Research Recruitment
In this area of the website, it will be possible to find details of current and forthcoming research including those where people with eczema and their carers can participate. See below for contacts, links and further information - and do check back for new initiatives as we hear of them.
LEAP Study
What is the LEAP Study?
Children’s allergy specialists at Evelina Children's Hospital, part of Guys and St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust are conducting the LEAP Study to determine how to best prevent peanut allegy in children.
Who can participate?
The LEAP Study is seeking infants less than 11 months old who have been diagnosed with eczema egg allergy or both. Participants must be willing to attend study visits at St Thomas Hospital.
Still have questions? If you are interested in seeing whether your child is eligible to participate in the LEAP Stud, please call the LEAP Study Information Line: (Freephone) 0800 234 6522. (Mon-Fri, 9am- 9pm GMT.)
http://www.leapstudy.co.uk
UK Dermatology Clinical Trials
The aim of the UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network (UK DCTN) is to conduct high-quality, multi centre, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that answer questions of importance to clinicians and patients. Visit http://www.ukdctn.org to get information on ongoing trials as well as those in development and those completed. To contact the Network, email: UKDCTN@nottingham.ac.uk or visit the website for relevant phone numbers.
National Collaborative for Children's Integrated Healthcare
The National Collaborative for Children's Integrated Healthcare is looking for input from those that suffer with eczema. The Collaborative is a group of primary and secondary care clinicians working in partnership with those planning, commissioning and providing services for children.
Their aim is to focus on the gap in health services for children that lies between primary and secondary care. This includes unplanned services for acutely unwell children, and planned care for children with long-term conditions.
They are seeking information on what prompts young people, children and the parents and carers of children with eczema to use services in the ways that they do. The researchers are particularly interested in the views of young people between the ages of 13 and 21. If you would like to take part, you can download the survey here and email it to Dr Schiller at the address below.
The Collaborative welcomes interest and membership from professionals and public either as interested supporters, committed questioners, or healthcare communities wishing to pilot a Children's Integrated Healthcare centre. Please send your reply to: drschiller@email.com. For more information, visit: http://www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/childrensintegratedhealthcare.html
Water Softeners Study
Scientists are currently running a clinical trial to see if eczema in children can be improved by deliberately softening all water used in the home. The Softened Water Eczema Trial (SWET) is the first large randomised clinical trial in the world to test this. The trial is being run by Professor Hywel Williams and his research team at the Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, and is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Programme.
If ion-exchange water softeners are found to improve the symptoms of eczema, this will be an extremely important finding for both patients and doctors. Many patients worry about the possible side effects of the usual treatments for eczema, so this would be a welcome addition to their treatment options.
What does the study involve?
Ion-exchange water softeners are installed in the homes of all participants, and all water softened, except at a small faucet-style tap in the kitchen that supplies mains water for drinking. Children are randomized into one of two groups and each group has the water softener installed for a different period of time (either four or twelve weeks).
How can I help?
120 children were recruited to the study in its first year and the research team is seeking a further 190 volunteer families to come on board during 2008. The research team is looking for children aged between six months and 16 years who suffer from moderate to severe eczema. Families must be willing to travel to one of the study centres for eczema assessments which take place four times over the 16 week study period. These are based in Nottingham, Leicester, Boston/Lincoln, Cambridge, NE London (Enfield), Portsmouth and Newport on the Isle of Wight. Participants are allowed to use their usual eczema treatments during the study period, but are asked not to start any new treatments if medically possible.
How do I find out more?
Further information about the trial can be found on the study website www.swet-trial.co.uk or by emailing swet@nottingham.ac.uk or phoning Karin Koller (Trial Manager 0115 846 8623). The team is also happy to answer any questions from potential participants and would welcome the opportunity to discuss the process in more detail.
Involvement Opportunity - Cambridge
The NHS in the east of England has just carried out a major review and consultation to produce a ten year strategy – Towards the best, together
In order to implement the challenging intentions of the strategy we are setting up a series of Programme Boards and we are looking for someone with or affected by a long term condition (LTC) to Co Chair the Long Term Conditions Programme Board.
The time commitment would be equivalent to 1 day a week and be based mainly at the Strategic Health Authority offices in Fulbourn, Cambridge.
The person appointed will work closely with Clinical Co Chair of the LTC Programme Board and be instrumental in driving the implementation of Pledge 7 We will improve the lives of those with long term conditions.
Closing date – Monday November 24 2008
Interviews will be held on the morning of Friday 5 December 2008
The first meeting of the LTC Programme Board will be 1-4pm, Thursday 11 December, 2008
For further information and discussion about the role, please contact Heather Ballard on 01223 597668
For information pack and application process please contact Helen Sykes via email on hr@eoe.nhs.uk or by telephone on 01223 597636 quoting reference number eoe1142
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