The Clinical Research Group need you
Clinical Research Group is a collaborative initiative between the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUHFT), with support from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Volunteers wanted
We are inviting individuals to participate in impactful clinical research studies aimed at improving the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting women's and reproductive health. Your participation is crucial in helping us discover more effective solutions that could transform healthcare for women everywhere.
By volunteering, you'll be contributing to cutting-edge research that may lead to better outcomes for countless others.
If you’re interested in making a difference, we’d love to have you on board! For more information and to find out if you’re eligible, please contact us today.
Your involvement could have a lasting impact on improving the lives of women and future generations.
About CRG
The Clinical Research Group (CRG) is a multidisciplinary team, comprising of doctors, midwives, nurses, scientists, researchers, and support staff.
We deliver high-quality, inclusive research in women’s and reproductive health, advancing evidence-based care globally through dedication and adaptability, with a patient-centred approach. For further information, visit our NDWRH Clinical Research Group webpage.
Clinical research areas
We are conducting clinical studies in the following key areas of women’s health:
- Gynaecological Health
- Fertility studies
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy with Complications
- Postnatal Care
To learn more about each study, please visit the relevant section below. Once you've explored the details, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us to let us know which study you're interested in, and we'll be happy to provide more information and guide you through the next steps.
Fibroids and Endometriosis
Who can participate?
Premenopausal women from Oxford over 18, who are scheduled to have laparoscopic surgery for the diagnosis or removal of endometriosis/fibroids and hysterectomy.
Aims
The FENOX study aims to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of endometriosis and uterine fibroids and their associated symptoms to improve the outcome of affected women. Read more
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose FENOX from the list.
Adolescent Period Pain
Who can participate?
Young people aged 11-20 years old who have periods and do not take hormone medication.
Aims
The Roadpain study aims to understand the role of adolescent dysmenorrhea (period pain) as a risk factor for chronic pain. We will use what we learn about the long term risks of period pain, including how long it takes for experiencing period pain to increase your risk of chronic pain, to make sure period pain is taken seriously and to produce advice and guidance for those with period pain, health professionals, policy makers and educators. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose RoADPain from the list.
Fertility & miscarriages
Who can participate?
Women aged 39 or under attending clinics for fertility issues, including miscarriages.
Aims
The PIP Study aims to find out how a woman’s blood and endometrial immune cells affect the likelihood of an IVF cycle working and whether or not they are different in women with subfertility, miscarriages and implantation failure.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose PIP Study from the list.
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
Who can participate?
Diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency, between 18 and 40 years old. Not intending to become pregnant within the next 12 months and willing to stop HRT/COC for a minimum period of 4 weeks prior to randomisation.
Aims
The POISE study aims to find out what is the best treatment for women with POI in the short and long term. Women with POI are treated with either the combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Both are recommended treatments and there are benefits and risks of each treatment. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose POISE Study from the list.
Endometriosis Recurrence
Who can participate?
Women with recurrent pain following surgical treatment of endometriosis.
Aims
The REGAL study aims to find out whether using Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone Analogues (GnRHa) with added Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can improve the quality of life for women by controlling pain when compared to repeat laparoscopic surgery to treat endometriosis. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose REGAL Study from the list.
Antyiphospholipid syndrome
Who can participate?
Women with antyiphospholipid syndrome who are planning a pregnancy, aged 18 to 44.
Aims
The HYPATIA study aims to find out whether hydroxychloroquine may help improve pregnancies in women with antiphospholipid antibodies. Participants are randomised to receive either hydroxychloroquine or placebo throughout their pregnancy in addition to their usual medications, and pregnancy outcomes are compared.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose HYPATIA Study from the list.
ultrasound or fetal cardiology scan
Who can participate?
Anyone 18 years old and above having routine obstetric ultrasound and or fetal cardiology scan.
Aims
The CAFIE study aims to create an AI ultrasound system which can recognise the difference between a healthy and unhealthy fetal heart using machine learning. Detection of congenial heart defects during pregnancy allows early diagnosis and planning for treatment post-delivery.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose CAIFE Study from the list.
Ultrasound
Who can participate?
Anyone over 18 years old, attending their scan appointment 11 – 14 weeks pregnant.
Aims
The PURE-FIRST study is working to create automatic ultrasound systems requiring minimal control by a health professional so that the scan machine will automatically identify and take measurements of babies. This study will benefit women living in disadvantaged areas where there is a lack of skilled ultrasound operators, meaning scans are not available as part of routine clinical care. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose PURE-FIRST Study from the list.
