Home>Local Research Networks>South West Peninsula>Research Units

South West Peninsula Local Research Network - Research Units

Plymouth Diabetes Research Unit

Dr Millward leads the Plymouth Diabetes Research Unit in Plymouth, supported by two Clinical Assistants, a senior research nurse, three research nurses and an administrator.

They have a full portfolio consisting of a mix of commercial clinical trials as well as a number of non-commercial trials ongoing at any one time.

Exeter Diabetes Research Team

The Exeter Diabetes Research team comprises:

• Hospital Practitioner, Dr Mike Ramell
• Clinical Trials Nurse Manager, Stephanie Estcourt
• 4 Research Nurses, Jane Piper, Lorraine Scaife, Jane Rowley and Liz Green
• Trials Administrator, Lisella Wilkinson
• Clerical Assistant / Receptionist, Shirley Henson

This team works very closely with the clinical diabetes team at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, the research teams in the Peninsula Medical School Experimental Medicine Facility and the local Primary Care Research Network.

Research is conducted to answer a range of questions and provide varied evidence for improving the care and treatment of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

A wide variety of research projects is conducted by this team. These include commercial clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, academic studies and local research. Involvement can include the taking of both licensed and unlicensed medicinal products, the completion of questionnaires, following adapted treatments such as specific diets or simply allowing researchers to observe people’s health over a period of time. Other work includes identifying people with diabetes who are willing to be contacted in the future for involvement in research and sourcing new potential studies to work on.

To contact the research team with queries or interest in the work we do please either phone or email Stephanie Estcourt, Clinical Trials Nurse Manager.

Tel: 01392 403897
Email: stephanie.estcourt@rdeft.nhs.uk

• Levemir – This study involves trialing a new type of insulin in pregnant or planning to be pregnant women with Type 1 Diabetes. 
• J & J – This study investigates the use of a new oral medication for people with Type 2 Diabetes, which can be taken in conjunction with Metformin.
• 4T – This study involves adding insulin to oral medication to achieve tight control in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
• Protégé – a recently opened study investigating the effectiveness and safety of an intravenous monoclonal antibody given to patients with recently diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes.
• DARE – Diabetes Alliance for Research in England is a study looking at the genetic and environmental factors of diabetes.
• ADDRESS – After Diagnosis Diabetes REsearch Support System, a study recruiting patients, newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and following their progress on yearly basis.
• Charcot Neuroarthropathy – a national non-commercial trial involving the administration of a new combination of intravenous therapy in the care of patients with active Charcot foot disease.
• Charcot Arthropathy – a local non-commercial study investigating the bone density of patients with Charcot foot disease, using MRI.

Other work includes the DRN research team identifying patients with diabetes that are willing to be contacted in the future for involvement in research as well as identifying potential new studies to add to our portfolio.

Torbay

The team at Torbay Hospital has been established for a number of years, is led by Dr Richard Paisey, supported by three research nurses and an administrator. The team have recently moved in to the Horizon Centre, a purpose built Education and Research building. This move has enabled the team to come together with the other research departments at Torbay Hospital. We are sad to say goodbye to Trudi Darby , Research Nurse who has contributed too many studies in particular the neuropathy foot study, we wish her well in her new role working with the Clinical Diabetes Specialist Nurses in Exeter. We also take this opportunity to welcome Mary Costelloe, Research Nurse to the team.

The research team has close links with the clinical teams in the hospital, particularly dietetics, and also has excellent links with local GP practices that are committed to supporting research.

We continue to recruit patients to the DARE study (Diabetes Alliance for Research in England), we hope to commence a once weekly Incretin for type 2 diabetes in the New Year. A prospective study of levemir versus glargine in adolescent female type 1 diabetic subjects is about to commence and we received the control arm of the Kick Off study, but will receive the group education training at a later date for the three groups of children with type 1 diabetes we have recruited.

We are defining the phenotype of Alström syndrome through the National clinical Service Group clinic for adults at Torbay Hospital. This involves studies of insulin resistant diabetes, severe hyperlipidaemia and exploration of the relationships of these metabolic disturbances with major organ fibrosis in the syndrome. A website, handbook, and 10 publications have been published so far.

We have and are continuing to contribute to urine collection to establish the usefulness of urinary C- peptide as a measure of insulin secretion, to allow better planning of therapy.

Our Lead Research Nurse, Roz Paisey has been awarded a grant from the Torbay Medical Projects to set up a study: How patients’ experience of changes in appetite due to Incretin Therapy influence their dietary choices. The Torbay Team are as busy as ever.

Truro

The Cornwall Diabetes Research Team was established in 2007, and is based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. Dr Jon Pinkney leads the research team, and is supported by Dr Duncan Browne, and Diabetes Research Nurses Helen Chenoweth and Terri Chant, and Administrator Karen Eells.

The team are participating in a range of Network studies, including the DARE (Diabetes Alliance for Research in England) project. Our Consultant Endocrinologists have special interests in obesity and the metabolic syndrome, gestational diabetes and insulin pump therapy. We have established strong links with Primary Care Services in the county, and are keen to further develop these relationships.

We can be contacted on (01872) 254655 or Diabetes.Research@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk for more information about our current studies.

Barnstaple Diabetes Research Team

The diabetes research team based at the North Devon District Hospital is headed by consultant Dr Alastair Watt, with Geraldine Belcher as the Diabetes Research Nurse.

Tel: 01271 311889
Email: Geraldine.Belcher@ndevon.swest.nhs.uk

^Top