Colorectal Current Research

Bacteria live in the intestine to help digest food. If the intestine is damaged by an operation, injury or a disease such as cancer, bacteria can leak into the space surrounding the intestine (called the abdominal cavity) and cause a serious “intra-abdominal infection.” The usual treatment for this is a course of antibiotics (usually for 7 – 18days) and sometimes surgery too. But unfortunately, these infections are complicated and the treatment doesn’t always work. In 50% of patients the infection will return, or they will develop a new one further down the line. This is called “treatment failure” and requires another course of antibiotics, and possibly more surgery.

However, current research suggests that a longer course of antibiotics may benefit these patients by preventing treatment failure and further hospital admissions. So, the EXTEND trial will be comparing an extended course of antibiotics (28 days) against the normal duration of antibiotics (7 – 18 days). Each participant will be allocated by chance into one of these two groups and will be closely monitored for the next 6 months to see if the extended course of antibiotics offers a benefit to patients by reducing the rate of treatment failure.

Principal Investigator: Anne Pullybank

Planned End Date: 30/06/2025

Local Ref (R&D no): 5187

The study aims to further medical knowledge and may improve future treatment of melanoma. The study will investigate how much skin should be removed from around the melanoma during wider excision surgery. Currently, doctors do not know how much skin to remove from around a melanoma to reduce the chances of it coming back. Guidelines in different countries vary in their recommendations on this. This study will investigate if reducing the excision margin to 1cm is as good at reducing the risk of melanoma returning as a 2cm excision margin.

Principal Investigator: Mr Ewan Wilson

Planned End Date: 01/07/2029

Recruitment to end 01/07/2025

Local Ref (R&D no): 4755

The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) is looking to find people who may be able to take part in research trials for personalised vaccines to treat cancer. By supporting these trials, NHS England (NHSE) aims to speed up the development of personalised treatments for cancer patients. 

We are offering patients having their cancer removed or biopsied the opportunity to have their cancer DNA analysed for changes that could be targeted for personalised treatment. The CVLP is looking for people who may be suitable for cancer vaccine research trials. Vaccines are usually used to stop people from getting a disease, such as polio or measles. Researchers are now looking at using vaccines to stop cancer coming back after it has already been treated. Cancer vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.  

Cancer vaccines are designed using genetic (DNA) changes found in a person’s cancer. They are individually made for each person. Cancer vaccines are being tested in research trials to understand how well they work. 

Project Details

PI: Ann Lyons

Planned End date: 31/12/2030

Local Ref: 5497

Hospital acquired thrombosis describes blood clots that form in the legs and lungs after someone is treated in hospital. A clot in the leg can cause swelling, pain and other problems. If a clot in the leg breaks off and travels to the lungs, it may be life threatening. Having surgery increases the risk of developing blood clots. Blood clots in the legs and/or lungs are collectively known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).  

Doctors have known about the risks of patients developing blood clots after operations for many years and use two main ways to prevent this: 

• Thinning the blood with injections / tablets, and 

• Wearing elastic stockings to help stop blood sitting in the leg veins where it can clot. 

All participants who undergo surgery that puts them at higher risk of developing VTE require the blood thinners to be taken post discharge from hospital. Currently, some hospitals provide elastic stockings in addition to blood thinners but other hospital do not. There are no good quality research studies to show if the addition of elastic stockings reduces the risk of VTEs in patients taking blood thinners after discharge from hospital. This study is being done to find out if this is true.  

Project Details

PI: Anne Pullyblank

Planned End date: 31/07/2027

Local Ref: 5522

Perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease affects around one third of patients with Crohn’s disease during their course.  It is one of the most debilitating complications in Crohn’s disease.  Treatment methods are still evolving and approaches involving a combination of medical treatments and a number of surgical techniques are proposed.  However, the efficacy of these approaches to achieve clinically relevant outcomes is uncertain.  The majority of the recommendations are based upon expert opinion and there is relatively little scientific evidence to guide Crohn’s Disease perianal fistula (CD-pAF) management.

Our research is vital to understand the causes and consequences of problems in Crohn’s disease and improve the lives of those affected.  We aim to convert our research findings into clear improvements in health and services for people with Crohn’s disease with perianal fistula.  You could help by taking part in research that is relevant to you.  This might be to do with symptoms that you have now, or that you’ve had in the past, or even symptoms that you have never had (for comparison to other people who have).

Project Details

PI: Caroline Burt

Planned End date: 31/12/2030

Local Ref: 5495