Welsh researchers are shaping care for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases through commercial research

This article originally featured on Health and Care Research Wales.

Patients at a Welsh hospital have become the first in the UK to be recruited into two international clinical trials investigating potential new treatment options for people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth was the first site in the UK to recruit participants into the trials, funded by Roche. 

The trials, led by Dr Mark Narain, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Bronglais Hospital, aim to establish whether new investigatory treatments can improve symptoms and quality of life for people living with these long-term conditions that affect more than 26,000 people in Wales, and over half a million in the UK.

Trial participants receive either the trial drug or a placebo over a 10-week period. Participants are monitored by the research team throughout the trial, with regular study visits and checks to help assess how they are responding.

Ronda Loosley, Research Team Lead at  Bronglais Hospital, said: 

“We’re proud to have been the first site in the UK to recruit participants into both of these important trials.

“This achievement reflects the dedication of our clinical and research teams, as well as the strong relationships we have with our patients and communities. It also demonstrates the important contribution Welsh NHS organisations can make to international research.

“These conditions require long-term daily management and can cause painful flare-ups, so research plays an important role in developing potential new treatment options. Many of our patients live in rural areas, so being able to take part in these studies closer to home gives them the opportunity to contribute to research that could help shape future care.”

Targeted investment from Health and Care Research Wales, including funding through the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG), has helped strengthen research capability at Bronglais Hospital. 

This includes the purchase of essential laboratory equipment, such as a centrifuge, which spins blood and other samples to separate their components for analysis, and dedicated freezer storage, helping the site deliver regulated studies and meet the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards required for commercial clinical trials.

Investment in research infrastructure, alongside Wales’ collaborative and coordinated approach to research delivery, supports the successful delivery of high-quality commercial clinical trials across the country. 

With well-characterised patient populations, strong specialist leadership and close partnership working across research teams, Wales is well placed to support industry-sponsored research.

Gareth Hopkin, Head of Commercial Research Delivery Wales at Health and Care Research Wales, said: 

“Commercial research plays a key role in the development of new and more effective treatment options for people with Crohn’s and colitis.

“These early recruitment milestones at Bronglais Hospital highlight the important contribution that hospitals across Wales can make to large international studies. It also means patients in Hywel Dda can receive early access to these promising new treatment options.

“Health and Care Research Wales is committed to building on these successes and ensuring that more patients across Wales have early access to new treatment options through other commercial clinical trials. Through our nationally coordinated and locally delivered research infrastructure, supported by connected data and diverse patient populations, Wales provides sponsors with a streamlined, efficient and reliable environment for high-quality trial delivery.” 

To learn more about current opportunities to get involved in research, visit Take part in research | Health and Care Research Wales.