Research is used to build new knowledge, improve current care and develop new treatments. The National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (now referred to as RDN; Research Delivery Network) provide the infrastructure that allows high-quality clinical research to take place in the NHS.
All clinical research must be approved by an independent research ethics committee - the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This safeguards the rights and welfare of research participants as well as making sure that high quality research is carried out. All research is voluntary, and participants are free to withdraw at any time.
The Women’s Health department at UCLH are committed to improving outcomes for women and babies by improving care, diagnosis and treatment within obstetrics and gynaecology. A small team of research midwives, research doctors, research nurses and research administrative, staff work on an extensive portfolio of CRN funded research studies that cover specialised areas including maternity, gynaecology, neonatal care, fertility, genetics, miscarriage, urogynaecology and cancer.
UCLH is a large teaching hospital and has many research projects underway at any one time. Whilst under our care you are likely to be invited to participate in a research project by healthcare professionals. This may be one of our consultants, nurses or midwives.
Alternatively, if you are interested in volunteering for any of our studies or just would like to have some more information please contact us.
In the unlikely event you encounter any problems or have any concerns about any of our research activity or would like to learn more, please contact Yaa Acheampong, research manager at y.
For more information about our gynaecology and neonatal studies, please visit the pages below:
Aim:
This study is assessing whether a cerclage (a stitch placed around the cervix) is better if it is placed through the vagina, or abdominally (through a cut in the tummy) in women who have had a preterm birth or mid-trimester pregnancy loss (a miscarriage between 14 and 24 weeks of pregnancy) after a previous caesarean section in labour.
Recruitment:
- Women who are willing and able to give informed consent.
- Women are aged 16 or above.
- Women who have had a previous in-labour caesarean section (between 4 cm and 10 cm (fully) dilated) followed by a MTL (>14 w) or preterm birth (<30 weeks).
- Women who are pregnant, but will be less than 14+0 weeks’ gestation at time of allocated intervention (Group A) OR
- Women who are not yet pregnant but are considering a further pregnancy (Group B).
Additional information:
Aim:
To find out whether it is possible to grow stem cells from amniotic fluid, placental tissue, and fetal fluid, and whether proteins found in the fluid can be used to indicate long term outcome for problems such as kidney disease.
Recruitment:
Two groups of women are eligible to take part in this study:
- women having amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), fetal blood or urine sampling for prenatal diagnosis are eligible to participate in the study.
- women attending UCLH to give birth to their baby.
Additional information:
Amniotic fluid, placental and stem cells study participant information sheet
Aim:
This study aims to design and test a digital web-based tool for use in maternity and gynaecology. This tool will provide women and their families with information on different investigations offered in these settings in a more ‘user-friendly’ format.
Recruitment:
- Women who have attended or will be attending maternity clinics OR gynaecology clinics
- Women who have been offered investigations and/ or genetic testing related to a gynaecological condition or a current pregnancy
- Women who can give informed consent.
Additional information:
Aim:
To improve the quality of imaging from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasound and use these to develop low risk techniques for diagnosis, treatment and therapy for a range of dangerous conditions of the baby during pregnancy.
Recruitment:
Pregnant women recommended to have a fetal MRI due to fetal abnormality or pregnancy complications.
Additional information:
Aim:
To develop dedicated MRI techniques for more patient-specific information to predict likelihood of operative or instrumental delivery.
Recruitment:
- Pregnant participants of any ethnicity over 16 years of age and under 55 years of age, with a singleton pregnancy and are planning a vaginal delivery at term.
- No contraindications for MRI Scan
Aim:
This study aims to characterise the immune responses in women with adverse pregnancy outcome due to chronic inflammatory placental disorders, and to determine how these conditions impact the lives of affected women and their families.
Recruitment:
- Women aged 18-50 who have had at least 1 pregnancy affected by chronic histiocytic intervillositis (CHI), villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) or massive perivillous fibrin deposition (MPFD)
- Women aged 18-50 who have had unexplained recurrent late pregnancy loss (2 or more pregnancy losses after 10 weeks’ gestation with no clear cause)
- Women aged 18-50 who have had two uncomplicated healthy pregnancies with normal-weight babies born at term
- Fathers of studied pregnancies
Aim:
This study exploring how often pregnant women in the UK who have recently migrated from or travelled to malaria-endemic African countries carry malaria without showing symptoms.
The study involves a short questionnaire and a blood test taken alongside routine antenatal bloods, with optional interviews to understand women’s experiences of maternity care. Findings aim to improve clinical guidance and reduce pregnancy-related risks linked to undetected malaria.
Recruitment:
- Women receiving antenatal care in the UK
- Women who have recently migrated from or travelled to a malaria-endemic country in Africa
- Women who are considered at risk of asymptomatic malaria
- Women who can give informed consent.
Additional information:
Aim:
This study looks to gain further understanding on the management, clinical course, and risk of re-occurrence of severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in women who have had pregnancies with offspring affected by early onset severe (EOS)-HDFN
Recruitment:
- Women aged ≥18 years.
- Has a record of a pregnancy affected by EOS-HDFN.
- Has a record of at least 1 pregnancy with an antigen-positive fetus subsequent to the qualifying pregnancy.
Aim:
To investigate how bacteria in the vagina and urine may help current tools (e.g. cervical length and fetal fibronectin) to best predict preterm birth in twins. We specifically aim to investigate twin pregnancies undergoing an intervention such as fetal laser surgery, as well as those undergoing a cervical cerclage.
