Dr Ruth Thomas

Biography

I am currently a Research Manager for the Centre Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), a fully registered UK Clinical Research Collaboration Clinical Trials Unit with an internationally recognised expertise in the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of multicentre trials.  I joined the Unit in 1993.  I completed my PhD in the Unit in 2002 and went on to take up a Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship in Health Services Research which I completed in 2006. I am a Health Services Researcher experienced in a range of HSR methods including systematic reviews, pragmatic RCTs (simple and complex), and other evaluative designs. I have previously worked on a series of "knowledge translation" evaluations ie getting evidence into clinical practice, involving complex rigorous designs.  

Current Research

Ongoing research

• Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT)
• Therapeutic Interventions for Stones of the Ureter (TISU)
• The clinical and cost effectiveness of surgical interventions for stones in the lower calyx of the kidney: The PUrE RCT- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PNL), Flexible Ureterorenoscopy (FURS) and Extracorporeal Lithotripsy (ESWL) for lower pole Calyceal Kidney Stones (PUrE)
• Multiple Symptoms Study 3: pragmatic trial of a community based clinic for patients with persistent (medically unexplained) physical symptoms.

Previous research

• Use of drug therapy in the management of symptomatic ureteric stones in hospitalised adults: a multicentre placebo controlled randomised trial of calcium channel blockers (nifedipine) and alpha blockers (tamsulosin) - (SUSPEND)
• The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different surveillance mammography regimes after the treatment of primary breast cancer
• Diagnostic request advisory model: the rationalisation of laboratory test ordering in general practice (DRAM)
• Establishing a scientific rationale for choosing interventions to translate research findings into clinical practice: The PR1ME project
• The accuracy of accredited glaucoma optometrists in the diagnosis and treatment recommendation for glaucoma
• A systematic review of the effectiveness and efficiency of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies 
• Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Review Group 

Funding and Grants

NIHR HS&DR 15/136/07 Multiple Symptoms Study 3: pragmatic trial of a community based clinic for patients with persistent (medically unexplained) physical symptoms. Start date: 1^st February 2018 (42 months) Value: £1,193,035

NIHR HTA (13/152/02) The clinical and cost effectiveness of surgical interventions for stones in the lower pole calyces of the kidney: the PUrE RCT - Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PNL), Flexible Ureterorenoscopy (FURS) and Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) for lower pole calyceal kidney stones. Start date: 1^st December 2015. (60 months). Value: £1,877,148.56.

Chief Scientists Office of the Scottish Government CZH/4/945 – Multiple Symptoms Study 2. A feasibility study to manualise, teach and demonstrate the delivery of the Symptoms Clinic intervention Start date: April 2014 (12 months). Value: £139,962.

NIHR HTA (10/137/01). Therapeutic Interventions for Stones of the Ureter (TISU): a multicentre randomised controlled trial of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, as first treatment option, compared with direct progression to ureteroscopic retrieval, for ureteric stones. Start date: 1^st March 2013 (48 months). Value: £1,426,755.

NIHR HTA (08/71/01) SUSPEND: Use of drug therapy in the management of symptomatic ureteric stones in hospitalised adults: a multi centre placebo randomised trial. Start date: 1^st June 2010 (42 months extended to 53 months). Value: £1,585,180 (+ 132,732).

NIHR HTA (07/47/01). The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different surveillance mammography regimes after the treatment of primary breast cancer. Start date: 1^st June 2008. Value: £239,474.