We are committed to improving the care we give to women and their families, which is why we offer our patients the chance to get involved in clinical research studies. There are lots of types of research, from lifestyle surveys to drug trials. Through research we can find out:

  • Which treatments are most effective for women
  • Develop the advice and information we offer to patients
  • Assess what is acceptable to women in our care and where specialist support is needed.

Our research is funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research, and reviewed and approved by UK regulatory bodies. We ensure that research is ethically and scientifically sound and undertaken to the highest standard for patient safety.

Taking part in our research is optional. If we offer you the chance to participate, you will be given written information, and plenty of time to ask questions and find out more before you decide. Keep a look out in the clinical areas, on social media and on our website for information about different students we are currently participating in. Your clinicians may also discuss specific studies directly with you if they are relevant and suitable for your care.

Please also feel free to contact us yourself via email at sash.researchmidwives@nhs.net – we would love to hear from you!

Current research

Sono’s Breech

Assessing if a hand-held  ultrasound device supports midwives to accurately identify the position of the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy 

 

FERN

Intervention or Expectant Management for Early Onset Selective Fetal Growth Restriction in Monochorionic Twin Pregnancy

iGBS3

Development of a serocorrelate of protection against invasive Group B Streptococcus disease (iGBS).

OBS-UK study

Looking at implementing a new bundle of care for the management of postpartum haemorrhage

SNAP-2 - The University of Nottingham

The Smoking, Nicotine and Pregnancy (SNAP-2) research trial is testing a package of support to assist pregnant women to stop smoking by helping them to make better use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

This is a randomised study where women will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

  1. One group of women will receive usual care to help stop smoking.  We already know that this care helps pregnant women and is known as the ‘Gold Standard’ of care.
  2. The second group will receive usual care PLUS a new package of support. 

Completed Research

iGBS

Development of a serocorrelate of protection against invasive Group B Streptococcus disease (iGBS)

GBS feasibility study – summary results for participants from St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London 

 

Study title: Feasibility study for the development of a sero-correlate of protection against invasive Group B Streptococcus disease (the iGBS study)
IRAS 246149
Sponsor:  St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

Dear Participants,

We deeply appreciate your time and effort in participating in our study, titled “Feasibility study for the development of a sero-correlate of protection against invasive Group B Streptococcus disease (the iGBS study)”. Your willingness to allow our team to take samples from you and your baby to test for the presence of GBS and antibodies against GBS has been crucial to the success of our research. 

We are delighted to share the results of our study: We have successfully verified the feasibility of collecting and processing rectovaginal swabs and blood samples in pregnant women, as well as cord blood and samples from infants with invasive Group B Streptococcal disease (iGBS) and healthy infants exposed to GBS. This has led to the initiation of a more extensive study, called iGBS3 study, in the UK. Our study found that 17% of pregnant women in the participating sites carried GBS, which is in keeping with previous reports. We also found that the half-life of antibodies against GBS in healthy infants is 4 weeks. These results provide a solid foundation for future studies in the UK and other settings and bring us closer to the licensure of a GBS vaccine.

Any  questions, please contact Madeleine Cochet (St George’s University of London)  mcochet@sgul.ac.uk.

Weblink: iGBS feasibility study

Optibreech 1.0 and Optibreech care: Optimising care and options for women with a breech-presenting baby at term. Further information is available at: https://optibreech.uk/

REACH: Pregnancy circles for antenatal care and parent education versus traditional antenatal care models. 

The WILL Trial - Timing of birth to improve outcomes in chronic or gestational hypertension

The BIG Baby Trial - To investigate the potential benefits and harms of IOL in large for gestational age fetuses at 38+0 to 38+4 weeks gestation