NICRN Respiratory team achieve first Participant recruitment to Awake Prone within 4-weeks

June 23, 2026

The Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network’s (NICRN) Respiratory team in collaboration with The Belfast Trust have successfully recruited their first participant within 4-weeks of the opening of its clinical trial, Awake Prone.

This randomised controlled trial evaluates the effect of awake prone positioning in non-intubated adults with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (not due to COVID-19), compared to standard care. This study is being conducted across UK hospitals to find out if lying on your tummy (awake prone positioning) compared with standard NHS care (sitting upright in bed) reduces how often people with respiratory failure need to go on a ventilator. Awake prone positioning can help patients with COVID-19, but it is not known if it helps other patients.

The Principal Investigator (PI) is Dr Murali Shyamsundar (Consultant Respiratory/Intensive Care Physician) and Sub-PI is Dr Jon Silversides (Consultant in Critical Care and Anaesthesia), Belfast Health & Social Care Trust. NICRN Respiratory and Critical Care team members Azenith Duffy, Ethel Costillas, Emma Bohan, Lyndsay Burnett and Christine Turley-Rock are currently screening potential participants.

This success reflects the dedication, teamwork and commitment of staff across the research and clinical teams. NICRN would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this success, especially its Respiratory research co-ordinators Azenith Duffy and Ethel Costillas for their outstanding efforts, marking an excellent achievement.

NICRN looks forward to continuing its strong collaboration with the Belfast trust and to supporting further research opportunities that will benefit patients across Northern Ireland.