The NI Clinical Research Network (NICRN) serves as a platform for conducting clinical research in Child Health throughout Northern Ireland.
The NICRN aims to:
- Provide links between National Trials recruiting within the paediatric population and Northern Irish paediatricians and patients
- Facilitates communication between pan European Connect 4 Children Trials and well as trials supported through the UK Children’s Medicines Research Group and the National Institute for Health Research
- Provide support for local clinicians who would like to become Principal Investigators for trials involving their patients, to allow equality of access to innovative research throughout the UK and Ireland.
Areas of interest include the following:
- Paediatric Oncology
- New-born respiratory care trials
- The evolution of neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- Cleft lip and/or palate
- Other Perinatal Research
Dr David Sweet – BHSCT
Child Health Clinical Lead
David Sweet MD MRCP(Ire) FRCPCH
David Sweet graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1990 and trained in Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine in Northern Ireland and Western Australia.
Appointed as a consultant Neonatologist in the Regional Neonatal Unit in the Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast in 2003 and Honorary Clinical Lecturer for the Dept. of Child Health, Queen’s University in 2007. 35 peer reviewed publications and review articles to date, mostly related to new-born respiratory care and the evolution of neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
David is the Northern Ireland Co-ordinator of several multicentre trials and maintains an active interest in Perinatal Research and Evidence-based medicine. He is first author of all 5 editions of the European Guidelines on the Management of RDS. – 2007 – 2019.
David is a co-PI and clinical lead for Child Health for the NI Clinical Research Network.
Contact email: David.Sweet@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Dr Brian McCrossan – BHSCT
Child Health Clinical Lead
NICRN
Contact email: Brian.McCrossan@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Current Children’s Research Studies
ENHANCE
ENHANCE is a multi-centre,healthy control study which will take part in thirteen paediatric sites across Ireland and the UK over a five-year period. All people with CF(PwCF) from the birth up to the age of 5 years of age are eligible to enrol on this study. The study will have its base in RCSI and Children’s Health Ireland (Crumlin) in Dublin.
Study Website: https://www.rcsi.com/research
NICRN Research Team Contact: ChildrensResearch@belfasttrust.hscni.net
TinyCMV
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), the international leading cause of neurodevelopmental impairment from infection acquired during pregnancy, is estimated to affect over 4200 babies and cost over £750 million each year in the UK. CMV is a common virus usually causing mild infection in healthy individuals, however CMV can cause serious disease if it affects a baby during pregnancy. Only the most severely affected cases of CMV acquired in pregnancy tend to be identified by healthcare professionals because there is currently no screening for this condition. Approximately 300 CMV-infected infants may be missed or diagnosed late due to non-specific signs and symptoms; and an estimated 500 infants do not initially have symptoms but develop poor outcomes including hearing impairment, behavioural problems, social, communication and learning difficulties. These children therefore do not receive timely antiviral treatment that could prevent these outcomes. Our research aims to further the understanding of why some infants are more severely affected by CMV than others, and to identify markers in the blood of CMV infection that will help predict which infants will have poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, and therefore who will most likely benefit from early antiviral treatment. This information could endorse a national newborn screening programme in a two-stage approach: initially identification of CMV-infection, and secondly identification of who would benefit from treatment. A critical component of early treatment is the development of tools and strategies to diagnose CMV-infection and this study will contribute to the development of two investigations to assist early diagnosis. This study will also examine whether interventional clinical psychology can support and improve the lives of children and their families affected by CMV.
Study Website: Research | Imperial College London
NICRN Research Team Contact: ChildrensResearch@belfasttrust.hscni.net
PALOH – UK
Gentamicin is an antibiotic that is given to babies within one hour of being admitted to neonatal units. The antibiotic can treat and / or protect them against infections. However, some babies have a small difference in their genetic make-up which means they will develop severe hearing loss or total deafness even after a single dose of gentamicin. This affects around 1in500 babies. A genetic test can be done from a cheek swab that would tell doctors and nurses quickly if a baby was at risk of hearing loss if given gentamicin. We used this test in a previous research study called PALOH to see how it would work in practice and 750 babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in Manchester had the new genetic test. Within 26 minutes, we could tell who would be at risk if given gentamicin, without causing any delays to babies being given the antibiotics. Three out of the 750 babies were found to be at risk of hearing loss and were given an alternative antibiotic. In this new study, we will work with 14 different neonatal units in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, testing over 5000 babies. Babies admitted over a 6-month period at each site will be eligible to be part of the study. A cheek swab will be taken from the babies and nurses will run the genetic test as part of their standard of care. We will use the excess samples and information to show the test can be used in timely way to ensure babies get a safe, effective antibiotic. This study will help to get information to allow wider use of the genetic test. We will also expand our work with parent and health care staff opinions about the test and the cost implications of introducing the test.
Study Website: Genetic test for deafness in newborns to be trialled across the UK
NICRN Research Team Contact: ChildrensResearch@belfasttrust.hscni.net
For further information on previous research studies undertaken in the Children’s group please follow the link below to our Good News page.