Research Department
'Today's Research Tomorrow's Patient Care'

The cardiology Research Unit at Brighton and Sussex Universities Hospital's NHS Trust is one of the United Kingdoms most active and respected research facilities. Our Research Unit is staffed by innovative and forward thinking medical staff that devotes their time to discovering new therapies, devices and drugs to improve treatment options for patient with cardiac problems.

What is What is Clinical Research?
Clinical Research can also be referred to as Medical Research, Clinical Trials and Research Studies. Though clinical research we find the best way to diagnose and treat disease. Clinical research aims to understand what offers the greatest benefit to the patient with the minimum risk. Clinical research trials are a form of research involving patients. The information scientist's gain in the laboratory is called Basic Research. Information gained through human participation is Clinical Research. Clinical Research is the safest and most reliable way to answer important medical questions

What do we Research?
The Cardiology Research Units work involves research of the causes and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
We have participated in many national and international trials and have an excellent reputation in the research field. In addition the cardiology research unit has designed and managed multi-centre trials in the UK.

Could I be asked to participate in a Research Trial?
If we are to make progress in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease we need the help of patients and their cares, it is only with this help that we can benefit future generations. During you hospital stay or in out patients you may be asked to consider participating in a research study. All research is voluntary, if you decide not to participate this will not effect the care you receive. A doctor or nurse will discuss the study with you; they will give you written information on the study to read. Feel free to discuss the study with family members or your GP. If you agree to take part in the study you will be asked to sign a consent form, you can opt out at any time without giving a reason.

Randomised Controlled trials
A large portion of the work performed in The Cardiology Research Unit at Brighton is Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT). RCT is at present the best and most efficient way of assessing most treatments or interventions. They seek to measure and compare different events after the participants (patient) receive the intervention. In an RCT there are two groups, one treatment group and one control group. The treatment group receives the treatment under investigation, and the control group receives standard treatment. Patients are randomly assigned to all groups. Assigning patients at random reduces the risk of bias and increases the probability that differences between the groups can be attributed to the treatment.

Research Registries
Even after a treatment or intervention is licensed it is important to assess, monitor and audit use and safety. To do this we use research registries otherwise called post-market surveillance. This type of research does not compare to different treatments, it gathers information on the patient and the treatment they have received. It is purely data collection and is used to monitor and improve health care.

Clinical trial Approval
Before a trial can commence it must be approved by various regulatory organisations. A protocol (plan) is written containing all the information on running the trial, scientific evidence supporting the trial, recruitment of patients and the outcomes that will be measured in the trial. This, with other documents, is submitted to the ethics committee for approval. Approval must also be gained from the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Hospital Trust in which the trial will be conducted in.
All research is conducted to the highest ethical standards using such guidelines as the
International Conference on Harmonisation Guidance on Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP)
Nuremberg Code.
Declaration of Helsinki.
Royal College of Physicians and MRC.
European Convention on Human Rights.

The Research Team
Geraldine Bassett Unit Administrator, ext 4049
geraldine.bassett@bsuh.nhs.uk
Geraldine joined the Royal Sussex County Hospital Main Outpatients Department in 1988 as a clerical assistant. In 1997 she moved into the field of Cardiology Research as a clerical assistant and in 2000 became Administrator for the unit.
Geraldine has an NVQ level 3 in Business and Administration completed in April 2007. She is the first point of call for patients contacting the unit.

Nina Cooter RGN MSc in Cardiology. Research Co-ordinator. ext 7673
nina.cooter@bsuh.nhs.uk
Nina qualified as a nurse in 1979 at St. Mary's hospital London. She specialised in ITU/CCU working in several London hospitals before returning to her home town of Brighton in 1986. Nina transferred from ITU/CCU to cardiology research in 1995 and is now the unit co-ordinator. She completed her MSc in 1999.

Lorraine Bennett RGN MSc in Cardiology. Research Nurse. ext 4366
lorraine.bennett@bsuh.nhs.uk
Lorraine qualified at Lewisham Hospital in 1986, and worked for 3 years as a Staff Nurse on both male and female medical wards.
In 1999 she moved to the Brook Hospital and completed a year long programme consisting of 6 months experience in both Neurosurgery and cardiothoracic ITU.
Lorraine moved to Brighton at the end of 1989 and specialised in Intensive and Coronary Care Nursing for several years until moving to Cardiac Research in 1997. She completed the MSc in cardiology in 2000.

Ailie MacKenzie RGN Research Nurse, ext 4366. ailie.mackenzie@bsuh.nhs.uk
Ailie MacKenzie trained in Brighton and worked as a staff nurse on the medical admissions/high dependency unit and later as a Coronary Secondary Prevention Nurse working to facilitate the modification of patients cardiac risk factors between primary and secondary care. Since joining the cardiac Research team she has been involved in a wide range of cardiology projects and currently works part time (30 hours). She completed her Diploma in cardiology in 2006 and continues to work on her dissertation to complete her MSc.

Jean Timeyin RGN. SCM. PGCE Clinical Research. Research Nurse. ext 7947
jean.timeyin@bsuh.nhs.uk
Jean's first post in research was in 1979 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria on a W.H.O project. On her return to UK in 1988 she joined the Cardiology Department, in the now Brighton and Sussex University Hospital Trust as a Research Sister. During this time she obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research at John Moores University, Liverpool and is currently enrolled in the MSc Cardiology course at Brighton University.

Emma Gardner RGN MSc in Cardiology. Research Nurse. ext 4096
emma.gardner@bsuh.nhs.uk
Emma trained at St Bartholomew's Hospital, qualifying in 1991. Since qualifying she has worked in Cardiac Care, both surgery and cardiology within London progressing to ward manager. In 2001 she moved to Brighton and ventured into nurse education working as a Lecturer Practitioner at Brighton University for 4 years. Emma moved back into the field of Cardiac Research in September 2005, having achieved her Cardiology/Education MSc. Her research interests are predominately cardiac surgery and pacing.

Elaine Joyce RGN MSc in Cardiology. Research Nurse. ext 4233
elaine.joyce@bsuh.nhs.uk
Elaine began her nurse training in the West Midlands, her background there being in Cardiothoracic Nursing, she moved to this area in the late 1980's, where she gained qualifications in Coronary Care and Intensive Care nursing. Elaine transferred to our Research Department in 1997 and has since gained a Master's degree in Cardiology. Elaine has developed an expertise in the effects of cholesterol manipulation in reducing risks to health.

Nicola Skipper Research Nurse. Ext 4233, nicola.skipper@bsuh.nhs.uk

The research unit is situated on the ground floor of Sussex House. It is open from 07.30 until 16.30 Monday to Friday.

Cardiology Research Unit
The Royal Sussex County Hospital
Sussex House
1, Abbey Road
Brighton
BN2 1ES

Phone 01273 696955 ext 4049 (07.30-16.30)
Fax 01273 664580

Out of Hours (evenings and weekends) 07763 348658