Medical Research Council

iiCON is managing a £3.2 million MRC-funded trial to develop a protein-based pneumococcal vaccine against serotype 3 pneumococcus (SPN3), which is a major cause of disease and antibiotic resistance. The trial will use a controlled human infection model in Malawi, comparing the new vaccine to PCV13 and a placebo, aiming to prevent transmission and reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Study evaluates care bundles for enteral nutrition in stroke patients, hypothesizing reduced feeding intolerance and improved recovery. A multi-centre, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trial in Chinese hospitals over 10 periods, with randomization determining intervention timing. Participants include stroke patients needing enteral nutrition, with a sample size of 1224. Interventions include a nurse-led team and standardized feeding pathways. Primary outcome is feeding intolerance, secondary outcomes include complications and nutritional status. Process evaluation monitors intervention implementation. Data collection and management ensure accuracy. Oversight by a steering committee and academic support team ensures protocol adherence. Adverse events are monitored and reported.

Researchers at The University of Manchester propose co-designing oral health interventions with families and schools to tackle tooth decay in children, emphasizing tailored, theory-informed approaches and the strategic use of technology.

ISPOR published a Good Practices Report on structured expert elicitation protocols for healthcare decision making, highlighting 5 protocols (SHELF, Modified Delphi, Cooke’s classical, IDEA, MRC reference) and their suitability for various scenarios like time-constrained decisions and early-stage technology assessments, emphasizing transparency and reproducibility.

Stelara (ustekinumab) showed potential in preserving insulin production by reducing Th17.1 cells in a UK phase 2 study, suggesting it could prevent or reduce the need for insulin in type 1 diabetes patients if started early.

The Dementia Trials Accelerator, led by UK Dementia Research Institute and Health Data Research UK, will receive £20m to boost UK participation in dementia trials from 61 to 'tens of thousands'. The initiative aims to revolutionize trial infrastructure, quickly identify at-risk individuals, and accelerate treatment development.

A report highlights lack of support for dementia carers, with 37% receiving no help since diagnosis. A £20m initiative to boost dementia clinical trials is launched, aiming to fast-track new treatments. Despite a new Alzheimer's drug being approved, NICE rejected it for NHS use due to cost concerns.

The UK launches the Dementia Trials Accelerator (DTA) with £20 million funding to increase dementia trial participation from 61 to tens of thousands. Led by UK DRI and HDR UK, DTA aims to make the UK the top destination for pharma and industry to run late-phase clinical trials, leveraging world-class science and data infrastructure. The initiative addresses obstacles to commercial trials, including streamlined processes, and aims to offer patients access to potentially life-changing treatments through increased trial opportunities.

Awakn Life Sciences opens four additional trial sites for its Phase 3 AWKN-001 study, now totaling 7 sites, aiming to evaluate the efficacy of a novel ketamine-based treatment for severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study is co-funded by the UK's Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, managed by the University of Exeter.

Article details methods for nanoruler design, cell culture, brain slice preparation, participant diagnosis, CSF sample collection, immunostaining, protein purification, PAGE, dot blot, 1,6-Hexanediol treatments, X10 and ZOOM expansion procedures, mCLING structure simulation, microscope systems, image acquisition, image processing, image analysis and statistics, optimization, 3D model reconstruction, and reporting summary.