EuReCa
Who are EuReCa?
EuReCa: Emergency and Urgent care Research Cambridge is the name for the Emergency Department's research team; clinical leads and research nurses. We carry out all the research projects active in the ED.
Patient Enrolment
How do I know if a patient is eligible for a study?
Check the specific study page on this hub via the homepage. Each active study has a clear list of inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as a step-by-step pathway for screening and enrolment. Contact the Research Team and we will decide whether the patient can be recruited or not. If they are, we'll take it from there.
How can I get involved with enrolling patients?
First and most helpfully, you can get to know the kinds of patients we're looking for by getting familiar with each study's inclusion criteria listed in the study pages on the homepage - and do keep up to date as it changes from time-to-time. And contact the research team if you realise there is an eligible patient in the ED. If you're a doctor/ACP, there are some studies we need your help to prescribe for, or confirm the patient is eligible. For nurses, there are sometimes opportunities to come and work more closely with the Research Team and carry out projects. Ask us!
Can I enrol a patient out-of-hours?
Yes, if you have completed the training for certain studies, and have signed the delegation log for that particular study. If you haven't signed the delegation log then you can't recruit the patient. Currently, there is only one stude we are recruiting to at weekends, evenings and nights (i.e. when the research Team aren't available) and that is Curly. UDCD also recruits out of hours but that study is managed by a specific team. For Curly, and any others that open to recruitment, you'll learn in the required training how to recruit a patient.
What happens if a patient withdraws consent later?
If a patient or their relative expresses a wish to withdraw from a trial, immediately notify the ED Research Team via Epic chat or phone. Do not process any further trial-specific samples and document the withdrawal of consent clearly in the patient's Epic notes.
Training & API Scheme
Do I need Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification to enrol patients?
For most interventional trials, yes. However, some observational studies or specific emergency waivers allow staff to screen patients with basic study-specific training. Visit the Training page to check requirements.
How do I apply for the Associate Principal Investigator (API) scheme?
The API scheme is a fantastic way to gain formal recognition for your contribution to NIHR portfolio trials. You can find full details, eligibility criteria, and the application pathway on our API Scheme page.
Contacting the Team
How do I contact the team?
During working hours (Mon–Fri, 09:00–17:00), message the ED Research Team via Epic chat or call us on 217907.