The Christie Foundation Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22

Research and Innovation

The goal of Research and Innovation at The Christie is to learn from every patient, enable every patient to participate in research and apply this knowledge to improve the lives of patients with cancer now and in the future. Recovery of Research Activity A high level of research activity was maintained through COVID-19 after an initial dip in the second quarter of 2020 when clinical research was paused. The past year has seen accelerated recovery with 135 studies set up in the first three quarters of 2021/22; a 35% increase in activity compared with 86 and 98 studies set up in 2020/21 (through COVID-19) and in 2019/20 (PRE COVID-19), respectively. Our current portfolio spans 913 phase I, II, III, IV or observational research studies that are in set-up, actively open to participation of patients or closed to recruitment undergoing active follow up of patients enrolled and analysis of clinical outcomes. Nationally collected data for Q2 2021/22 places The Christie in 8th position of 185 trusts overall (activity highest of specialist cancer centres / trusts) for performance in initiating clinical research (PID) and delivery in recruiting to time and target has been maintained at 52.2% of studies; a rate slightly higher than other cancer centres and in line with expected for the mixed portfolio of clinical studies represented. Tables 1 and 2 show the totals and trends in the number of patients screened to participate in research and subsequently enrolled into a study annually for the pre-COVID-19, COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. The figures reflect the whole portfolio of studies from observational, questionnaire-based data collections of clinical outcomes and quality of life through interventional clinical trials of investigational medicinal products, radiotherapy, surgery and supportive procedures. Higher recruitment peaking at 4588 (94% of patients screened) in the 20/21 COVID-19 period reflects a majority of

patients recruited to observational research to investigate the impact of COVID-19. In contrast the pre and post COVID-19 periods illustrate lower proportions of screened patients subsequently entering a study (64 and 54 %, respectively). A shift to interventional, resource intense studies that provide access to therapies in development is evidenced by a ~ 400 % increase in patients screened for Clinical Trial of an Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPs) through 21/22 (Table 1). Recruitment of patients eligible after screening is 20% down compared to pre COVID-19 with screening of patients at 6% down reflecting a lag time between increased activity to recover set up of studies and recruitment of patients. Historically, the timeline of set up, recruitment and follow up is at least two years and can span a decade. The COVID-19 period led to expedited research set up for COVID-19 facing studies and embraced remote / virtual patient consent and data monitoring. This legacy is a current focus to embed in operational efficiency for faster answers to research questions.

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