Stepping Hill Hospital leads in Covid-19 genetic research

Stepping Hill Hospital has been one of the top recruiting sites in the country in new research testing the genetic make-up of patients in the fight against Covid19. 

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s research and innovation team at Stepping Hill has succeeded in recruiting 30 patients for the study so far, which put them in the top five of the 170 intensive care unit sites taking part in the study across the country in April 2020. 

The nationwide study, led by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Genomics England, is testing how patients’ genetic makeup could influence how they react to the virus, which will help support the vital search for new treatments. The study aims to identify those most at risk and help to fast-track new therapies into clinical trials.

The study is taking place across the NHS, involving up to 20,000 people currently or previously in an intensive care unit with coronavirus, and 15,000 people with mild or moderate symptoms. The research will analyse the DNA of participants to gain a greater understanding of Covid-19 and its risk factors.

Dr Kenneth Baillie, Chief Investigator at the University of Edinburgh, leading this study, explained:

Our genes play a role in determining who becomes desperately sick with infections like COVID19. Understanding these genes will help us to choose treatments for clinical trials. The GenOMICC study was launched before this outbreak and it is recruiting in more than 160 ICUs across the country with tremendous support from the critical care community. We are excited to work with Genomics England to tackle this new and complex disease.”

Stepping Hill Hospital is a key clinical research site in the Greater Manchester area, working closely with the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network, and in recent years, recruiting more than a thousand research participants each year for studies on a wide array of conditions including heart disease, gastroenterology, ear, nose and throat conditions, cancer, reproductive health,  and stroke. Its research team has been using their expertise to tackle the new threat of Covid19, working closely with staff on the hospital’s specialist wards and intensive care unit to take part in the study.

Wiesia Woodyatt, Research and Innovation Manager for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said:

We’re very grateful to the patients taking part in this research and the front-line staff in ICU for their support. Clinical research is playing a vital part in helping to understand and combat this pandemic. We’re very proud to be taking part in this study which we hope will eventually help save many lives in the future.”

Image: Stepping Hill Hospital Research team members Wiesia Woodyat (quoted), Sara Bennett and Clare Tibke.