Singleton Pregnancies
Who can participate?
You need to be pregnant, have an NHS number, aged 16+, not be having twins/triplets, not be a surrogate or planning to give the baby up for adoption, and be registered with a GP in England.
Aims
The GENERATION study has two main goals: find rare genetic conditions early, so affected babies can get treatment fast and learn more about genes and health, so we can improve testing and treatment for genetic conditions in the future. Find out more.
Sign up during pregnancy. A blood sample from your baby will be collected shortly after birth to test for 200+ conditions and you will receive results a few months later. The blood sample and data will be stored and used for approved healthcare research. When your child is around 16 years old, we'll ask them if they’d like to stay in the study. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose GENERATION Study from the list.
Early pregnancy
Who can participate?
Anyone over 18 years old and less than 16 weeks gestation who is non-anaemic at booking or screening with a singleton pregnancy. Read more.
Aims
The PANDA study aims to understand the effects for women and babies if we give low-dose iron supplements during pregnancy to prevent anaemia.
Around a third of UK pregnant women develop anaemia caused by lack of iron. Anaemia may mean that women experience general health problems such as excessive tiredness. Severe anaemia during pregnancy might increase the risk of a baby being stillborn, born early, or born small. It may also increase the risk of blood loss during childbirth and affect a baby’s development, but there is a lot of uncertainty.
We know that treating anaemia after it develops does not reduce all the risks. We therefore want to find out whether we can prevent anaemia in the first place by giving iron tablets.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose PANDA Study from the list.
FNAIT and Pregnancy
Who can participate?
Pregnant women aged 18 or over, between 8 and 15 weeks of gestation (based on ultrasound), who have had at least one previous pregnancy affected by fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopaenia (FNAIT). Additional eligibility criteria apply.
Aims
The FREESIA-3 research study is evaluating an investigational medication for pregnancies at risk of FNAIT — a rare immune disorder that can affect unborn babies. The study aims to advance understanding and treatment options for this condition, potentially improving outcomes for mothers and their babies.
Next steps
To learn more or express interest in taking part, please complete our contact form and choose FREESIA-3 from the list.
Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus
Who can participate?
Women between 13+0 - 16+6 weeks gestation and either have a history of severe HDFN in a prior pregnancy OR there is a presence of maternal alloantibody to RhD, Kell, Rhc, RhE, or RhC antigen with titers above the critical level in a current pregnancy.
Aims:
The Azalea study aims to help doctors and scientists understand if the study drug named nipocalimab is safe and useful for treating pregnant adults at risk for severe Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN). Participants will be in the study for about 55 weeks from the day they agree to participate in the study. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose Azalea Study from the list.
Pre-eclampsia
Who can participate?
Pregnant women over 16 years old with a viable intrauterine pregnancy at a gestation of 22 weeks or less, deemed to be at high risk of pre-eclampsia by their clinician.
Aims
The aim of the CaPE trial is to find out whether taking calcium tablets, alongside usual antenatal care, reduces the risk of developing pre-eclampsia.
Participants are randomised into taking either a calcium supplement or a placebo from study enrolment to birth. Pregnancy outcome data are collected by the study team. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose CaPE Study from the list.
Pre-eclampsia & Diabetes
Who can participate?
Anyone over 18 years old with pre-eclampsia.
Aims
The MRC study aims to find out more about what causes pre-eclampsia and how to predict it. We compare the results of certain tests on blood, urine and placental samples from pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and those without. We also study blood and urine from non pregnant, healthy women.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose MRC Study from the list.
Diabetes & other conditions
Who can participate?
Anyone with type 2 diabetes (T2D), over 16 years old and less than 14 weeks gestation. HbA1c of ≥43 mmol/mol (6.1%) in pregnancy. Willingness to use the study devices throughout the trial.
Aims
The purpose of the PROTECT study is to examine whether using continuous glucose monitoring leads to improved glucose levels and better baby outcomes in pregnant women with type 2 diabetes. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose PROTECT Study from the list.
Cleft Palate
Who can participate?
Women whose babies have received a diagnosis of cleft palate/lip during their pregnancy.
Summary:
The Cleft Collective is the world’s largest cleft lip and palate research programme. We are developing two cohort studies. We will follow each family as their child grows up and keep in touch along the way. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose The Cleft Collective from the list.
Twins
Who can participate?
Anyone over 18 years old diagnosed with sFGR in a monochorionic diamniotic (MC) pregnancy between 16+0 and 23+6 weeks gestation.
