International Clinical Trials Day 2020: 60 seconds with Imogen Skene and Jamila Kassam
COVID-19 research site team leaders Imogen Skene and Jamila Kassam discuss how their roles have changed during the pandemic.
How has your job changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Imogen: My normal role is as a senior clinical research nurse in the emergency department. Following the outbreak, my role initially changed to working clinically in the emergency department, which is the area I worked in prior to and during my clinical research role. During this time the national COVID-19 research studies were being developed, and soon I was asked to take on the role of COVID-19 Research team leader at the Royal London Hospital.
This role involves coordinating the delivery of nationally prioritised COVID-19 studies across the hospital. Clinical researchers from specialties across the trust were drawn together to enable us to understand the virus and offer novel treatments.
What does an average day look like?
IS: A normal day starts at 8am at the emergency department morning handover - part of the morning briefing includes an update on trials running in the ED and identifying who are clinical trial trained team are for the day. We’d then screen the department for any new arrivals who are suitable.
At 9am, the newly formed COVID-19 research team gather in the ED for an update on the studies we are running and to discuss new studies that are starting. The team then attend ward rounds and screen the COVID-19 wards for patients eligible to participate in the studies. After this we would monitor that current patients who are in the trials, to ensure the treatments are being given, monitor them for the follow up data that is needed to show what impact the treatments are having.
At 9:30, the team leaders from across the Barts Health sites meet via teleconference to discuss whats going well, and any barriers to be overcome as well as potential new studies.
We get alerted to a potential patient who is suitable for a trial – we then need to approach the clinical team to ensure they are ready to be approached, go to the donning zone and put on the required PPE. We then approach the patient with the information about the studies and give them some time to consider participation. If they have consented, we randomized to them and can deliver the novel treatment.
Communications with families is vital at present, we are often phoning patients families to give them updates, as once we have donned and seen the patients, there are messages to relay back to their families. For some of our trials, patients are too unwell to make a decision about participating in these trials, we are contacting their families and giving them information about the studies.
JK: Things changed incredibly quickly day by day. Initially we had to set up an office and get to know the wider clinical teams, then the day was busy contacting families about their relatives taking part in research, making sure that every patient had the opportunity to take part in research despite being unable to consent for themselves.
What do you like most about your job?
IS: The benefits of being a clinical research nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic, means I have been able to contribute directly to patient care, while also being a part of the national COVID-19 research effort.
I am proud to be a clinical research nurse, particularly during these times, where is it vital that research is conducted to help us understand the characterized of patients who are affected as week as trial and monitor outcomes of novel treatments.
JK: The variety – no two days are the same! And the people: the research team at the Nightingale was incredible, a mix of nurses, doctors and physios - working with them was a real privilege.
In what way does what you do help patients?
JK: There is so much we don’t know about COVID-19. Never have I felt the importance of research more than at this time. Running these studies is key to find the answers we need to save lives.
What is your proudest achievement?
IS: I’m proud of our research team, who have pulled together from clinical specialities across the whole hospital, to working on setting delivering these studies.
We are currently the top recruiting site for the GenOMMICS study in the last fortnight.
JK: The Nightingale was one of the top recruiters for the GenOMICCS Study, such an achievement given the circumstances.
What has been your biggest challenge?
IS: It’s challenging to involve patients in research in an emergency department or intensive care setting at the best of times, however during this pandemic, while our patients are scared, sick and in hospital without their family, to approach people, dressed head to toe in PPE, and ask them to consider participating in a study, has been emotionally tough. I’ve been really proud of our community, who while sick and scared, have listened and considered participation in these studies.
JK: Setting up a clinical research department from scratch in a conference centre is probably one of the biggest challenges I have faced at work ever!
How do you unwind after a busy shift?
IS: I’ve made sure we’ve had COVID-19 free times on days off – turning off my mobile phone and the news! I’ve taking time to go for a run or a walk which I find helps clear my head.
JK: It’s been very hectic lately, but whenever I can I try and do an online pilates class which is great for unwinding. That or playing with my two year old are great ways to distance myself from work!
How are you feeling about the future?
IS: I am apprehensive about a second wave, however I feel that we are in a better position now than at the start of the year – we have initial findings from some of the studies, such as ISARIC which have helped to characterize COVID-19, as well as trials up and running to help find treatments.
JK: These are such uncertain times but I am hopeful that research will help us manage living with COVID-19 so that lives can begin to return to normal.
Tell us something surprising about yourself.
IS: I love the seaside, having grown up on the coast. I’ve qualified as a rescue diver and take the opportunity go diving whenever I can!
JK: I am a secret knitter!