Launch of hit new BBC One drama ‘Men Up’ shines light on how Welsh participants shaped life-saving research

With the launch of popular new BBC One drama ‘Men up,’ which explores the lives of five Welshmen involved in one of the world’s first medical trials for Viagra, Health and Care Research Wales, which oversees all research across the country takes a look at the valuable contribution made by other Welsh participants  - and how their input has helped shape ground-breaking treatment and care.

In the year after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, Wales was involved in a staggering 46 urgent public health research studies, including vaccines trials which provided a crucial route out. Over 36,000 participants were recruited into 114 COVID-19 research studies under the oversight of Health and Care Research Wales. 

Since then, the South West Wales Cancer Centre has become the first outside England to be selected for a UK trial looking at the potential benefits of proton beam therapy (PBT) for certain patients with breast cancer. The PARABLE trial, which has involved four Welsh patients, tested the benefits of PBT compared with standard radiotherapy for breast cancer patients at greater risk of long-term heart problems after radiotherapy. 

Another example of how Wales has been at the heart of life-changing research is the participation of 76 Welsh men and women in the ELAN study.  A research team at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, led by Health and Care Research Wales’ deputy specialty lead for stroke, Dr Manju Krishnan, helped inform this significant international study which found that giving patients anticoagulants soon after a stroke due to atrial fibrillation is both safe and effective, regardless of whether the stroke was mild, moderate or severe.  

The team at Morriston Hospital, which together with another Welsh centre, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Rhyl, were in the top five out of 103 recruiting centres across Europe, the Middle East and Asia – with Swansea recruiting the 500th participant to the trial. 

Also in 2021, the first donor in Wales to donate plasma through the Welsh Blood Service’s new ‘plasmapheresis’ process called on other men who have recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating their plasma to support medical trials. 

Andrew Thomas, a police officer for South Wales Police, said at the time: “I wanted to do something that could help someone else going through what I did.”

A study which is currently recruiting called PANORAMIC, looking into the efficacy of how antiviral tablets taken at home to those at severe risk of severe COVID-19 can help reduce the severity of the virus, speed up recovery and avoid the need for treatments in hospital.  

The study, led by Oxford University and delivered in Wales by Public Health Wales, Health and Care Research Wales and Cardiff University, has seen almost 1,800 Welsh participants recruited to date with Clarence Medical Centre, a GP practice based in Rhyl, serving as the hub site for the whole of the trial in Wales. 

Dr Selena Harris, from Clarence Medical Centre, said: “We are proud to have been top recruiters in many of the research studies we have participated in, putting Rhyl on the map for research in primary care.   

“Without our efforts Wales would not have been included in this UK wide trial, we’ve given our patients in Wales equal opportunity to the rest of the UK.”

Dr Nicola Williams, National Director of Support and Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, said: “These are just a few examples of how Welsh participants have contributed to new and innovative treatments improving the lives of thousands of people with the most serious of conditions.

“Men Up shows that research involves real people, and happens right on our doorstep, providing hope for others who are struggling.

“But this is just one example, we currently have over 600 studies open in Wales from ones that are looking into new cancer drugs and dialysis treatments to others that explore ways to administer insulin and new ways to treat joint pain.

“We want to thank every single person who has helped shape research and encourage anyone to find out how they can help.”

To find research studies open in your area search Be Part of Research.