We are committed to improving the care we give to women and birthing people, which is why we offer our patients the opportunity to get involved in clinical research studies. Through research, we can:
understand which treatments are most effective for women and birthing people
increase our knowledge to optimise the care and advice we offer to service users
assess what is acceptable to patients and identify areas where specialist support is needed
All of our research studies are approved by Research Ethics Committees (REC) within the Health Research Authority, which means they are ethically and scientifically sound and meet the highest possible standards for patient safety. The majority of our studies are funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, with some projects funded by commercial companies or grants.
Evidence shows that research-active hospitals have better care outcomes for patients (Jonker & Fisher, 2018), and our Trust is among the most productive in the UK for maternity research. Across our two sites, we have more than 20 women’s health and pregnancy-related studies running at any one time.
Being involved in research is optional. If we offer you the chance to take part, you will be given written information and plenty of time to ask questions and find out more before you decide.
Current maternity research studies
PANDA
Aim: To understand if iron supplements taken from early pregnancy to prevent anaemia, rather than treat it, will improve neonatal and maternal outcomes.
Recruitment: Non-anaemic pregnant women less than 15+6 weeks pregnant.
Aim: To determine the proportion of women who do not require induction of labour within two days of intervention with the medication mifepristone.
Recruitment: Pregnant women who are between 36+5 and 41+5 weeks’ gestation and are booked for induction of labour. Participants will be randomised to receive either mifepristone or a placebo in addition to the standard of care.
Aim: To understand how the vaginal microbiome, the range of bacteria present, and the metabonome, the chemical interaction between microorganisms and the host, are involved in preterm birth.
Recruitment: Pregnant women between 12+0 and 16+4 weeks’ gestation who are at higher risk of preterm birth.
ImmunoCOVID
Aim: To investigate how pregnancy and vaccinations influence the development and duration of immune responses to COVID-19 and other vaccines, compared with non-pregnant individuals.
Recruitment: Pregnant and non-pregnant women aged between 18 and 50 years old who are planning to have the flu, COVID-19 or RSV vaccine.
Bariatric study
Aim: To assess maternal glucose metabolism in women with previous weight loss surgery, and investigate its association with fetal growth and neonatal body fat distribution of the offspring.
Recruitment: Pregnant women between 12+0 and 14+0 weeks’ gestation with a history of bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, or with a BMI greater than 35.
The Generation Study
Aim: Genetic screening of newborns for more than 200 conditions shortly after childbirth. Pseudonymised data will also be collected as part of this study, which may help researchers develop new treatments for rare conditions.
Recruitment: Pregnant women aged over 16 who are having a single pregnancy, with no twins or triplets.
