Research

1. UCLH Biomedical Research Centre

The research of the evidENT team is closely linked to that of the NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, a partnership between University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and UCL. 

2. Clinical Trials

MACRO

Defining the best management for adult chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps. 

For more information visit the macroprogramme website or via the registry website. 

Publications:

• Vennik J, Eyles C, Thomas M, et al. Management strategies for chronic rhinosinusitis: a qualitative study of GP and ENT specialist views of current practice in the UK. BMJ Open. 2018;8(12):e022643. Published 2018 Dec 19. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022643
• Blackshaw H, Vennik J, Philpott C, et al. Expert panel process to optimise the design of a randomised controlled trial in chronic rhinosinusitis (the MACRO programme). Trials. 2019;20(1):230. Published 2019 Apr 23. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3318-3
• Vennik J, Eyles C, Thomas M, et al. Chronic rhinosinusitis: a qualitative study of patient views and experiences of current management in primary and secondary care. BMJ Open. 2019;9(4):e022644. Published 2019 Apr 23. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022644
• Philpott C, le Conte S, Beard D, et al. Clarithromycin and endoscopic sinus surgery for adults with chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps: study protocol for the MACRO randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2019;20(1):246. Published 2019 Apr 29. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3314-7
• Hopkins C, Williamson E, Morris S, et al. Antibiotic usage in chronic rhinosinusitis: analysis of national primary care electronic health records. Rhinology. 2019;57(6):420-429. doi:10.4193/Rhin19.136
• McDermott C, Vennik J, Philpott C, et al. Maximising recruitment to a randomised controlled trial for chronic rhinosinusitis using qualitative research methods: the MACRO conversation study. Trials. 2021;22(1):54. Published 2021 Jan 13. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04993-w

REGAIN

A first-in-human study of the safety and efficacy of a novel regenerative hearing drug for people with sensorineural hearing loss.

For more information visit the regaining your hearing website or via the registry website. 

Publications:

• Landry EC, Scholte M, Su MP, et al. Early Health Economic Modeling of Novel Therapeutics in Age-Related Hearing Loss. Front Neurosci. 2022;16:769983. Published 2022 Mar 4. doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.769983
• Schilder AGM, Su MP, Mandavia R, et al. Early phase trials of novel hearing therapeutics: Avenues and opportunities. Hear Res. 2019;380:175-186. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2019.07.003

SLUMBRS2

Comparing side-lying sleep positioning to back-lying in infants with cleft palate.

For more information visit the registry page. 

COACH

Comparing cochlear implants with hearing aids in adults with severe hearing loss.

For more information visit the coach website or the registry website. 

FAMOUS

Investigating the clinical and cost effectiveness of a 4-step follow-up and monitoring intervention compared to usual care for adults offered an NHS hearing aid for the first time.

For more information visit the NIHR website. 

PLOTS

Comparing topical with oral antibiotics in children with acute otitis media presenting with ear discharge (Netherlands).

For more information visit the Julius Centrum website or the registry website. 

Publications:

• Hullegie S, Venekamp RP, van Dongen TMA, et al. Topical or oral antibiotics for children with acute otitis media presenting with ear discharge: study protocol of a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial. BMJ Open. 2021;11(12):e052128. Published 2021 Dec 16. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052128

OPTIMA

Effectiveness of analgesic ear drops as add-on treatment to oral analgesics in children with acute otitis media (Netherlands).

For more information visit the registry website. 

3. Data Science Projects

Tele-otology Service

This novel ear and hearing care service tested in North London allows ENT surgeons to assess patients remotely and reduce hospital visits.

For more information visit the NIHR website. 

NIHR Health Informatics Collaborative – Hearing Health

Mr Nish Mehta co-leads this collaborative which focuses on making better use of patient hearing health data captured in NHS records. Participating sites across the UK collect hearing data in a standardised and integrated manner and have set up a structure for sharing and analysing these data anonymously. Plans for future research include exploration of effects of known and novel risk factors for hearing loss, identification of genetic causes of hearing loss and identification of candidates for upcoming clinical trials.

For more information visit the NIHR website. 

4. Observational Studies

Ototoxicity monitoring in platinum based chemotherapy,

Monitoring ototoxicity in patients undergoing treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy for sarcoma and testicular cancer using tablet based self-administered hearing tests and serum biomarkers.

For more information visit the UCLH website.

SeaSHeL

National cohort study investigating patient pathways, quality of life and prognosis for sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss.

For more information visit the SeaSHeL website or the registry website. 

Publications:

• Mandavia R, Hannink G, Ahmed MN, et al. Prognostic factors for outcomes of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: protocol for the SeaSHeL national prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2020;10(9):e038552. Published 2020 Sep 28. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038552

COVIDTrach

National cohort study investigating the determinants for the outcome of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy.

For more information visit the UCL website or the registry website. 

Publications:

• COVIDTrach collaborative. COVIDTrach; the outcomes of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy in the UK: Interim Report. Br J Surg. 2020;107(12):e583-e584. doi:10.1002/bjs.12020
• COVIDTrach collaborative. COVIDTrach: a prospective cohort study of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 undergoing tracheostomy in the UK. BMJ Surg Interv Health Technol. 2021;3(1):e000077. doi:10.1136/bmjsit-2020-000077