Observational studies

Observational studies involve researchers observing participants and recording data without administering an experimental intervention or randomizing treatments. Please contact us to express interest in any of these studies.

ARMADILO - AcceleRated community Multi cAncer DIagnostic evaLuatiOn platform 348402 64367

Recruitment closes October 28

ARMADILO is a single-arm, prospective, multi-centre observational cohort study. Eligible patients will be identified by their GP when referred for blood tests to investigate non-specific symptoms. Participation will involve one study visit — either at their standard phlebotomy appointment or, where supported, via a home visit or at another community setting.

A mixed-methods component will examine how multi-cancer tests are implemented in GP practices. This will include site observations, informal discussions, and interviews with staff and patients to understand processes and experiences of delivering the tests in routine care. Recruiting Sites will be selected to participate in this component at a later date. 

Following recruitment completion, a retrospective Data Utility Comparison Study (DUCkS) will be conducted to assess the future feasibility of data driven recruitment.

ARMADILO is the first evaluation of a multi-cancer diagnostic test in primary care. 

Aim: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of multi-cancer tests in primary care. 

Requirements:

• Identify eligible participants on presentation/Search database for recently presented eligible participants/Search phlebotomy lists for eligible participants. The first discussion of possible cancer testing must be conducted by the patient’s GP or other appropriate member of the patient’s direct care team. 

• Qualified staff (GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, administrators) to screen based on the eligibility criteria, during or after appointments

• Confirmed eligibility to be documented in REDCap. Completing the eligibility form in REDCap generates an electronic consent form. Patients can only enrol once.

• Log maintained of eligible patients who decline participation (with reason if given) and those that are subsequently ineligible (e.g. unable to give blood after consent).

• Consent to be documented electronically in REDCap. Staff obtaining consent must be GCP trained.

• Baseline data to be collected on REDCap

• Blood samples (up to 100 mL) shipped to the University of Oxford for processing and storage.

Payments:

Research Costs

One of costs

SIV - £132

Per patient costs

CRF completion (including data transfer and query resolution) - £47

Blood Collection - £7.07

Specimen dispatch - £11.75

Service Support Costs

Per participant costs

Eligibility check - £20.67

Obtaining Informed Consent - £17.67

EPIC-PC (Equitable Palliative Care in the Community through Primary Care)

Recruitment closes 31/10/26

This study aims to improve palliative and end-of-life care for patients and families living in highly deprived areas by exploring how integrated primary and palliative care approaches can enhance support. The study is currently recruiting into the following work packages:

Work Package 1.1:

• • interviews with patients and family members/carers to understand priorities and preferences for care.

  • case note reviews to examine services accessed

  • target 40-45 patients +/- carers across North and North East, Yorkshire and Humber

Work Package 1.2:

• • a national survey informed by interview findings, focusing on care priorities in areas of high deprivation

Work Package 2:

• • interviews and focus groups with health professionals in 3 regions – including the North East – followed by an economic evaluation of a proposed integrated model of palliative care and workshops with stakeholders

Requirements: This study is targeted  at Deep End practices or other practices that are in areas with high levels of deprivation.

Work Package 1.1 - database search, eligibility check, mailout

Work Package 1.2 - database search, mailout

Work Package 2 - mailout to health professionals

Payments:

Service Support Costs for Work Packages 1.1 and 1.2 (payments for sites that take part in 1 of the work packages only)

• database search - £46.42

• check list for exclusions - £135

• opportunistically approach eligible patients - £5.80 (per patient)

Additional payment for sites that take part in both work packages:

• database search - £11.61

• check list for exclusion - £45

Service Support Costs for Work Package 2

• Consent - £8.83

Research Costs for Work Packages 1.1 and 1.2 & Work Package 1.2

• Mailout/ Text out - £33 

Research Costs for Work Package 2

• health professionals will receive a gift voucher

PANACEA (PAN Alimentary Cancer Exhaled Breath Analysis)

This study has multiple work packages which aim to develop a breath test which will help to detect gastrointestinal cancers earlier. The breath test is hoped to detect small molecules called volatile organic compounds that are made by GI cancers. This work package aims to investigate the views of GPs, pharmacist and other healthcare professionals on the breath test by conducting semi-structured interviews. 

Participants will receive £50 for their time.

NHS Winter Pressures

Recruitment closes: ongoing, throughout the year

There are major gaps in our understanding of how winter pressures affect GP practices and care provision. There is an urgent need to clarify what “winter pressures” means to primary care, whether through changes in number or availability of appointments, patient mix, reasons for attendance, or changes in chronic disease management. Determining when a practice starts experiencing excess pressure is critical to designing strategies to prevent downstream consequences of such pressure. 

Requirements: The practice must use TPP SystmOne. 1 staff member per practice can fill out the 2-minute survey every 2 weeks. Ideally, it should be the same staff member who completes the survey each time.

Payments: SSC: The total time commitment for this study is about 5 minutes per month, or about 1 hour per year:

● 5 minutes onboarding

● 2 minutes to complete the survey * 26 surveys, sent every two weeks for a

Year

For each survey complete £5.80 so if complete all surveys in 1 year will get

£150.80

Opioid tapering support

The research team is looking to find out how they can better support patients and primary care clinicians during discussions around opioid tapering, and would like your help in 2 ways:

• by completing this 2-minute survey

• by volunteering to be part of a focus group

Discussions around opioid tapering can often be challenging for clinicians and overwhelming for patients, so the research team is looking to develop a tool to help patients express their concerns more effectively. In addition, the team is looking to provide GPs and pharmacists with tailored resources that will make these conversations more structured, allowing for amore efficient and focussed discussion around patients' concerns, treatment goals, and pain self-management.

The team is looking for GPs and pharmacists to participate in a focus group to develop the tool and make sure it is fit for purpose. The focus group should last 45–60 minutes, with participants receiving a £50 Amazon voucher for their time.

Please contact Sanda van Kruining Kodele and Jane Quinlan to volunteer. They are also looking for practices who might help them trial the tool once developed.