Dr Nick Francis, University of Cardiff
I am a practicing GP in the deprived South Wales Valleys and work as a Senior Clinical Research Fellow at Cardiff University. My main research interests are common infections and antibiotic resistance, behaviour change, and skin conditions. I am currently leading an HTA funded trial of antibiotics for suspected infected eczema in children along with Prof Frank Sullivan. I am involved in studies / trials investigating the role of probiotics in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhoea in care home residents, the effectiveness of point of care testing to improve antibiotic targeting in women with suspected UTI, clinicians views about the management of COPD exacerbations, the epidemiology of skin conditions treated with antibiotics, point of care testing for lower respiratory tract infections, the epidemiology of acute diarrhoea and vomiting in children, the epidemiology of molluscum contagiosum, and antibiotic prescribing for dental problems. Planned studies include a trial of oral steroids for children with otitis media with effusion (OME), a trial of bath emollients for children with eczema and exploring the diagnosis of cellulitis in primary care. I am the theme leader for Common Infections and Antibiotic Resistance in the Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health and I sit on the executive management group for the South East Wales Trials Unit. I sit on the Medicines for Children Research Network General Paediatrics Clinical Studies Group, I am an active member of the SAPC Dermatology SIG, and I am part of a group developing materials for Antibiotic Stewardship in Primary Care toolkit and European Antibiotic Awareness Day. |