THE University of Bolton has joined forces with Oxford University’s innovative trials to develop treatments in the fight against Covid-19.
Prof George Holmes, the university's vice chancelllor, has announced they are to support The PRINCIPLE Trial and has assembled a team of ‘student champions’ to help enlist volunteers from the community to take part in the programme.
The primary care trials are aiming to find treatments for Covid-19 for people who are at most risk of serious illness.
Investigators are looking for medicines which can help people with symptoms of the virus to recover at home, get better quickly and prevent them from needing to go to hospital.
Prof Holmes said he was delighted when he was approached by Oxford University to collaborate in the trials.
“We have been concerned for some time about the disproportionate effect that Covid has on the Bolton community, and we pledge to do as much as we can as a university to help reduce the impact of the virus,” he said.
“The PRINCIPLE Trial is key because it is looking at methods of treatment based on existing medicines and any breakthrough could be a game-changer in the battle against the virus.
“The more people from the community we can encourage to get involved, the better.”
Prof Mahendra Patel is a former national board member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and was the first to be recognised as a Fellow of NICE, the clinical standards specialist, in 2010.
He joined Oxford University and its Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences in a national role as Pharmacy and ethnic minority communities research lead, on the trials.
He said: “I am delighted the University of Bolton, through its own community of students and staff with its strong network and collaboration across Bolton, has decided to support this important and priority UK-wide public health trial.
“Having students as champions and advocates who will be encouraged and supported to go out into the community in various settings to actively promote the trial is just fantastic news.
“This is an opportunity to showcase how community outreach work can potentially play a huge role in reducing health inequalities.”
Prof Chris Butler, the trials lead investigator, added: “Effective treatments for Covid-19 that are suitable for community use are urgently needed.
“Many people still get sick with Covid despite vaccination, and a safe, highly effective treatment will help them get better quicker, reduce spread, and prevent the need for hospital admission.
“Finding such treatments requires a whole nation approach. We are therefore excited by the University of Bolton’s new initiative of having ambassadors reaching out to a diverse range of communities supporting and raising awareness of these trials in the community.
“We are humbled and delighted with the university communities doing their bit to vigorously support the trial and in helping us to find an effective treatment with urgency."
Dr Helen Lowey, the borough's public health director, said: "We are pleased to support this exciting collaboration between the University of Bolton and Oxford University.
“Working with the community to help to find new and effective ways to treat Covid-19 will hopefully bring significant benefits for everyone in the future and is another weapon in the fight against this disease, along with vaccination and regular testing.”
The trials launched in March 2020 and have grown to become the world’s largest Covid-19 treatment trial for recovery at home with 6,000 volunteers taking part.
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