Recruitment:
- Uncomplicated singleton and twin pregnancy
- Singleton pregnancy have had a prior spontaneous PTB before 34 weeks
- Singleton or twin pregnancy at risk of preterm birth, requiring a clinically indicated cervical cerclage
- Monochorionic twin pregnancy identified to have twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) or selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) requiring fetoscopic
Additional information:
Aim:
This is a multi-study research programme aimed at improving care for women at risk of preterm birth by evaluating new tests, treatments, and approaches to prediction and prevention.
The programme brings together pregnant women and healthcare teams to collect clinical information and follow pregnancy and birth outcomes to help reduce the number of babies born too early. Findings will support faster translation of research into clinical practice to improve outcomes for women and families.
Recruitment:
- Women who are at increased risk of preterm birth, including those who:
- Have a previous history of preterm birth, and/or
- Have had cervical surgery, and/or
- Have symptoms suggestive of preterm labour
- Women attending specialist preterm or maternity clinics involved in the programme
- Eligible for one or more sub-studies within the programme, as assessed by their doctor or midwife
- Women who can give informed consent.
Additional information:
Aim:
To look at new methods of detecting problems in pregnancy, in the hope of developing earlier and safer ways of identifying genetic conditions. Research has shown that a pregnant mother has some of her baby’s DNA and other substances in her own blood, so a simple blood sample from the mother can help us to detect any genetic conditions or chromosomal problems in the unborn baby.
Recruitment:
- Women with normal and complicated pregnancies are asked to donate a blood sample of 20-30mls. In addition to this, where it is possible, we are also asking partners to donate about 10mls of their blood, so we can better define the baby’s DNA from the mother’s.
Additional information:
Aim:
The SLEEP (Study 1) aims to understand how women sleep after having a baby so that we can get better at detecting mental health problems through changes in sleep patterns.
Recruitment:
- 18 years old or over
- 37 weeks pregnant or above
- Not in active labour
Additional information:
- Participation involves completing questionnaires on sleep and mental health and wearing a wristwatch which collects information about your sleep. Participants will receive a £10 Amazon voucher to thank you for your time. If you’d like to know more or ask any questions, please contact Dr Chiara Petrosellini at chiara.
petrosellini. 22 @ucl.ac.uk
Aim:
To collect tissue from a variety of developing fetal organs in the last two-thirds of pregnancy from women who decide to undergo a termination of pregnancy and who wish to undergo a clinical fetal post-mortem (PM) examination.
Recruitment:
- ≥18 years old pregnant women who attend the Fetal Medicine Unit for concerns about a fetal abnormality where they decide to proceed to termination of pregnancy.
- Written informed consent obtained (sought after the clinical decision to TOP and signatures for termination are obtained).
- >14 weeks gestation live pregnancy shown by ultrasound scan.
- Known low risk for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections.
Additional information:
Aim:
The Generation Study is a long-term research study. We want to understand if we can improve how we diagnose and treat genetic conditions by looking at the DNA of newborn babies. The study focuses on gathering evidence to decide whether (and how) whole genome sequencing should be offered to all newborn babies.
By taking part, you could find out early about a possible genetic condition in your baby. Joining the study could also help future generations of children with genetic conditions get a healthier start in life. This study is free and optional.
Recruitment:
- 16 or over
- Must have parental responsibility for baby
- Registered with a GP in England Singleton birth
Website: www.generationstudy.co.uk
Aim:
Developing a wearable placental monitoring device that non-invasively monitors placental function (oxygenation and metabolism) using a light technology called NIRS (Near- Infrared Spectroscopy), to reduce hypoxic brain injury and stillbirth.
Recruitment:
- Women ≥ 18 years old
- Singleton pregnancy
- ≥ 23 weeks gestation
Pilot study (June 2023 - May 2024)
- Women with a 'normal' or 'low risk’ pregnancy
Main study (April 2024 onwards)
- Women who with a singleton pregnancy with risk factors including pre-eclampsia, pre-existing or gestational diabetes mellitus and reactive hypoglycemia, growth restricted/ small for gestational age fetus, infection, or inflammation.
Additional information:
Aim:
- Investigate the role of T-regulatory (Treg) cell in maintaining a healthy pregnancy and influencing the development of pre-eclampsia.
Recruitment:
- All women in their first ongoing pregnancy
Additional information:
Aim:
Improve our knowledge and understanding of the caesarean section scar effect, by assessing the healing of the scar using ultrasound imaging. To compare the imaging findings with future pregnancy outcomes.
Recruitment:
- Women over 18 years old with a previous emergency lower segment caesarean section.
Additional information:
Research Champions
The National Institute for Health Research are recruiting volunteer Research Champions to help spread the word about health research.
Being a Research Champion
You can be a Research Champion if you are passionate about making sure people get the best treatment possible in the future. You don't have to have been part of health research to get involved and make a difference.
- You can commit as much or as little time as you like.
- You will have access to free training and support.
- You will be part of national network of volunteers and find out about other opportunities to make a difference.
- You will be invited to events and get to meet others in your community, and health professionals and researchers.
Want to get involved?
If you are interested in becoming a research champion or finding out more, please get in touch with your local contact: www.nihr.ac.uk/researchchampions
Women's Health Research PRES Data Report
Participants of research studies within the Women’s Health department at UCLH were asked to take part in the Patient Research Experience Survey (PRES), as a part of the wider NIHR patient satisfaction project. Results of this survey are detailed in this report.
