East Midlands enrols over 100,000 people to take part in NIHR research

A total of 103,592 people took part in research supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) East Midlands in 2023/24, new figures show. 

They were recruited into 940 studies across a range of specialties in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire. 

In the last 12 months, participants have taken part in research across a range of settings including their local GP practice, hospitals, dentists and pharmacies. 

Examples of the studies which participants volunteered include:

Study: The ACTION study

Specialty: Children

This study tests a program for young cancer patients (ages 13-24) during treatment. It examines whether short, regular bursts of physical activity, called "activity snacks," based on the Snacktivity program, can help reduce common treatment side effects like fatigue, pain, and nausea.

Study: MiFoot RCT

Specialty: Diabetes

The MiFoot RCT is a research study that will test a programme designed to improve heart health in people with diabetes and diabetes-related foot ulcers. MiFoot programme aims to help people to better manage their condition, receive the most up to date care and be more physically active.

Study: DECODE

Specialty: Mental Health

The aim of this research is to apply machine learning approaches to identify clusters and trajectories of multiple long term conditions in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and to utilise that information to develop actionable insights and practical Artificial Intelligence usage scenarios for effective care coordination to improve the health and wellbeing of people with ID. 

Study: Accessing lung cancer care in urban and rural settings

Specialty: Cancer

A qualitative interview study in urban and rural settings trying to understand the impact of distance and disadvantage on lung cancer care and outcomes with research looking into how patient-related factors, such as personal circumstance and location relative to specialist lung cancer services, contribute to this variation.

Across the full portfolio of studies last year, participants were recruited at:

• General Practices (GPs) across the East Midlands: 47,673
• East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust: 621
• Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 317
• Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust: 10,320
• University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: 13,450
• University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust: 7,279
• Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust: 449
• Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 204
• Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 6,040
• Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: 3,479
• Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust: 1,848
• Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 1,599
• Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust: 206
• Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: 2,104
• United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust: 1,850
• Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust: 4,974
• Lincolnshire Community Health Service NHS Trust: 106
• Non-NHS Activity: 1,073

The NIHR is the nation's largest funder of health and care research. In England, 1,045,282 people took part in NIHR-supported research in 2023/24.

We would like to express our thanks to all of the research participants across the East Midlands who have taken part in NIHR studies. Your dedication and commitment are invaluable to the progress of health and care research, driving us closer to groundbreaking discoveries and improved treatments.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved, visit the Be Part of Research website, where you can find and search for research opportunities taking place in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.