Snabbfakta
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- London
Ansök senast: 2024-12-21
Senior Research Associate (OPTIMAL feasibility trial)
The role
The OPTIMAL feasibility trial is an NIHR-funded trial investigating whether an effectiveness randomised controlled trial (RCT) of two immunosuppression regimens in older kidney transplant recipients is feasible.
People with kidney transplants need to take tablets to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplant (‘immunosuppression’). The immune system becomes less effective in later life, meaning lower doses of immunosuppression tablets may be enough to stop transplant rejection. The amount of immunosuppression medication given to older transplant recipients is currently based on research in young people. Immunosuppression tablets affect older adults differently, causing more infections, cancers and side-effects such as diarrhoea, which prevent people from living their lives fully. Lower doses of immunosuppressives may prevent these problems. However, less immunosuppression could mean someone is more likely to need treatment for rejection. Older adults could find the side-effects of treatment for rejection more severe than younger adults. It may be that older recipients prefer to live with the side-effects of standard immunosuppressive doses to avoid rejection.
We do not know what the right level of immunosuppression is for older transplant recipients. There are no national guidelines. Older people cared for at different UK kidney units receive different treatments.
The OPTIMAL feasibility trial aims to assess the feasibility of an RCT of lower dose MMF (1g/day) versus higher dose MMF (1.5g/day), and its acceptability to transplant recipients aged ≥65 years.
The qualitative study component aims to understand:
What will you be doing?
Over the next 18 months, you will undertake:
You should apply if
