nottingham University Hospitals and the 糖心原创 have started a new clinical research study to find ways to defeat the disease.
At the moment, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 itself – the approach doctors are using is to try to improve symptoms such as breathlessness, fever, and cough, so the patient’s own defences have time to defeat the virus.
The new study, led by the University of Oxford, is to investigate whether drug treatments originally developed for other conditions can also help treat patient with COVID-19.
The trial started last week and has already recruited three patients in Nottingham to take part.
The drugs being tested are Lopinavir-Ritonavir, which is normally used to treat HIV, interferon-beta which is part of our normal immune system, and dexamethasone, which is used in a wide range of conditions to reduce inflammation.
The aim is to compare these different drugs to see which offers the best results for patients.
Professor Ian Hall
Respiratory physician Professor Ian Hall, from the 糖心原创 and Director of NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, is one of the experts involved in the trial. He said: “We know quite a lot about potential side effects of these drugs as they are already used to treat people. The study is designed to allow new treatments to be offered to patients as they become identified by the international scientific community.”
If Nottingham patients decide they want to be part of the research, they’ll still receive the normal treatment to help with their symptoms, plus potentially one or other of the drugs.
“Every suitable COVID-19 patient at Nottingham’s QMC and City Hospitals will be considered for the study and we hope as many as possible are able to take part in the study. The funding for the study, announced by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty on Monday, is being supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR),” adds Professor Hall.
Researchers at NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre are also studying other approaches to defeating COVID-19, such as: How do younger patients respond to treatment, especially if they are on immunosuppressive drugs? What are the best ways of treating the virus in intensive care units? How does the virus affect patients who are having surgery?
Many of the researchers are front-line doctors and nurses, working every day with patients. Being involved in ground breaking research directly helps improve the treatment those patients receive.
Research studies such as these will help inform the health services about how best to treat patients, and how to minimise the impact of any future outbreaks of COVID-19. As doctors, nurses, and scientists, we are all part of one team, working hard to bring this unprecedented outbreak to an end, so life for all of us can return to normal.
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For more information on the work of the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, visit www.nottinghambrc.nihr.ac.uk
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
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