Video Library

There is growing interest in the possibility of using blood tests to detect cancer. If such tests become available, they could transform how we diagnose and look after people with the disease. This offers exciting possibilities, but also many potential pitfalls. Blood tests could be used to screen apparently healthy people for cancer, to decide who should have more tests, or even replace scanning as a means of monitoring the effects of treatment or whether cancer has come back. In this talk, Professor Mark Middleton, Director of the Cancer Research UK Oxford Centre, explains how we are developing these tests and assessing their use in clinical trials. Sue Duncombe, a member of the Oxford Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Group, talks about this development in early cancer detection from a patient perspective. The talk was held on Tuesday 29 November 2022.

Stroke is the second largest cause of death worldwide, responsible for over six million deaths each year. A common cause of stroke is carotid artery disease, which can be treated in one of two ways: carotid artery surgery; or having a stent fitted, with a view to improving blood flow to the brain. Until recently, it has been unclear which of these procedures results in better overall patient outcomes. To answer this question, researchers at Oxford Population Health at the University of Oxford have coordinated the Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial 2 (ACST-2), the largest trial to date comparing the outcomes of the 2 procedures. In this talk, research fellow and consultant vascular surgeon Richard Bulbulia will discuss the findings of the ACST-2 trial and whether patient factors favour one approach over another when treating those at risk of a stroke.

In this talk, Luke Jostins Dean, associate professor and Sir Henry Dale fellow at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, talks about his research into the relationship between anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome, and whether there is a genetic link. Luke discusses the outcome of a large survey about digestive and mental health, completed by over 170 thousand volunteers, and what it has told us about the relationship between IBS, mental health and genetics.

Kazem Rahimi, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Population Health, gave an online public talk about his research into whether lowering blood pressure can help to prevent type 2 diabetes, and the extent to which a person’s blood pressure or their treatment affects their risk of developing diabetes.

Patients and members of the public from the Oxford and Oxford Health BRCs’ Diversity in Research Group provide advice and insights to researchers about working with people from diverse communities. This event in March 2022 was attended by 60 researchers and members of the public.

When we involve patients, carers and other members of the public in our research – including them in the design and delivery of our clinical trials and studies – it improves it and ensures it benefits the people and communities who need it most. It is even more important that the voices of people from diverse and under-served communities are heard when we are designing our studies. In this video, researchers explain how involving patients and members of the public from different communities has added value to their research and made it more effective.

When we involve patients, carers and other members of the public in our research – including them in the design and delivery of our clinical trials and studies – it improves it and ensures it benefits the people and communities who need it most. It is even more important that the voices of people from diverse and under-served communities are heard when we are designing our studies. In this video, patient and public involvement and engagement contributors explain the value they have brought to research studies.

Poor outcomes in delirium: finds from an observational cohort of over 1,700 unselected acute medicine patients

A commitment to provide equal opportunities for all and address any barriers to diverse and inclusive patient and public involvement (PPI) in research seems a non-disputable moral good. But why is unequal access to PPI morally problematic? Is the absence of marginalised or seldom heard groups always wrong? What are the ethical standards that a health researcher should follow when designing, implementing and assessing their PPI strategies? This webinar was presented by Dr Sapfo Lignou.

On 29 April 2021 leading clinicians and scientists from the Oxford Translational Gastroenterology Unit will present on the latest research into the causes, treatment and monitoring of Crohn’s and Colitis.

In line with its aim to have the public and patients at the core of its research, the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has been working with a group which includes teenagers, young adults, carers and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The project is part of the development of a new strategy and had a particular focus on making health research accessible. Group members had a range of experience of health services; including learning disabilities, autism, cancer and mental health services. They were supported by BRC staff and long-standing contributors. The group reviewed materials such as advertisements and handbooks, researcher talks and webinars. They explored the BRC’s website, giving insight into what worked well and where improvements could be made. They made useful recommendations on issues such as: accessibility for a range of audiences and how and where patients and public feature in content. If you would like to get involved in the BRC’s research, or to learn more about it, please email: GetInvolved@ouh.nhs.uk

