The research study is set to utilise community pharmacies and pharmacy technicians to recruit participants and gather crucial health data, shares Mahendra Patel in an exclusive interview
In a significant move to address health disparities and enhance clinical research, community pharmacies across several regions are set to become central players in the Genes and Health study.
Led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the Wellcome Trust, this national initiative aims to improve health outcomes within British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani communities.
Professor Mahendra Patel, Director of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford, highlighted the importance of this approach.
"By engaging the broader pharmacy workforce, including technicians, we aim to establish a research-ready infrastructure within community pharmacies," Patel told Pharmacy Business.
He shared that the initiative marks a transformative step in integrating pharmacies into the clinical research landscape.
The Thames Valley and South Midlands Clinical Research Network (CRN) is managing a pioneering pilot program for this study, which will initially focus on pharmacies in Banbury, Oxford City, Reading, Slough, High Wycombe, and Aylesbury.
These locations have been chosen for their potential to make a significant impact in addressing chronic health conditions prevalent in the target communities.
Pharmacies participating in the study will be provided with comprehensive training, promotional materials, and support to aid in the recruitment of participants.
Each pharmacy is expected to enlist a minimum of 38 participants, with compensation available for their efforts.
Moreover, Pharmacy technicians, who will play a vital role in participant recruitment, will earn £22 for each participant they successfully enroll.
The Genes and Health study aims to recruit 100,000 participants aged 16 and over, who will provide saliva samples and medical records.
This data will be crucial in developing improved treatments and preventive measures specifically tailored to communities that experience disproportionately high rates of diabetes and other chronic health conditions.
Professor Patel underscored the initiative’s broader significance: “We are currently working on training the pharmacy workforce to create a research-ready infrastructure for future health research.
"This innovative initiative, led through Thames Valley and South Midlands, aims to extend to other health and research studies across the country.
"By collecting simple throat swabs from individuals in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, we aim to gather more comprehensive information about their health and disease patterns."
Helen Collins, Ph.D., MBA, Research Delivery Manager at the NIHR Clinical Research Network: Thames Valley and South Midlands, also expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration.
She noted that they were pleased to partner with Professor Mahendra Patel and local pharmacy organisations.
"This initiative will enhance the ability of community pharmacies to conduct clinical research through a novel funding model and established connections.
"Pharmacy organisations in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire will soon begin recruiting participants for the Genes and Health study.
"This pilot model is designed to create a replicable framework for similar studies across the UK," she told Pharmacy Business.
The Genes and Health study represents a crucial advancement in integrating community pharmacies into the clinical research field.
It is untended to ensure that underrepresented communities benefit from the latest advancements in genomic medicine and health research.
Daniella Fakhouri, director of pharmacy at LIPs
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections (Getty Images)