Aims
The UK has approximately 11,000 twin pregnancies per year with a third of these sharing a placenta (MC twins). MC twin pregnancy presents extra risks to both the mother and the babies, with some babies dying during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Often this is due to a complication called selective Fetal Growth Restriction (sFGR), where one twin is smaller than the other. The FERN study aims to gain a better understanding of the outcomes for sFGR in MC twin pregnancies managed in a variety of ways. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose FERN Study from the list.
Inflammatory arthritis study
The study is designed to find out whether it is better for women who are pregnant with inflammatory arthritis to continue taking their biologic medication throughout pregnancy or to stop by 28 weeks gestation.
Across the UK, we aim to involve 328 women in the MAMA study. During the pregnancy, we will ask to complete questionnaires to report on arthritis symptoms. Read more.
Baby Scan
Who can participate?
All babies undergoing newborn NIPE screening. Recruiting is taking place on level 5 (postnatal ward). Read more.
Aims
The DIvO study aims to find out if digital imaging is a more accurate method of detecting cataracts in newborn babies than the current technique using an ophthalmoscope (a medical eye torch)
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose DIvO Study from the list.
Breastfeeding
Who can participate?
Women in the third trimester of pregnancy, who are intending to breastfeed and residing in the Oxfordshire area.
Aims
Hormones such as prolactin and progesterone play a major role in the breastfeeding process and trigger the onset of milk production within the first few days after childbirth. However, the hormone levels required to stimulate milk production are unknown. At LRF OCEHL we are running this vital study to develop normal ranges for milk producing hormones. The INSIGHT study will help us understand why some breastfeeding mothers have delayed milk production or produce limited quantities of milk. Read more.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose INSIGHT Study from the list.
Pre-term births
Who can participate?
Anyone over 18 years old who had a spontaneous preterm birth between 16+0 and 36+6 weeks of gestation in either their current or previous pregnancies. This includes preterm births complicated by PPROM regardless of whether the subsequent preterm birth was spontaneous or iatrogenic
Aims
The PRESTIGE study aims to find out which genetic features in people from different ethnic backgrounds are linked to Spontaneous Pre-Term Birth, using Whole Genome Sequencing technology. We hope that our study can help us better predict and understand Spontaneous Pre-Term Birth, so that health complications can be avoided or reduced.
Next steps
Complete our contact form and choose PRESTIGE Study from the list.
Recruitment closed
Data is currently being analysed for the following studies and no longer require participants.
COPE
The Carboprost or Oxytocin Postpartum haemorrhage Effectiveness Study
Who can participate? Those 16 years and over of age and who require medical treatment for primary PPH
Summary: The aim of this study is to compare intramuscular Carboprost 250mcg with intravenous Oxytocin 5 IU for caesarean section, 10 IU following vaginal delivery for the initial treatment for women with clinically diagnosed PPH.
Secondary objective: To explore the views of participants and their carers about their experiences of the two treatments and the consent process.
OXPLUS
Oxford Placental Ultrasound Study
Who participated? Pregnant women aged 18 years or above who were in the first few months of pregnancy and attending their routine 11-14-week (‘first trimester’) ultrasound scan at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Women’s Centre, Oxford.
Summary: The aim of this study is to establish if a new piece of computer software — called the ‘OxNNet toolkit’ — can predict which babies will not grow as well as they should using information gained from a 3D ultrasound scan about the size of the placenta and its blood flow, together with other known risk factors.
REPOX
Who participated?
The purpose of the study is to gain a clearer understanding of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Specifically in this part of the study we want to know why some women develop PCOS, how it can be diagnosed more effectively and how we can better treat the other conditions often linked to PCOS.
SMA
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Topic: Pregnancy >18 weeks
Who can participate?
Anyone over 16 years old and at least 18 weeks pregnant with a baby due before 31 Dec 2024 or born less than 28 days ago.
Summary:
Our newborn screening study aims to make it possible to detect SMA within days of birth, before symptoms develop, so that any affected newborn can receive diagnosis and treatment at the earliest possible opportunity. SMA is not currently screened for as part of the newborn screening programme. This screening test can be done on the blood spot that is already being taken as part of the standard newborn screening programme. This means no extra blood samples will be needed. Read more.
Stoppit-3
Topic: Twins
Who participated?
Women aged >16 years old with Twin pregnancy (monochorionic or dichorionic). Planned birth scheduled between 35+0 and 38+6 weeks gestation.
Summary:
This trial aimed to find out if the drug corticosteroids given to women with a twin pregnancy prior to a planned birth of twins after 35 weeks of pregnancy reduces breathing difficulties in the twin babies. Read more.