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St George’s Hospital’s Adult and Paediatric Critical Care Research Teams have hit a remarkable milestone, recruiting their 550th participant into the GenOMICC study, a significant research initiative conducted by the Roslin Institute. This accomplishment puts St George's among the top contributors to a worldwide effort that is changing how we think about how our genes affect how we respond to serious illness.   The GenOMICC project, which stands for Genetics of Mortality in C

As part of this year’s Black History Month celebrations, our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) was delighted to attend the Race Equality and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Network event to raise awareness about the Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) Bioresource. The event provided a fantastic opportunity to introduce our CRF and to talk about the important work being done through the IBHO Bioresource — a study designed to bridge the gap in knowledge and understanding of disease

On Monday, October 27, members of the PPIEP Data and Demographic Workstream gathered to assist in planning how the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) will gather demographic information for its upcoming About You Survey. The meeting was part of an ongoing effort to make research more inclusive and representative. Members came together to discuss, question, and improve the suggested method of collecting data. The meeting started with a "data walk," where everyone looked at the C

The Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has been awarded Gold in its latest Clinical Standards Accreditation inspection, recognising exemplary performance in patient care, safety and continuous improvement.   The inspection team said the result was “well-deserved,” noting clear progress since the previous review and praising the CRF’s quality culture and consistent delivery against standards. The rating reflects the collective efforts of staff across disciplines to embed best pr

The NIHR St George’s Clinical Research Facility attended a Turkish community charity food event in New Malden this week to speak with residents about health, early diagnosis and how to take part in NIHR research safely and confidentially. Some of the attendees said many people are living with long-term health conditions “in silence” because of stigma, cultural sensitivities or uncertainty about how to access help. “Our message is simple,” we told them. “You matter, your voice

Our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) met members of Sutton’s Afro-Caribbean Cultural Organisation ( SACCO )during Black History Month to raise awareness of health research and clinical trials, with a particular focus on the Improving Black Health Outcomes ( IBHO ) BioResource and the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s “ Be Part of Research ” service. The event, which drew an engaged audience and a warm reception, set out the case for inclusive research so that

Community, conversation and confidence at “Visit My Mosque” Open Day Last weekend, our team was delighted to join the Visit My Mosque Open Day at Tooting Islamic Centre. With a warm welcome from the Centre’s leaders and volunteers, we set up an information stand to talk with worshippers and neighbours about health research and clinical trials—what they are, why they matter, and how our community can shape the future of care. Health research only works when it reflects the peo

St George’s Vaccine Institute and NIHR Clinical Research Facility invite members of the public and staff to take part in research and clinical trials aimed at improving protection for infants, older adults and people at higher risk. The Institute whose Director is Professor Paul Heath, has a long tradition of vaccine research, and is expanding trials of new and existing vaccines while working to better understand why some people are hesitant to be vaccinated. The goal: improv

Thank you to everyone who joined the Daphne Steele Memorial Lecture on Wednesday 15 October, held in celebration of Black History Month. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all our nurses — especially those at our Clinical Research Facility, whose passion, leadership and commitment to research continue to embody the trailblazing legacy of Daphne Steele. Organised by the Association of Guyanese Nurses and Allied Professionals (AGNAP) and supported by the REACH network, the

St George’s Hospital has treated its first participant in a new early-phase clinical trial for MND.

St George’s begins testing a new technique for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) treatment. In a landmark moment for UK vascular research, St George’s Hospital has become the first site in the country to recruit a patient in a major international clinical trial testing a new technique for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) treatment. The trial, known as AAA-Shape, is evaluating a novel device designed to prevent dangerous post-treatment complications, specifically blood leaking

Ahead of Black Leaders Awareness Day, meet Tinashe Samakomva, Head of Research (Nursing & Midwifery) at St George’s. “Curiosity has always been at the heart of who I am – I love asking questions. During nurse training, I was constantly asking “why?” and even quizzing surgeons about genetics in theatres. This inquisitiveness led me to pursue my first research role. “What I love most about research is the people—patients, clinical colleagues, and our brilliant research teams. I

Bridging the gap between underrepresented communities and dementia research. The Dementia Research Café, developed by teams at St George’s, has been shortlisted for a 2025 Nursing Times Award in the Clinical Research Nursing category. This recognition celebrates the teamwork between dementia nurses, research nurses including Sittana Abdelmagid, the Chaplaincy team, and the Positive Network Community Project — a local African-Caribbean mental health charity. Together, they cre

“Medicine must work for everyone—and that starts with inclusive research.” Professor Dan Forton, CRF Director & Hepatology Consultant At the centre of groundbreaking healthcare innovation in South London lies the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at St George’s Hospital — a place where science meets compassion, and research becomes hope. Co-directed by Professor Daniel Forton, Hepatology Consultant, the CRF is not just a clinical unit; it’s a vital hub where pioneering treatme

Our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has been recognised as a Gold Recruiter for Colo-Cohort, the Bowel Cancer Risk Prevention Study. Our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has been recognised as a Gold Recruiter for Colo-Cohort, the Bowel Cancer Risk Prevention Study. The accolade reflects sustained, high-quality enrolment that is helping the study accelerate delivery while maintaining rigorous standards of participant experience, governance and data quality. Colo-Cohort aims

The study offers free genome sequencing for newborn babies to detect over 200 rare but treatable genetic conditions. St George’s Hospital is proud to be part of The Generation Study , a new national research initiative led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS. The study offers free genome sequencing for newborn babies to detect over 200 rare but treatable genetic conditions. This is a major step forward in newborn care. By identifying conditions before symptoms ap

Sickle Cell Awareness Month is in September. It's a time to learn more about a disease that affects Black communities more than other groups. Fatimah participated in the Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource, a research project within the NIHR BioResource that is working to close racial health gaps. She took part to add her voice to a national call to action. Fatimah said, "We need to be part of the conversation if we want better healthcare." "This is one way we

Every year, it is estimated that there are 13 million cases of typhoid and paratyphoid A fever combined, resulting in 133 thousand deaths, mainly affecting school-aged children in Asia and Africa.  We are looking for healthy volunteers to take part in a study to test a new vaccine against typhoid and paratyphoid A fever. In order to test if the vaccine works to protect against paratyphoid A fever, after vaccination with the new vaccine or a control vaccine, we will be challen

Arlene Wellman, Group Chief Nurse, has shown her support for the Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource by taking part in filming at St George’s Clinical Research Facility. She spoke about why initiatives like this are so vital for the future of healthcare, particularly for Black communities who are often underrepresented in research. As her leaving day at St George’s draws closer in September, Arlene continues to give her time and energy to important initiatives

Our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has intensified efforts to widen participation in health studies after a successful outreach at the Gambian Festival, where staff promoted ongoing research and clinical trials, including the IBHO sickle cell project. The appearance led to immediate community engagement and resulted in a local resident, Fatimah, a Gambian Muslim woman, joining the IBHO project and sharing her experience on film in collaboration with the NIHR communications