Our studies

Here is a selection of just a few of the clinical trials led here from Norwich

EASE – Evaluating Antidepressants for emotionaliSm after StrokE: A multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to establish the effect(s) of sertraline (50 mg once daily) in people with post -stroke emotionalism

Chief Investigators: Prof Niall Broomfield & Dr Kneale Metcalfe

One in every five people with stroke will have some degree of emotionalism by 6 months. Having emotionalism means you cry, or laugh, without warning, when it is inappropriate, and impossible to stop or control. Emotionalism negatively affects the quality of people’s day-to-day lives. People with persisting emotionalism after stroke may experience distress, embarrassment, negative beliefs, anxiety, and avoid social situations.

Antidepressants (drugs to treat depression) have been tested to see if they help emotionalism after stroke but only in a small number of trials and we are not confident they were conducted to a sufficiently high standard to establish that the treatment is safe and effective. This means we do not know yet whether antidepressants can help treat emotionalism, or whether they cause more problems.

We wish to establish whether administering the antidepressant Sertraline (50mg once daily) in people with a recent stroke and post-stroke emotionalism is a safe, effective, and cost-effective strategy for treating post-stroke emotionalism in the NHS.

TIPAL: The effectiveness and risks of Treating people with Idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis with the Addition of Lansoprazole, a randomised placebo-controlled multi-centre clinical trial

Chief Investigator: Prof Andrew Wilson

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a disease which results in damage to the lung tissue. It is characterised by progressive loss of lung function (measured by breathing tests) and increasing breathlessness. It is incurable and there are few available treatments. It is thought to occur because of tiny “scars” (which we call fibrosis) that develop throughout the lungs.

These breathing tests include spirometry assessments, which measure the amount of air you can breathe out and how fast you can blow it out. Spirometry tests can be carried out at hospital, GP surgeries or your home provided you have the correct equipment and appropriate training. These tests are completed regularly to monitor lung function.

Previous research suggests idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses slower if patients regularly take anti-acid drugs (like lansoprazole) and they may be likely to survive longer. Such drugs reduce acid which is thought to cause the scar formation and/or may directly reduce the amount of scar tissue. This is why people are often prescribed these drugs, but we don’t really know if they benefit patients; the aim of our study is to find this out.

CHARMER – CompreHensive GeriAtRician led MEdication Review

Chief Investigator: Prof Debi Bhattacharya

CHARMER is a five year England-wide research project to develop and test an approach to increasing discussions with older hospital patients (over the age of 65) about stopping medicines that are no longer useful and could be harmful. This is called proactive deprescribing.

This is important since as we get older, our bodies are less able to handle some medicines. Medicines that were once effective and safe, may no longer work as well but could still cause side effects. Our research shows that most older people want their medicines reviewed while in hospital.

We aim to help ensure that older people who take a number of medicines have them all considered whenever they are admitted to hospital for any reason.

To find out about some of the other studies are taking place in NNUH please search here Be Part of Research