Applicability of Platform Studies
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has transformed the UK clinical research sector and infrastructure in the way clinical trials are delivered. Changes have been made to the ways we do research on platform trials and the UK, such as RECOVERY, REMAP-CAP and PRINCIPLE which have performed comparatively well recruiting into clinical trials, enabling the system to transform its ways of doing things7 . This is in part due to the simplicity of their protocols, and the willingness of the research community to support these studies for the greater good.
Scoping the applicability to deliver Platform studies for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) research
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. Currently drug resistant infections contribute to ~700,000 deaths globally each year. The WHO state:
‘The clinical pipeline of new antimicrobials is dry. In 2019 WHO identified 32 antibiotics in clinical development that address the WHO list of priority pathogens, of which only six were classified as innovative.’
Definition of AMR
The definition used here follows the discussions made by O’Neil and will give clinical utility and power to the outcomes anticipated from an AMR platform approach to deliver clinical studies.
‘Antibiotics underpin all medicine. The AMR debate needs to consider everything to do with antibiotics including those measures to limit their use including better diagnostics, development of vaccines, safe water, environmental management etc. "
This definition encompasses all microbial life (viruses, parasites, bacteria, fungi).
Delivery of AMR research in the UK
Traditionally the delivery of AMR research in the UK has focused on stewardship trials, with previous plans and visions outlined for the UK to see antimicrobial resistance contained and controlled by 2040.
To date, the NIHR has awarded some £121 million6 for research into antimicrobial resistance. The collaboration between the NIHR CRN and the NHS has allowed research with global impact, supporting important research looking at better ways of using antibiotics, stewardship, vaccines and new diagnostics.
Development of platform approaches to support studies Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) across the UK, bridging primary and secondary care
Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is an enormous health burden in the UK. Recent epidemiological data (out with the Covid19 pandemic) demonstrates that average daily consultations in Primary Care for ARI are between 48.2 and 75.2 consultations per day per 100,000 population. This equates to around 40,000 consultations per day in the UK for ARI.
Further project details to come....