Research

We support research delivery to improve your care

St Peter's Health Centre actively supports clinical research studies within primary care.

The NHS Constitution recognises research as a core function of the NHS. Clinical research plays an important role in driving innovation and is central to NHS practice, helping to maintain and develop high standards of patient care. Ultimately, clinical research can give patients access to new treatments, interventions and medicines. Investment in research also helps to provide better, more effective and cost-efficient care for patients.

National Institute for Health and Care Research

The NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) was introduced to provide the infrastructure needed to support high-quality research within the NHS and ensure that studies can be set up and delivered efficiently and effectively.

St Peter's is part of the NIHR South East Regional Research Delivery Network. To find out more about their work, please visit their website.

research
How can you help and take part?

There are several ways that patients may be invited to become involved in research studies at St Peter's Health Centre:

  • A doctor or nurse may speak to you about a particular study and ask whether you would be interested in taking part
  • You may receive a text message from the practice or a research sponsor such as a university asking whether you would like to participate in research
  • You may receive information through the post if we feel you may be a suitable participant for a particular study
  • You may see information about a current study in the patient waiting room or on the practice website and decide that you would like to take part by contacting your GP

All research studies the practice decides to take part in are discussed by the GP partners and the practice only agrees to take part where we conclude data will be used responsibly and safely, and the research will benefit our patients.

Taking part in research is entirely voluntary, and you can withdraw from a study at any time without having to give a reason.

You are under no obligation to take part in any research project.

Your care and your relationship with your doctor or other healthcare professional will not be affected in any way if you decide not to take part in a research study.

You will always be given clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain further information before deciding whether you would like to participate.

If you agree to take part in a study, you will be asked to sign a consent form. This will clearly explain which parts of your medical records, if any, may be accessed for the purposes of the research study. Nobody from outside the practice will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your prior consent.

Research Changes Lives

Research can save lives, help develop new treatments and support people to live healthier and happier lives for longer.

Doctors, nurses and other health and social care professionals learn more through research. However, this is only possible when people—including children and young people—take part in research studies.

In fact, nearly three quarters of a million people took part in health and social care research last year.

Why take part?

There are many reasons why you might consider taking part in research:

  • You may want to help improve health and care for everyone, or because someone you care about has an illness or health condition
  • If you have an illness or condition, you may have the opportunity to try a new treatment or intervention
  • You may learn more about your condition and how it is managed
  • Some studies may provide additional monitoring of your health
  • You will help researchers discover important new information that could benefit patients in the future

If you would like to find out more about research opportunities, please speak to your doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional. You can also explore our research pages for information about current studies and how you can take part.

Upcoming research studies

TRANSFORM

The TRANSFORM study is a once in a generation, UK-wide study involving over 300,000 participants over the next 20 years, to find the best ways to test for prostate cancer in the community. Currently, most men are not routinely tested for prostate cancer as part of a national screening programme. The TRANSFORM study is collecting best evidence to see the best ways of screening for prostate cancer and whether a more widely accessible national 
screening programme is warranted in the UK. 

The study is testing different prostate screening pathways, including PSA blood tests, a quick, non-invasive MRI (called a Prostagram) and genetic tests, alone and in combination, to find the optimal screening and diagnostic pathway for people with prostates. This will help us to see if we can catch and diagnose prostate cancer earlier.

CAPTURED

Some illnesses are rare or hard to spot, and people living with them can wait years and see many doctors before they get the right diagnosis. This study aims to shorten that wait so patients can start the right treatment sooner. GP practices taking part will use a computer tool to look through health records and find patients who may be at higher risk of one of these conditions, and the practice team will get extra support to offer those patients a test.

Over five years, the study will look at three things: whether this approach leads to more patients being tested and diagnosed, how well practices are able to get in touch with patients about testing, and how many patients choose to go ahead with a test when it is offered. Only GP practices that have signed up to the study are involved.

CARE-UK (click to register your interest)

This study wants to find out whether a combined asthma inhaler called budesonide-formoterol can help prevent asthma attacks in children aged 6 to 11. The inhaler already works well for older children and adults, but it isn't yet offered to children under 12 because there hasn't been enough research in this age group. It is a two-in-one inhaler: one medicine quickly opens up the airways to ease symptoms, and the other is a steroid that calms the swelling inside the airways that causes asthma. It can be used only when symptoms appear, or every day to keep asthma under control as well as to relieve symptoms. The study will compare this inhaler with the asthma treatments children currently use, to see how well it works, how safe it is, and whether it offers good value for money.

PROMMIS

Most women go through symptoms during and after the menopause. Hot flushes and night sweats are usually worst in the first four to seven years but can last more than ten, while vaginal and urinary symptoms often get worse over time. Other common changes include poor sleep, mood swings, problems with memory or concentration, lower sex drive, weaker bones, more fat around the tummy and changes that affect overall health.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) containing oestrogen is the most effective treatment for many of these symptoms, and for most women under 60 who started the menopause less than ten years ago, the benefits are thought to outweigh the risks. However, most past research has only included certain groups of women without serious health problems. Women with severe obesity, high blood pressure that isn't under control, heart disease or a recent cancer diagnosis were usually left out, and there is very little evidence on how well HRT works and how safe it is for women from ethnic minority backgrounds or those facing money or social difficulties.

This study will bring together information from large numbers of women with menopause and related conditions from centres across the country, to better understand their experiences and improve how the menopause is diagnosed and treated.

TRANSFORM

This General Practice will be supporting a research study called TRANSFORM

We are helping identify people registered with us to take part in a large study called TRANSFORM. TRANSFORM is being run by Imperial College London and funded by Prostate Cancer UK and the UK government’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

 

What is TRANSFORM?

TRANSFORM is a study that will try to find the best way to detect prostate cancer early. The study will help the NHS decide whether a national screening programme for prostate cancer should be introduced in the future.

 

Who could be invited?

Invitation letters are being sent to selected men aged 45 to 74. If you are invited, you will receive more details about the study and can decide if you would like to take part. The invitation will come from your GP practice on behalf of Imperial College London. If you choose to take part, you will be asked to give your consent.

 

Whose health records will be used?

The study will also use information from NHS records for some men who:

·       have not been invited

·       are eligible, but do not respond

This information is used in a secure and confidential way. The information will provide valuable evidence for the study. You do not need to do anything unless you wish to opt- out.

 

Don’t want your data used in TRANSFORM?

If you don’t want your health information to be used for TRANSFORM, you can opt-out at any time. Opting out will not affect your NHS care or your ability to take part in other screening programmes or studies in the future. To opt-out, please contact the TRANSFORM study team directly by email, phone or post:

 

Email: imperial.transformstudy@nhs.net

Phone: 020 7594 6002

Post: TRANSFORM Study Team

Imperial Clinical Trials Unit

1st Floor, Stadium House

Information:

Page last reviewed: 23 September 2026
Page created: 18 November 2022