A novel clinical trial platform, DaRe2THINK, has reached a significant milestone by recruiting 1,000 NHS patients. This initiative integrates research directly into general practice, streamlining the process and expanding access to clinical trials for a broader patient population. The program focuses on preventing strokes, blood clots, and vascular dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Streamlining Patient Recruitment
DaRe2THINK leverages routine health records to identify potential trial participants. By securely screening the records of over 13 million NHS patients, the platform can pinpoint individuals who meet specific inclusion criteria. This data-enabled approach has significantly improved recruitment efficiency, achieving a 'number needed to invite' of 5.3. This means that only five patients need to be contacted by their primary care team to randomize one patient into the trial, far surpassing the efficiency of other recent clinical trial developments.
Impact on NHS and Patient Care
Professor Dipak Kotecha, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Birmingham and lead for DaRe2THINK, emphasized the potential of community-based NHS research to enhance public health and wellbeing. "Running NHS research in our local communities has a huge potential to improve the health and wellbeing of citizens and society," he stated. "We are really proud to be supporting our fantastic colleagues in NHS General Practices across England, giving NHS staff and patients a much easier opportunity to get involved in health research."
Broader Implications for Research
Supported by a Patient & Public Engagement team, DaRe2THINK is designed to transform the way trials are conducted within the NHS. This approach aims to broaden participation to a wider range of citizens and contribute to the UK’s life science strategy to improve health, wellbeing, and economic growth. Dame Julie Moore DBE, Chair of Health Data Research UK, highlighted the platform's innovative approach to improving public health through GP engagement. "DaRe2THINK is a new way of undertaking research to improve public health by working with GPs," she said. "Through screening of comprehensive health records of patients in the NHS, DaRe2THINK is able to identify patients to recruit to trials to improve their health, and the wider health of the nation."
