COVID-19 research in Wales
The following Coronavirus COVID-19 related research studies are active or are in set up in Wales:
Open and recruiting – Urgent Public Health (UPH) studies
PANORAMIC is a UK-wide clinical trial to find COVID-19 antiviral treatments for recovery in the community. The study aims to investigate treatments that can help people with COVID-19 symptoms get better quickly and stop them needing to go to hospital.
Open in: Wales wide
The COVID 19 Clinical Neuroscience Study COVID-CNS
Addressing the urgent need to understand the biological causes of neurological and neuropsychiatric complications in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.
Open in: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
CCP-Cancer UK: Clinical Characterisation Protocol for Severe Emerging Infections in the UK (CCP-UK) – a prospective companion study for patients with Cancer and COVID-19.
Open in: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board.
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial
The Randomised Evaluation of COVID Therapy (RECOVERY) trial will test if existing or new drugs can help patients hospitalised with confirmed COVID-19.
Open in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Velindre University NHS Trust
This study will provide rapid, coordinated clinical investigation of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. It will look at how the virus reproduces and is excreted by the body, how the body responds to infection and treatment over time and how the immune system responds. The study has been designed to ensure that as much data as possible is collected and shared rapidly in a format that can be easily added together, tabulated and analysed across many different settings globally. It is designed to be flexible to ensure the best acceptance by health care organisations.
Open in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Powys Teaching Health Board
Suspended in: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
REMAP-CAP: a platform trial for severely ill patients with COVID-19
A randomised controlled trial for patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). This trial studies a number of different treatment categories under one platform with an aim to determine the best package of treatment for patients.
Open in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS)
Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes of Pandemic Influenza in Pregnancy.
Open in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board
Evaluation and refinement of pandemic influenza community assessment tools (FLU-CATs)
Real time refinement and validation of criteria and tools used in primary care to aid hospital referral decisions for patients of all ages in the event of surge during an influenza pandemic.
Open in: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Powys Teaching Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Genetics of susceptibility and mortality in critical care (GenOMICC)
Our genes determine how susceptible we are to life-threatening infection. When a patient is already sick, different genetic factors determine how likely they are to survive. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Susceptibility and Mortality in Critical Care) study will identify the specific genes that cause some people to be susceptible to specific infections and consequences of severe injury.
Open in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
RECOVERY - Respiratory Support
This study is aiming to determine if continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) is clinically effective compared to standard care (excluding CPAP or HFNO).
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Completed in: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Neonatal Complications of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Study
This is a national surveillance programme using the standard British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) approach. This study will run alongside and be cross-linked with the maternal surveillance study run through the United Kingdom Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS; CPMS: 14162), which is already in progress.
Open in: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes in COVID-19
To better understand some specific research questions as to how COVID-19 affects early pregnancy, fetal growth, prematurity and virus transmission to the baby the researchers will construct a registry of women with suspected and confirmed COVID-19.
Open in: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Platform Randomised trial of INterventions against COVID-19 In older peoPLE (PRINCIPLE)
The trial aims to give a rapid answer about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in modifying the disease course of COVID-19.
Open: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Suspended in: Welsh Ambulance Service Trust
Completed in: Powys Teaching Health Board
This study has been open to recruitment since October 2019, and forms part of an NIHR programme grant called 'Reaching Everyone: Programme of Research on Violence in Diverse Domestic Environments' (REPROVIDE). It has been repurposed in light of COVID-19 as the victim support and signposting services to partners and ex-partners, and the identification and monitoring of abusive men that are provided within the context of the study are vitally important services to continue.
Open: Wales wide
ImpaCt of bioLogic therApy on saRs-cov-2 Infection and immuniTY
This study will provide an evidence base for safer prescribing of immunomodulator and biologic drugs in the COVID-19 era and inform public health policy regarding physical distancing measures, and future vaccination strategies. Although this study will define risk in IBD patients, there are potentially important lessons to be learned for millions of patients across the UK with other immune mediated diseases treated with similar therapies.
Open in: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Multi-centre EuRopean study of MAjor Infectious Disease Syndromes: Acute Respiratory Infections in Adults
The aim of this study is to find out why some people become much more ill than others when they have acute respiratory infections. More information about how different people respond to the agents that cause respiratory disease will allow us to better predict how bad the infection is likely to be and to develop treatments specific to that particular patient. This could reduce disease severity and the risk of complications and also reduce the need for hospital admission.
Open: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study: a national consortium to understand and improve long-term health outcomes
A comprehensive patient-centred holistic study is required to determine the chronic health and health economic sequelae of COVID-19 infection in post-hospitalisation survivors. This will define demographic, clinical and molecular biomarkers of the susceptibility and inform our understanding of the impact of interventions during the acute illness. These will guide consequent in-depth studies to inform precision medicine in at risk groups by directing new clinical trials and care for current and future post-COVID-19 patients. The study will continue to link to participants clinical data for at least 25 years or until the patient has deceased or withdrawn consent.
Open in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Understanding community incidence, symptom profiles, and transmission of COVID-19 in relation to population movement and behaviour.
Virus Watch is UK's largest and most comprehensive household community study of its kind. This study will follow up over 40,000 participants. This study will follow up over 40,000 members of the public all over England and Wales using regular online surveys of symptoms and behaviour as well as an optional secure movement tracking app. A group of 10,000 participants, will be tested for COVID-19 infection and subsequent immunity. The information will be used to build a detailed picture of how the virus spreads and how the public behave. The information will be shared with participants, health service and public health planners and the general public to help minimise the impact of the virus.
