Jane Nixon is Professor of Tissue Viability and Clinical Trials Research.In 2016 and 2020 she was appointed as an NIHR Senior Investigator and in 2017 was awarded an MBE for her contribution to health research.

Jane’s clinical background was in elderly care and anaesthetic nursing and she gained her PhD in 2001 whilst a senior nurse in the NHS. She has 43 research awards (~£42m), with an internationally recognised programme of pressure ulcer prevention research including 4 large prevention trials (OR Mattress; PRESSURE; PRESSURE2; PRESSURE3), epidemiological research, systematic reviews of risk factors and quality of life, outcome measurement, risk assessment (PURPOSE-T) and self-care (PUP@Home).

She leads a CTU based skin portfolio working collaboratively with dermatologists, vascular surgeons, podiatrists, nurses and the NIHR CRN in the design and delivery of large multi-centre trials and diagnostic studies in areas including hand eczema (ALPHA), dermatology surgery (HEALS, HEALS2), diabetic foot ulcer/surgical (CODIFI; CODIFI2; MIDFUT; DOMINO DFU, DFU-REFORM).

Presentation at The SoTV/EWMA 2024 Conference, London

Delivering a pressure ulcer prevention trial through a hip fracture platform: WhiTE14_PRESSURE3

Learning objectives

After attending this session, persons will be able to:

• Understand the principles of a Trial Within Cohort Platform design
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages in the set-up and delivery of a Platform trial
• Understand key design considerations in Platform design and trial adoption

Abstract

The World Hip Trauma Evaluation (WHiTE) Platform is designed to efficiently deliver multiple randomised comparisons of interventions in patients with a hip fracture. The Platform design aims to simplify the research pathway, enable core data to be utilised across multiple studies and provide efficiencies through streamlined ethical/regulatory approvals.

WHiTE14_PRESSURE 3 is a three arm RCT comparing standard care, heel off-loading and heel constant low pressure in the prevention of pressure ulcers (PU).

The design/delivery of previous PU prevention trials reported three specific challenges. 1. Patients at risk of PUs are admitted across a range of medical specialties requiring establishment of hospital wide research nurse resource. 2. Identifying high risk characteristics to maximise events/minimise sample size. 3. Reduced PU incidence low number of events has led to increasingly large a priori sample sizes.

Collaboration through WHiTE to establish WHiTE14_PRESSURE3 has enabled efficiencies addressing two of the three key challenges. 1. WHiTE has a single specialty  patient pathway, an established research team and full clinical team engagement. 2. Patients are all at high risk of PU development. 3. Whilst only 25% of PUs are located on the heels and low incidence rates remains a challenge in the design(3102), the trial is building upon existing master protocols and experienced and existing clinical research resource, with advantages in reduced set-up times and rapid recruitment (in comparison with previous UK trials).

The presentation will discuss our experiences to date in the design and delivery of a PU prevention trial through an established Platform.

Presentation at The SoTV/EWMA 2024 Conference, London

The UK ambition for platform trials

Learning objectives

After attending this session, persons will be able to:

• A brief overview of the history, development and successes of Platform trials
• Understanding of range of Platform designs including Multi-Arm, Multi-Stage, Umbrella and Trials With-in Cohort designs
• Understanding of examples of Platform trials in wound care
• Update on recent NIHR funding for Platform Acceleration Awards and ambitious grant submissions

Abstract

This presentation will provide: a brief history of successful UK Platform trials (eg the COVID RECOVERY Trial and Multi-Arm, Multi-Stage trials in wound care); outline the UK ambition to enhance efficiency in trial delievry through Platform trial funding; summarise recent project success in Platform development awards in leg ulcers, surgical site infection and DFUs and; describe proposed Platform designs under funder consideration.

Presentation at The Society of Tissue Viability 2023 Conference

Evidence based practice? Impact of NIHR wounds research on clinical practice and summary of the current portfolio

Objectives

After attending this session, persons will have an understanding of:

• The contribution of UK wounds research to evidence based wounds prevention and treatment practice
• Introduction to PRESSURE3
• Overview of current research NIHR research portfolio
• Being a clinical leader in research

Abstract

Jane will summarise key NIHR research portfolios including pressure ulcer prevention, leg ulcer treatment and DFU treatment and their impact upon clinical practice.

She will also outline the current NIHR funded portfolio of wounds related research being led by nurses, surgeons and diabetes experts which will inform our future practice.

She will make a particular ‘pitch’ for WHiTE14_PRESSURE3 the 4^th large device trial which is comparing standard care, heel off-loading and constant low pressure pads in patients following hip fracture.

Want to develop your scope of practice Jane will also discuss briefly how to contribute to research which informs our future practice.