Future Studies

 

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ERICA

Electronic Risk Assessment for Cancer

A team led by researchers at the University of Exeter has developed new electronic risk assessment tools (otherwise known as eRATs) to help GPs identify possible cancer. The eRATs have two main functions: the prompt and the symptom checker. The prompt appears as a pop-up on screen when a patient has at least a 2% risk of one or more of the seven cancers in the eCDS software. GPs can explore the possibility of cancer further in consultation with the patient using the symptom checker function of the tool. The symptom checker allows the GP to add new symptoms and will automatically recalculate the risk of cancer.

Currently active: No, in the planning stages.

 

DaRe2THINK

DaRe2THINK is a study developed by the University of Birmingham targeting those with Atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is a common heart rhythm condition that leads to a high chance of stroke, frequent hospital admissions, a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Blood thinning tablets called anticoagulants greatly reduce the number of patients with AF that will suffer a stroke, but are usually only given to older patients or those with other health issues. DaRe2Think aims to determine whether direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy reduces premature death, stroke and other consequences of AF in younger patients, including the prevention of cognitive decline and vascular dementia. The trial is aiming to include 3,000 patients from up to 600 GP surgeries across England.

Currently active: No, in the planning stages.

 

Discover Me

Discover Me is a nationwide research study that aims to analyse health and genetic information on thousands of people. The research aims to improve our understanding of many different diseases, and to find ways to help GP practices improve patient care. By connecting information on health to information on genetics, diseases and conditions can be studied in more detail than if either were looked at individually. This provides opportunities to better understand disease, including: 

  • Why certain diseases affect some people more than others
  • Why disease progresses differently in different people
  • How to better prevent, manage and diagnose diseases

This may lead to the improvement or generation of treatments for conditions such as cancer and diabetes, which in turn will improve the health of future generations.

Currently active: No, in the planning stages.