Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit (PenCTU)
Experts in developing, supporting and coordinating multi-centre clinical trials
Research Festival 2020
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Contact us
Please contact us as early as possible so we can help you plan your research and include the costs of our support in your grant application. PenCTU does not provide funding for research.
If you need help with an existing study, please ensure you have sufficient funds to meet the costs of our support.
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Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Health
University of Plymouth
Room N16
ITTC 1 Building
Plymouth Science Park
Plymouth
Devon
PL6 8BX
Welcome to the Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit (PenCTU) based within the Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth.
The PenCTU is a leading academic clinical trials unit, with expertise in designing, developing, supporting and co-ordinating high quality, multi-centre clinical trials and other well-designed studies that will directly influence clinical and healthcare practice.
PenCTU is a fully registered clinical trials unit in the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) and currently receives National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) CTU support funding. This funding has been awarded to support the Unit in developing and supporting NIHR trials.
The PenCTU works in partnership with clinicians, researchers, the NIHR Research Design Service South West, the Clinical Research Network and other partners from across the South West Peninsula and beyond, starting with the funding application, to deliver the full spectrum of clinical trial expertise to applicable standards and regulations.
PenCTU has considerable experience in drug trials, other non-drug interventional trials, trials of complex interventions, pilot trials and feasibility studies, across a broad range of clinical and health-related areas. If you are interested in working with us, please approach us at the earliest opportunity.
The Chocolate Trial - Results Summary
In January 2020, PenCTU held a mock Randomised Controlled Trial, The Chocolate Trial, as part of the University of Plymouth’s 2020 Research Festival. University staff, students and members of the public were invited to participate, with the aim of engaging the public and improving knowledge and understanding of clinical trials and the role they play in the advancement of medical and healthcare treatments.
The Chocolate Trial investigated whether flavoured chocolate improved mood more than plain chocolate.
Featured news
The £2.7 million study funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) will develop a person-centred package of care in GP surgeries, focused on the introduction of one dementia expert (support worker).
A £1.8 million study is looking for hundreds of Plymouth smokers who don’t want to quit but do want to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke.
The Healthy Lifestyle Programme delivered to 9-10-year-old school children did not reduce their weight over the course of two years.
NIHR at 10 – The Revert Study
An estimated 125,000 people in the UK are affected by supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) – a common heart rhythm disorder causing periods of abnormally fast heart rate. In emergency departments in the UK SVT is treated using the Valsalva manoeuvre, which involves breathing out moderately forcefully against resistance. Whilst safe, the success rate is low (5–20 per cent), and the alternative involves a dose of adenosine – an unpleasant experience that some patients report as a feeling of impending death.
Image provided courtesy of
the NIHR.
In the news
- Standing frame intervention improves life for people with MS, research shows 11 July 2019
- Mantle cell lymphoma patients living longer thanks to specialist clinic 1 July 2019
- Why get involved in clinical trials? Read Michael’s story 20 May 2019
- Plymouth woman quits 33-year smoking habit thanks to research project – and you could too this New Year 1 January 2019
- £2.7 million study to focus on dementia support workers in primary care 25 October 2018
Recent publications
Study portfolio
Who we are
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Mr Matt Page
PenCTU Unit Coordinator
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Ms Dianne Allard
Data Assistant
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Mrs Louise Armitage
Senior Administrator - DQASS
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Dr Matthew Bailey
Developer
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Dr Amy Baker
Senior Research Fellow in Medical Statistics
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Dr Elena Brogden
Trial Manager
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Ms Sarah Campbell
Senior Trial Manager
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Miss Beccy Chapman
Assistant Trial Manager
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Miss Jade Chynoweth
Research Assistant in Medical Statistics
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Mrs Laura Cocking
Senior Data Manager
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Mrs Zoe Doran
Assistant Trial Manager (Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit) (Maternity Cover)
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Dr Joanne Hosking
Senior Research Fellow & BMBS Lead for Statistics & Numeracy
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Dr Wendy Ingram
Trial Manager
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Dr Alison Jeffery
Trial Manager
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Mr Ben Jones
Research Assistant in Medical Statistics
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Mr Druean Perry
Junior Developer (Clinical Trials Unit)
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Mr Joe Lomax
Research Assistant in Medical Statistics (DQASS)
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Miss Claire Scully
Clinical Trials Facilitator
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Dr Jeanette Sanders
Assistant Trial Manager
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Dr Kara Stevens
Research Fellow in Medical Statistics
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Dr Adam Streeter
Research Fellow in Medical Statistics
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Mr Brian Wainman
Data Manager (PenCTU)
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Mr Mark Warner
Clinical Trials Assistant
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Mr Jonny Wilks
Data Manager (Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit)
