Research at Spectrum

Our research service aims to work in partnership with key stakeholders, to conduct high quality research and promote Spectrum as an organisation committed to learning, innovation and evidence based practice.

Our professional research service was established in April 2015, and has enabled Spectrum to become a leading organisation in clinical research and learning excellence. Our team has supported a wide range of research initiatives and pilot projects in the community and in secure environments.

Based in Wakefield, the team is well placed to work with partners nationally, regionally and locally. Our state-of-the-art research facilities can be easily accessed from across West Yorkshire, the North East, North West and Midlands.

We work with partners including NHS England, HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS), Camurus Ltd, the Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Research Network and many colleges and universities to promote the value and visibility of clinical research, as well as developing and implementing innovative research projects.

What is clinical research?

Clinical research helps us to better understand human health and wellbeing. This in turn helps up to improve current treatments, medicines and care, and to diagnose diseases and conditions earlier and more accurately.

Our work covers three main areas:

Clinical research delivery

We undertake a wide range of clinical research studies which contribute to our understanding of health and wellbeing. This can lead to improved treatments, medicines and care, prevent the development of diseases and conditions and enable more accurate and early diagnosis.

Service evaluations

Research evaluation is the ability to assess the effectiveness of healthcare services, based on key performance indicators and patient feedback. We can provide support for this process by undertaking interviews with key members of staff and analysing data collected from various sources.

Research governance

All our research abides by the strict ethical governance frameworks such as the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research and International Conference of Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Enquire about our research service and facilities

Award winning research: PROVENT Antibody Trial

This study won the clinical site team award in the Pharma Times Clinical Research Awards 2021, as well as the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Research Awards for Outstanding Contribution to COVID-19 Research 2022.

The PROVENT Antibody Trial investigated monoclonal antibodies which were developed to help prevent COVID-19 infection, and to suppress the severity in infected patients. The study was particularly targeted towards people who were extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 (due to immunosuppression or underlying conditions), or at an increased risk of exposure to the virus due to living or working circumstances.

Analysis of the study showed that the antibody combination used in this trial (Evusheld) reduced the risk of COVID-19 by around 77% in the sample population.

In 2022, this was licensed for the prevention of COVID-19 in vulnerable groups.

This study was delivered by the Wakefield Research Partnership on behalf of AstraZeneca.

The partnership includes Spectrum Community Health CIC, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Conexus Healthcare, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Wakefield Council, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Research Network, Bradford and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group.