COVID-19 research nurses encourage public to take part in future studies for International Clinical Trials Day 2021
On International Clinical Trials Day (20 May) two research nurses based in Swansea look back over a busy year of COVID-19 research and encourage members of the public to take part in future research.
Debra Evans and Suzanne Richards, who work in Swansea Bay University Health Board, have always had a passion for science.
Debra said “I started my nursing career in critical care over 15 years ago and have been fascinated by research since then and always looked for opportunities to put research into practice. When the chance came up for me to become a research nurse and I made the switch, it was a perfect fit. I love it.”
Suzanne said: “I’ve definitely found my niche in this job. During this pandemic we’re constantly hearing how we should put our trust in science to find the way out and I can really relate to that message. I’ve always felt that you can rely on science to give you answers.”
In May last year, after spending weeks deployed at the front line of caring for patients with coronavirus in an intensive care unit, Debra and Suzanne discovered there was going to be a COVID-19 vaccine study delivered in Wales.
Even though it would involve them driving two hours to and from Newport to work 12 hour shifts, they were excited to be part of the Welsh team that would deliver the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine trial.
Being part of something historic
Suzanne said: “Working on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine study felt like being part of something truly historic. I think everyone working on it felt like that too. It was such a huge team effort and there was a real sense of camaraderie. We knew it was going to be ground breaking.”
Debra said: “Lots of NHS staff came out of retirement or were redeployed from other areas to support the COVID-19 research. It was incredible to work together with people from all over Wales on these urgent public health studies. We knew the results would benefit so many people. Years in the future I’ll be able to say that I was part of this big Welsh research effort during the pandemic.”
As well as working on the vaccine trial, Debra and Suzanne also delivered clinical research into effective treatment options for people with COVID-19. One of the ongoing platform studies they worked on, RECOVERY, has recruited 1,250 people in Wales so far and discovered that two common drugs dexamethasone and tocilizumab could save the lives of those who are severely ill with COVID-19.
Debra said: “Working on these studies was exhausting both physically and emotionally. However, there was a real urgency to what we were doing because we knew this research could potentially benefit these patients straight away. These trials were going to find out which treatments worked best to beat the virus and save the most lives.”
For their crucial work delivering COVID-19 research, Debra and Suzanne were jointly given the Health and Care Research Wales One Wales Award in April, which recognised their dedication to delivering research and working across organisational boundaries.
Giving something back
More than 36,000 people in Wales have been recruited to 114 COVID-19 research studies so far during this ongoing pandemic. This incredible milestone led to the development of multiple vaccines and the discovery of new treatments, diagnoses and tests for the virus.
Suzanne said: “In the conversations I had, people told me they volunteered to be part of COVID-19 studies because they wanted to give something back.
“Particularly people who participated in vaccine studies said they wanted to do whatever they could to help others who were ill with the disease. That was really moving to hear and I heard it a lot. It’s thanks to members of the public who took part in these studies that we now have such effective treatments for COVID-19.”
The next challenge
Debra said: “The public has definitely become more open to research this past year. People are asking me more questions and they seem more interested in being part of the studies.
“I will continue to talk about everything we’ve achieved during this pandemic because research is the reason why we’re beating COVID-19. But it doesn’t just take place in a pandemic, it is happening all the time and people volunteering to take part is key.
“There’s research behind lots of little things we do every day, like taking paracetamol for your headache. We do that because research tells us it works.”
Suzanne said: “Once life starts to go back to normal, the next challenge will be keeping people interested because research into new treatments is always important.
“Everyone has seen the huge benefits that research can bring and its potential to change and save lives. Hopefully that greater awareness of the importance of research will be the legacy of this pandemic.”
Be part of research
For International Clinical Trials Day 2021, Health and Care Research Wales is promoting opportunities for people to participate in research.
If you’re interested in being part of future health and social care research in Wales, visit Be Part of Research.
You can also sign up to our weekly email which will update you on the latest research news and opportunities.
Hear from Debra:
Hear from Suzanne:
First published: 19 May 2021