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Clinical Trials Facility

Scientist working in lab

The Gastroenterology and Hepatology Clinical Trials' Facility is a four-bed facility for conducting clinical trials in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases. It is located on ward 6b of the  John Radcliffe Hospital  alongside the gastroenterology day case facility.  

Background

There is a strong tradition of experimental medicine and clinical research in Oxford Gastroenterology, since Sidney Truelove conducted the first ever clinical trial in Gastroenterology in 1955 of corticosteroids for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Oxford is extremely well placed to conduct clinical trials at a local, national and international level, owing to well-defined patient populations and internationally known Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists specialising in inflammatory bowel disease and hepatobiliary medicine. 

Highlights for Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary clinical trials in Oxford

  • Well-defined patient cohorts in ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, coeliac disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), short bowel syndrome, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). 

  • DeLIVER consortium – a large national programme of research aimed at characterisation and early identification of Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC)  

  • Large catchment population (620 000 secondary care, tertiary referral centre, total 14500 outpatients and 12500 endoscopies/ year) providing ready access to patients with common gastrointestinal disorders other than the chronic disease cohorts, including irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease and sphincter Oddi dysfunction 

  • Integrated service with colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and transplant surgical units, with involvement in novel surgical therapies including bariatric surgery and small intestinal transplantation 

  • Integrated clinical service and basic science, with expertise in mucosal immunology, proteomics, T-cell and Paneth cell function, allowing 'value added' research to clinical trials by examining biomarkers or mechanisms of action, either in vitro or ex vivo 

  • Potential for in-house development of novel therapeutics, devices, and techniques providing a stream for early phase trials 

  • Well established links with global decision makers in Pharmaceutical companies at both clinical and scientific levels 

  • International representation by members of the Unit on NICE committees, the Board of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization Scientific Committee (www.ecco-ibd.eu); as Chief Investigators of more than 10 clinical trials and developing new metrics for measuring trial outcomes 

  • Location within the day case unit, on level 6 of the John Radcliffe Hospital below the ward area on level 7, and above the laboratories (both clinical and basic science) on level 5. 

Income

The CTF has two sources of income from studies: 

  1. Commercially funded studies, through the Nuffield Department of Medicine. 

  1. UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) 'Portfolio' studies, through the Thames Valley local clinical Research Network. 

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