The research team at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recruited one of their oldest patients into an anaemia clinical trial.
The ASCEND-ND trial is a randomised trial looking to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Daprodustat drug, compared to the Darbepoetin Alfa drug, in the treatment of anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease in non-dialysis patients. Daprodustat is a medicine that increases the production of erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidneys promoting the formation of red blood cells that carry oxygen to where it is needed. This is not currently used as a treatment for anaemia or any other condition anywhere in the world.
The patient, a 92 year old gentleman, has been enthusiastic and inspirational about his involvement in the study and with research more widely. He said that that: “By being part of the research study, I am not only contributing towards science but also helping myself as I have the opportunity to be looked after by the research team on a regular basis. If the results of this drug are good, I might get direct benefit from it, and if not, then that information will still be useful to help future generations.”
Sonia Raj, Senior Research Nurse at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are always proud of our contribution to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) that constantly thrives for new ways to improve the existing medical treatment and provide quality care to the patients.” “This gentleman was impressed with the care and attention he received by our research nurses at the NIHR Lancashire Clinical Research Facility, that have always cheered him up at every visit.” “We are very proud to recruit patients like this who are not just an inspiration to the public but help to motivate and encourage the research team, reminding us why we do our job. We welcome people into our facility to help the research team here in finding new approaches and helping us to build a better tomorrow together.”
The NIHR Lancashire Clinical Research Facility, based at Royal Preston Hospital, was opened officially in November 2017 and is the only NIHR CRF in Lancashire. The centre provides patients in the Lancashire and South Cumbria area with the opportunity to be involved in clinical research across a wide range of health topics and conditions.
Karen Partington, Chief Executive at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “As a leading research centre, research is extremely important to us to enable us to offer our patients and their families the high quality of care that they deserve.” “We are delighted that we are able to play such a big part in innovation and in developing ground-breaking treatments and results for the future through involvement in such clinical trials.”