Paddington Bear visited the Clinical Research Facility earlier this week

Teddy bears to show importance of clinical trials to families

If you go down to Princesshay, you’ll be in for a big surprise. Bring your teddy bears along, all shapes and styles, and learn about clinical trials.

The cuddly toys will demonstrate clinical trials to children and families on International Clinical Trials Day.

The Exeter Clinical Research Facility (CRF), will have stalls in Princesshay shopping centre on 20th May 2019 between 9.30 and 16.30, to show how clinical trials work and the benefits of them.

Children are encouraged to take their teddy bear to Princesshay and measure them and their features. The differences in their soft toys will help to show them the distinctions between people and how this information can be useful to researchers. The event will also have opportunities for adults to learn more about clinical trials and sign up for those occurring in Exeter.

Clinical Research Facility Manager Jo Studham said: “This event will shine the light on clinical trials and their vital role in improving healthcare. We’re hoping to inspire the next generation of budding researchers and scientists, showing them how differences in their cuddly toys can translate to that in people. Getting young people involved in science from an early age is important. By getting them involved early, they are much more likely to see this as a career in the future.”

The Exeter Clinical Research Facility will also have their mobile van in Princesshay as a consultation room to find out more about clinical trials, including Exeter 10,000.

Exeter 10,000 is a large, local research study which involves people of all backgrounds living in this part of Devon. The Research Innovation Learning and Development (RILD) Building hosts the trials and takes samples from participants which are then stored anonymously for use in  life-saving research. Over the last 10 years, they have supported over 300 studies.

The original goal for the Exeter based clinical trial was 10,000 participants. It now currently includes over 11,000 people, but is always looking to expand further. People 16 years or older are invited to take part. Blood and urine samples are taken along with a few other measurements and a short questionnaire. This only happens once and the average visit takes around 30 – 40 minutes. Any data provided will be anonymised and stored securely.

The NIHR Exeter CRF is a partnership between the University of Exeter Medical School and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust. It is dedicated to facilitating clinical and translational research.

Since 2014, the CRF has been embedded within the RILD Building where it works with Exeter Clinical Trials Unit and the Wellcome Wolfson Centre for Medical Research to deliver high quality clinical and medical research.

For more information on the Exeter Clinical Research Facility and Exeter 10,000 visit the website.

Date: 14 May 2019