Derbyshire firefighters to support national research response by delivering research kits to county residents

COVID-19 patients in Derbyshire are amongst the first in the country to take part in a new researchstudy, as part of the national response to the ongoing pandemic.
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Research into COVID-19 is helping experts to learn more about the disease and to explore the effectiveness of different treatments, as well as to enable the development of a vaccine.

The PRINCIPLE study has been established to rapidly evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments that could stem the progression of COVID-19 symptoms in older people and help ease the burden on hospitals.

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The study, managed nationally by Oxford University’s Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, is one of 32 that has been given urgent public health research status by the Department of Health and Social Care and is now being supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Station Manager, Nathan Stevens is delighted his force could help patients in Derbyshire.Station Manager, Nathan Stevens is delighted his force could help patients in Derbyshire.
Station Manager, Nathan Stevens is delighted his force could help patients in Derbyshire.

The NIHR was established in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research, and is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The new study is jointly funded by NIHR and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of £20 million of funding made available to researchers to understand more about the disease, test the effectiveness of treatments and develop a vaccine.

GP practices in Derbyshire will be supporting patients to take part in the study, which is currently investigating whether an existing drug, hydroxychloroquine, can prevent the disease from progressing.

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The drug has previously been used to treat conditions such as malaria and arthritis, and this study will soon test the effectiveness of other drugs.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service have been delivering vital research kits to coronavirus patients across the region.Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service have been delivering vital research kits to coronavirus patients across the region.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service have been delivering vital research kits to coronavirus patients across the region.

The study takes place in the community, with patients receiving the drugs and vital study information at home. As COVID-19 patients are being asked to isolate, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is delivering the necessary items to patients to enable them to take part.

Dr Simon Royal, CRN East Midlands Specialty Lead for Primary Care research, said: “We’re delighted that GP practices and patients across the East Midlands are involved in vital research into COVID-19.

“It is only by conducting research that we can properly understand COVID-19, which will enable us to develop treatments and vaccines for it.

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“We need as many people as possible to take part in COVID-19 research and we are incredibly grateful to all patients and healthcare professionals for their commitment to research at this extraordinary time.

“I also want to thank the fire service for going above and beyond and helping us to deliver this research, which shows how people and organisations across the county are coming together to support each other.”

Station Manager, Nathan Stevens from Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support this valuable work by delivering research kits to patients.

“These will hopefully prove invaluable in helping to further the research studies as part of the national response to COVID-19.”