COVID-19 information
Paediatric research studies have continued along with additional studies to compare treatments for children and young people with COVID-19.
Additional risk assessments have been incorporated for more vulnerable children and young people. We aim to avoid additional hospital visits or monitoring by using facilities away from acute wards to keep participants safe and collect robust research data.
Specialist paediatric research nurses from the Paediatric Research department coordinate high quality research across a range of specialities. The team works closely alongside research active clinical colleagues, which includes:
- doctors
- nurses
- physiotherapists
- dietitians
- pharmacists
- laboratory
We offer children, young people and families the opportunity to be involved in research wherever possible. We support all volunteers and families throughout their involvement in our research studies. All studies that we support are ethically-approved and conducted according to UK requirements for clinical research.
The Paediatric department is a regional centre for a number of paediatric specialities such as:
- neuromuscular illness
- immunology
- infectious diseases
We also have departments caring for children with:
- diabetes
- respiratory illness
- general paediatrics
- level 3 neonatal care
The Paediatric Research team has close links with pharmaceutical and academic sponsors and have experience supporting phase II and III studies.
Common conditions and trial topics
The Paediatric Research team has an active research profile covering a number of specialities.
Neuromuscular
Heartlands Hospital is a national Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) hub with support from Duchenne UK to increase research opportunities. We have a number of studies offering drug therapy to young people with life-limiting illness such as spinal muscular atrophy and DMD as well as observational studies looking at long term outcomes.
Infectious diseases
Regional HIV and TB services provide research opportunities in new medication and the impact of health conditions on children, young people and families. We also have close links with the Children's HIV Association (CHIVA) and the MRC Centre.
Immunology
Current studies are exploring the progress of severe immunological conditions and the long term outcomes of treatment programmes.
Diabetes
The Diabetes service supports a large cohort of children and young people. Current research is studying the incidence, development and progression of type 1 diabetes in the paediatric population and the incidence of maturity onset diabetes of the young.
Neonatal
Our busy level 3 Neonatal Unit allows research to be conducted with close links to the Neonatal Perinatal Epidemiology Unit. Current research is exploring new medicines to treat patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and observational studies to explore outcomes of different treatments to inform future evidence-based practice.
Contact information
Last reviewed: 27 October 2021