Here at Royal Preston Neonatal Intensive Care Unit we are committed to clinical research and are active in research trials.
Meet our Research team
/Emma%20Hullock.png)
Emma Hullock
Neonatal Staff Nurse / Research Nurse
/Richa%20Gupta%20(square%20resized%20image).png)
Dr Richa Gupta
Neonatal Research Lead
/Natalie%20Morgan.png)
Natalie Morgan
Neonatal Sister / Research Nurse
Our research nurses are neonatal nusres who work in a dual role capacity as a clinical and research nurses Sometimes you will see them in the clinical setting looking after your baby and other times you will see them recruiting babies for clinical trials.
Why do we need research?
As doctors, nurses and multi-disciplinary health care professionals, we dedicate ourselves to continually striving to learn about how we can improve the way we care for you and your baby. Clinical research enables us to deliver the highest standard of care that will provide the best health outcomes. The evidence that comes from research trials helps the NHS to develop and support new approaches to care delivery that are safe and effective, this may be in the form of:
- A new drug or therapy that treats or even prevents certain conditions
- A new device / equipment that allows us to treat your baby more effectively
- A new test that allows us to give you more accurate information about your baby’s condition
Are clinical trials safe for my baby?
All clinical trials conducted on the neonatal unit have been assessed by an ethics committee to ensure that they are safe for your baby to participate in.
How do you know my baby is suitable for a trial?
All trials have certain criteria, that must be met, to be able to enrol a baby onto a trial. Our neonatal consultants and the research team are extremely knowledgeable of these criteria and every morning and evening, the medical team discuss each babys care on the ward round. Current research trials are discussed as part of this ward round and babies that meet the criteria are highlighted. If your baby fits the eligibility criteria for any of our current research trials, you will then be approached by a member of the research team, or one of our neonatal consultants, who will provide you with a participant information sheet or leaflet and will discuss the trial with you in detail.
Does my baby have to be part of a trial?
Once we have explained the trial and you have read all the relevant information and feel fully informed we will will then seek your written consent for your baby to participate. All research trials are strictly voluntary, so there is no need to feel pressured to give your consent. If you have any questions about the trial please always ask a member of the team and we will be happy to go through all the information with you to alleviate any concerns. You may also withdraw your consent at any time.
What will the trial involve?
Some trials involve a new medicine, an existing medicine being used in a different way or for a different health concern, a placebo, a medical device or it may be simply collecting anonymised information about your baby’s care. It is important to remember that your baby’s safety is of the highest importance to us at all times.
What happens after the trial?
All data collected during the trial is sent to a central research centre along with other particpating neonatal units data. Reports are then published on the data collected and recommendations made.
"We should not protect children from research; instead we should use research to protect children."
Our current Neonatal Research Trials - click on each trial below for more information.
- Surf On Trial
The Surf On trial is open till 31/08/2025 for all babies who are admitted to the neonatal unit from 34+0 to 38+6 gestation with respiratory distress needing non-invasive support
Babies born even a few weeks early may not be fully developed and may have breathing problems, which can be severe. Some need to go onto a breathing machine (ventilator) soon after birth; others do not, but still need some help with breathing. They often go onto 'non-invasive' breathing support, which means that machines give oxygen through soft, short tubes in the nose or small masks over the nose.
The lungs of healthy full term babies produce surfactant, a substance that makes it easier for them to breathe. Babies born early often do not make enough surfactant, or their natural surfactant does not work properly. We can give a dose of surfactant into the lungs, down a small tube in the windpipe and we do this in many babies born more than 10 weeks early.
At the moment, there have been no research studies into the timing of giving surfactant in babies born closer to term with breathing problems, so we have no guidance on how best to treat these babies. For this reason, we would like to know if it is better to give surfactant early, when a baby first starts to have problems, or wait and see if they will improve without it.
- WHEAT Trial
The WHEAT Trial is open till the 30/12/2025 for all babies born less than 30 weeks that require a blood transfusion.
Some babies who are born early can develop a bowel disease called necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) which can be serious and can have long-term effects on how babies grow and develop.
We want to know if feeding babies or not feeding babies while they have a blood transfusion changes the number of babies that get NEC.
The WHEAT Trial will compare two different approaches to see which is best.
Click here for more information regarding WHEAT trial
- KPI - NW Trial
The KPI - NW Trial is open till the 31/10/24 for all babies requiring antibiotics on transitional care:
We are doing research to investigate a new way to decide if newborn babies are at risk of serious infection. Newborn babies can develop serious infections which can make them extremely unwell and, in some cases, can cause death or disability.
This study is investigating a new, more individualised method to assess the risk of infection in babies. Our hope is that we can provide improved, safer care to babies and their families.
- Neo Gastric Trial
All babies born 6 or more weeks early who need tube feeding will be included in the study.
If you do not wish your baby to be part of the NeoGASTRIC study please talk to the doctor or nurse caring for your baby.
The study is looking at whether routinely measuring gastric residual volumes (checking what is in the stomach before feeds) helps babies safely get to full feeds more quickly.
The study is comparing 2 ways of caring for babies having tube feeds., both ways are standard care commonly used in neonatal units across the UK.
1. Routinely checking what is in the stomach before feeding (routine measurement of gastric residual volumes)
OR
2. Not routinely checking what is in the stomach before feeds (No routine measurement of gastric residual volume)
For more information please visit: https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/neogastric
