Thousands in Essex thanked for clinical trial participation
Many have helped with finding treatments for coronavirus
People who've taken part in COVID-19 studies in Essex are being thanked - as today marks International Clinical Trials Day.
Nearly 14,000 people took part in 15 studies in Essex in 2020 to 21.
Among those who took part was 65-year-old Neil Mead in Buckinghamshire.
He took antiviral drugs lopinavir-ritonavir as part of the RECOVERY trial while in intensive care with COVID-19 at Aylesbury's Stoke Mandeville Hospital in March last year.
The Ivinghoe resident believes he caught the virus while in London with partner Cathy Britton in March last year.
Mr Mead, a builder, said:
"I've had regular coughs for a while, so any coughing I didn't take any notice of, but then I felt the fatigue coming on where in the end I was struggling to get out of bed."
The grandfather-of-six tested positive for COVID-19 and was taken to the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) and put on ventilation.
Mr Mead, who also has lung condition emphysema, said:
"I thought I was never going to speak to any of my kids again or my partner. I think those things make you fight more and to want to stay alive.
"A doctor then asked if I wanted to try an experimental treatment. I was afraid that I was close to passing and said 'I'd do anything to try and make myself better'."
Mr Mead left hospital after five weeks.
He said:
"It's such an evil disease and I'm thankful to the hospital that I'm still alive because a lot of people have passed. I feel this research is so important because of what I've gone through and I hope it helps others in the future."
The UK-wide University of Oxford trial found steroid dexamethasone and tocilizumab can reduce deaths while convalescent plasma and drugs lopinavir-ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are not effective.
Prof Belinda Lennox, a Clinical Director for the NIHR Clinical Research Network, said:
"This year has demonstrated, more than ever before, the vital importance of clinical research - we have trialled treatments that have saved lives and developed new vaccines that prevent disease.
"This is only possible because of research and because of the volunteers who have given their time and altruistically taken part, not knowing whether they would benefit or not.
"Thank you to each and every person who has taken part in clinical research this year. You have done something amazing."
The NIHR is supporting 97 nationally-prioritised COVID-19 studies in the UK that have so far involved more than one million participants.
Participating in health research helps develop new treatments, improve the NHS and save lives. The NHS supports research by asking patients and healthy volunteers if they wish to take part in trials to enable participants to access new NHS treatment and care options.
Patients are encouraged to learn more about research and search for studies seeking volunteers at www.bepartofresearch.uk.