BRC News

People with MS and researchers at Queens Square have worked together to produce a film telling the human story of clinical research.

A large international trial involving UCL and UCLH has found that pembrolizumab, a form of immunotherapy, more than doubled the progression free survival time of patients with a specific subtype of advanced bowel cancer, when compared with chemotherapy.

UCL has announced a new collaboration with Cerveau Technologies, which will enable UCL to manufacture and distribute the imaging agent called [18F]MK-6240.

UCLH is to trial the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in healthy staff volunteers.

UCLH Research Directorate has begun the process of reopening studies paused during the Covid-19 pandemic.

UCLH was the top recruiter of patients to studies on the NIHR portfolio last year in the North Thames area – the NIHR region which includes 23 NHS Trusts and 20 Clinical Commissioning Groups in parts of London, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Breathing aids developed by engineers at UCL, UCLH and the Mercedes F1 team have been delivered to 40 NHS hospitals.

Pioneering research suggests that currently the public should not fear contracting Covid-19 from hospital staff, who appear to be at low risk of infection by patients.

Trial to see if a drug suppresses overactive immune system response.

UCLH now has 24 active Covid-19 research studies – up from nine at the beginning of the month – with another 9 under consideration or being set up.

Doctors are used to ordering tests for patients – such as bloods or MRI scans – but they will now test out a platform where they can order the analysis of large-scale data relevant to an individual patient and treatment decision they face, with results returned within clinical timescales.

The study is looking at how children with immune problems or on immune-suppressant drugs will respond to Covid-19.

Some people seem to experience a highly overactive immune response that may be putting them at risk.

A study which quickly identifies the cause of a patient’s pneumonia is being re-purposed to help in Covid-19.

The ultimate aim is to contribute to the development of a vaccine.