A new report from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) highlights key learnings from the PANORAMIC trial, emphasising the crucial role of primary care research in pandemic preparedness.
Key Findings
The PANORAMIC trial, led by our department and funded by NIHR, has been recognised as a trailblazing study for primary care. Its innovative approach has inspired similar research globally and informed policy decisions in various nations.
Professor Phil Evans, GP and Deputy Health and Care Director at the NIHR Research Delivery Network, states: 'PANORAMIC has been recognised globally as a trailblazing study for primary care. The study itself was recently awarded the prestigious 2024 UK Prix Galien Award for Best Public Sector Innovation in May 2024.'
Main Recommendations
- Prioritise Primary Care Studies: Future pandemic research should position primary care at the forefront, enabling earlier intervention to prevent symptom worsening and reduce hospital admissions.
- Adopt Platform Study Models: The success of PANORAMIC's platform study approach suggests this should be the blueprint for future pandemic research in primary care.
- Enhance Care Home Participation: Efforts should be made to increase recruitment from care homes, addressing barriers such as complex contracting requirements.
- Improve Medicine Delivery: Further evaluation of methods to deliver medicine directly to participants at home is recommended.
- Build Community Trust: Prioritise relationships with community leaders to enhance research inclusivity and reach underserved populations.
Impact and Future Directions
The PANORAMIC trial has set new standards for primary care research, recruiting nearly 30,000 participants using innovative methods. Its success has inspired similar trials internationally, including the CanTreat COVID study in Canada.
Professor Chris Butler, Co-Chief Investigator of the PANORAMIC trial, emphasises the value of the NIHR's support: "The incredible value that the NIHR brought to this trial enabled the UK to deliver for the world and for our citizens so well."
As over half of all GP practices in England now participate in clinical trials, these learnings will be crucial for shaping future research in primary care settings, both during pandemics and beyond.
You can read the full report here and the NIHR news story here.
For more detailed information, please read the full NIHR report and the NIHR news story.