Research Nurse
Sarah Hackforth
Hello! I joined the CF team in September 2008 to help with the recruiting and running of Clinical Trials and Research. My background is in Infection and Tropical medicine, where I had spent many years as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, also running various Clinical Trials and research projects. I work three days a week - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, when you will see me in the clinics wearing a rather fetching black and red uniform!
We have a couple of Clinical Trials that we are recruiting to at the moment. One is looking at Heparin as an inhaled powder, and testing how well it is tolerated in patients with CF. It involves taking a dose of inhaled heparin, twice daily, for one month only
This is a blinded trial, so we will not know whether a person is on placebo or the real thing. This study involves 5 visits to the clinic over a 10-12 week period.
The other study involves the long acting bronchodilator Tiotropian. This is a drug currently used and prescribed for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and the purpose of this study is to investigate its safety and efficacy in people with CF. This trial drug is taken over a 12 week period, and will involve 6 study visits over a 4 month period. This is also a placebo controlled study, meaning that some patients will get the real thing and some will not.
Both these studies have strict inclusion and exclusion criteria - this is for your protection as opposed to being obstructive. All the studies we do have to be conducted in line with Good Clinical Practice guidelines that ensure patient safety, and have been approved by our local Ethics Committee. Expenses are often reimbursed for petrol, parking, bus and taxi fares etc.
If you fit the inclusion criteria for any of our studies, one of the medical team may approach you about taking part. The decision to take part in any research within the CF unit is totally down to the patient, and if you decide that it is not for you, then that is perfectly fine. No one will be offended or upset if you say no, and it certainly will not affect the care that you receive.
If you want to know more about what studies we do, what happens in a clinical trial, please do ask any of the team and I will happily explain and answer any questions. I can be contacted via the clinic reception on 0121 424 1693.