This production outlines the lymphoma research currently being undertaken in Oxford. We hear from both patient and clinician participants in clinical trials. The production covers: 1. The importance of taking part in research for both patients and clinicians 2. The scope of research 3. Collaboration and teamwork in research 4. The advantages of being part of a clinical trial If you would like further information please check out the following links: Oxford BRC Haematology: https://oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/research-themes-overview/haematology-and-stem-cells/ NIHR https://www.nihr.ac.uk Oxford lymphoid disorders study group https://www.cancercentre.ox.ac.uk/research/consortia/oxford-lymphoid-disorders-study-group/ EPCTU https://www.oncology.ox.ac.uk/research/srf/early-phase-clinical-trials-unit Oxford Centre for Haematology https://www.rdm.ox.ac.uk/about/our-clinical-facilities-and-mrc-units/och

In this event on 22 March 2021, a panel of clinical academic researchers discussed their experiences in research, the benefits of clinical academic roles and how we can improve support for these career pathways. Speakers: Chair: Dr Helen Walthall, Director of Nursing and Midwifery Research and Innovation at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NMAHP Education and Training Lead for the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Dr Cathy Henshall, NIHR CRN Associate Director of Nursing (70@70), Reader at Oxford Brookes University and Head of Research Delivery at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Kay Mitchell, NIHR 70@70 Senior Nurse Research Leader, Academic Career Development Lead at NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and Associate Director at Southampton Academy of Research Dr Louise Strickland, Clinical Academic Nurse Researcher, Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner, Department of Spinal Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Jacqueline Birks, Senior Medical Statistician, presented this webinar on 19 March 2021, which provides an introduction to statistics in health and medical research with examples from COVID-19 studies.

Parliament Science and Technology committee session: 15 September 2020 Subject: The science of COVID-19 Discussion: How research from the PHOSP Consortium and the NIHR-BHF Cardiovascular Partnership will help better understand Covid-19 susceptibility, risk factors and sequelae Speakers include Sonya Babu-Narayan (BHF Associate Medical Director), Kamlesh Khunti (Prof. at the University of Leicester and member of the PHOSP Cardiovascular Working Group that the Partnership leads) and Prof. Chris Brightling (Chief Investigator of the PHOSP Consortium)

In this talk from 16 March 2021, Prof Mona Bafadhel discusses her recent research on the use of inhaled corticosteroids (usually used for asthma and COPD) to reduce the chances of severe respiratory illness in COVID-19 patients. Mona Bafadhel is Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Oxford and a Consultant Respiratory Physician. Her research focuses on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a set of conditions that cause the airways to become inflamed and make it harder for patients to breathe. In this event, Mona talks about: – The background to the STOIC study (Steroids in Covid Study) – Early clinical observations that respiratory disease was an infrequent finding in people hospitalised with COVID-19 – Early laboratory findings that viral replication seemed to be reduced by inhaled corticosteroids – What we already know about asthma, COPD and viruses – The STOIC Study design – who was eligible to volunteer – What happened during the study – The study outcomes – primary and secondary endpoints – Data on the study volunteers and their symptoms – Results of the study – primary and secondary endpoints – Strengths and limitations of the study – Q&A More information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04416399 https://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/team/mona-bafadhel

This webinar provides an introduction to finding and reading a health research paper. It has been designed for patient and public involvement volunteers. The webinar was presented by Dr Thomas Kabir, who leads the Public Involvement in Research programme at the McPin Foundation, on 3 December 2020.

This webinar was presented by Dr Nikki Newhouse from the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences on 25 November 2020. In this presentation, Nikki talks about what qualitative research is (and isn't!) and why it matters for healthcare; she uses examples from her experience to illustrate how we might go about designing good qualitative studies with clear research questions, focusing on best practice in data collection, analysis and presentation. Dr Nikki Newhouse is a postdoctoral researcher in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, where she works as a qualitative methodologist alongside a diverse multidisciplinary team drawn from the clinical trials, engineering, health psychology, human factors and medical communities. Her primary research interest is in human-computer interaction, in particular the development, evaluation and implementation of complex digital interventions to support physical and psychological wellbeing across the lifespan. She uses qualitative and participatory design methods to explore how and why people use (and don’t use) technology 'in the wild'.

Julia Hippisley-Cox, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and General Practice at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, will discuss her research into risk prediction models for a range of diseases, including COVID-19, and how these tools can be used to improve healthcare and support the NHS.

Andrew Pollard, Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity at the Department of Paediatrics and Oxford BRC Co-Theme Lead for Vaccines speaks about the development of a vaccine candidate for COVID-19 and the progress of its clinical trials.