Open in: Swansea Bay University Health Board
Closed in: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Completed in: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board
Basil+ Behavioural Activation for Social IsoLation
Behavioural Activation helps people look at the link between what people do and how they feel, and then what changes they can make to improve their health and wellbeing.
Closed in: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Biomarker-guided duration of antibiotic treatment in hospitalised patients with suspected sepsis.
The aim of this study is to find out whether the duration of antibiotic treatment given to patients with sepsis can be safely reduced following the close daily monitoring of biomarkers. The lack of research on when to stop treatment safely can lead to an overuse of antibiotics in this condition. Antibiotic overuse is important because it promotes bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics (antimicrobial resistance), which means that sepsis and, indeed, other infections would become difficult to treat in the future.
Open in: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Phase III trial of inhaled anti-viral (SNG001) for SARS-CoV-2
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III trial to determine the efficacy and safety of inhaled SNG001 for the treatment of patients hospitalised due to moderate COVID-19.
Closed in: Swansea Bay University Health Board
The trial aims to recruit patients who test positive for COVID-19 but who have mild disease and therefore can treat their symptoms in the community. The primary aim of this trial is to determine if Camostat can reduce the clinical progression of COVID-19 and therefore the need for hospital admission and supplemental oxygen. Secondary aims include collection of patient reported health status, severity of symptoms and biological markers of the virus.
Suspended in: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Closed in: Velindre University NHS Trust
Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and prevalence of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in the UK general population as assessed through repeated cross-sectional household surveys with additional serial sampling and longitudinal follow-up.
The Covid-19 pandemic is having a profound impact across the UK. This study aims to find out how many people have the infection, and how many are likely to have had the infection and to find out how infection and immunity changes over time.
Open in: Wales wide
Facilitating Accelerated CLinical evaluation Of Novel diagnostic tests for COVID-19
The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of a number of commercially available tests for diagnosing COVID-19 infection within hospitals. Accurate diagnosis of infection, identification of immunity and monitoring the progress of the infection are of great importance to our response to COVID-19. Widespread population testing has proved difficult in western countries and has been limited by availability of tests, staff availability and long turnaround times (up to 72 hours). This has limited our ability to control the spread of infection and to develop effective ways to ensure early self- isolation of infected patients and early treatment for those most at risk. Industry has developed a number of new in vitro (outside the human body) diagnostic tests. To take advantage of the potential benefit of those tests we need effective assessment of the tests.
Completed in: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
RAPTOR-C19 - RAPid community Testing fOR COVID-19
Expanding national RAPid community Test evaluation capacity fOR COVID-19
The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a number of point-of-care tests (POCTS) for active COVID-19 infection in the community setting. POCTs can be used in community settings where there is no easy access to a specialist laboratory. They provide quick results that allow people to get immediate advice about self-isolation and treatment, potentially blocking further spread of infection in the community. Accurate rapid diagnostic tests are important so that people are not falsely reassured when they are infected and are not wrongly diagnosed when they are not really infected. GP practices in the network will quickly compare new POCTs for COVID-19 with laboratory tests so we can see how good the new POCTs are in a coordinated and efficient way.
Suspended in: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
PRONTO v1.0 - Procalcitonin and NEWS2 evaluation for Timely identification of Sepsis and Optimal use of antibiotics in the Emergency Department
PRONTO is a study funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) run by University of Liverpool and Cardiff trials unit looking to improve assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department using a 20 minute test. We want to reduce the amount of unnecessary broad spectrum antibiotics used with a minimum of no change in mortality.
Open in: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
HElping Alleviate the Longer-term consequences of COVID-19: a national platform trial
This study will assess several different treatments that may be of benefit in reducing or preventing the complications that patients with COVID-19 are reporting after their acute illness. HEAL-COVID is a large platform clinical trial designed to assess whether several different treatments are better than the current "standard of care" (the best available evidence-based treatment). In practice, this means the study will be flexible enough to include new treatments not specified at the start of the trial as our understanding of COVID-19 changes.
Open in: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Coronavirus infection in immunosuppressed children
This study is designed to allow families of immunosuppressed children and young people to self-record their experiences of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses during the COVID-19 epidemic. Information will be collected and analysed weekly to look for anything that appears to increase the chances of severe disease.
Closed in: Swansea Bay University Health Board
Demographic, multi-morbidity and genetic impact on myocardial involvement and its recovery from COVID 19: a UK national study (The COVID-HEART Study)
Up to 1 in 5 patients hospitalised by COVID-19 have evidence of heart muscle injury as measured from a blood test. This is associated with a high death rate. Using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the heart) we will look at how often, and in what way, the heart becomes damaged, and how the heart recovered 6 months later.
Closed in: Swansea Bay University Health Board
SIREN - SARS-COV2 immunity and reinfection evaluation
The impact of detectable anti SARS-COV2 antibody on the incidence of COVID-19 in healthcare workers
The aim of this study is to find out whether healthcare workers who have evidence of prior COVID-19, detected by positive antibody tests, compared to those who do not have evidence of infection (negative antibody tests) are protected from future episodes of infection. We will recruit healthcare workers to be followed for at least a year and study their immune response to the virus causing COVID-19. We will do this by collecting data on their history of COVID-19 infection and any new symptoms. Through this study, we will provide this very important information which will help us to understand the future impact of COVID-19 on the population.
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Velindre University NHS Trust, Powys Teaching Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board
Pandemic Respiratory Infection Emergency System Triage (PRIEST) study
Pandemic Respiratory Infection Emergency System Triage (previously: The PAINTED study: Pandemic Influenza Triage in the Emergency Department).
Closed in: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
This is a clinical trial, in which participants are randomised to one of a number of potential new treatments for COVID-19.
Closed in: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board