Although just an observational study the leading scientist, Dr Karina Davidson, has suggested that it might be possible to help prevent heart disease by enhancing people’s positive emotions.

“We desperately need rigorous clinical trials in this area. If the trials support our findings, then these results will be incredibly important in describing specifically what clinicians and/or patients could do to improve health,”

It is already known that depression and stress significantly increase people’s risk of developing heart disease, but the study is believed to be the first time happiness has been found to lessen the risk of the condition.

Over a period of 10 years, Dr. Davidson and her fellow workers followed 1,739 healthy adults (862 men and 877 women) who were taking part in the 1995 Nova Scotia Health Survey.

After taking account of age, gender, heart risk factors and pessimistic emotions, the study scientists discovered that, over the period of 10-years, increased positive affect predicted less risk of heart-related problem by 22% per point on a five-point scale measuring levels of positive affect expression.

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Dr Davidson said: “Participants with no positive affect were at a 22% higher risk of ischaemic heart disease (heart attack or angina) than those with a little positive affect, who were themselves at 22% higher risk than those with moderate positive affect.

“We also found that if someone, who was usually positive, had some depressive symptoms at the time of the survey, this did not affect their overall lower risk of heart disease.

“As far as we know, this is the first prospective study to examine the relationship between clinically-assessed positive affect and heart disease.”

Read more at Science Daily

The ICTU will provide a central resource to help scientists apply for funding, design and carry out trials, and analyse their results. It will bring together clinicians, statisticians and trial managers with expertise in every aspect of running clinical trials.

The ICTU was launched by Professor Dame Sally Davies, Director General of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and NHS.

The unit will operate as part of Imperial’s Academic Health Science Centre, the unique partnership between Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust that formed in October 2007 The AHSC’s aim is to improve the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them into new therapies as quickly as possible.

The ICTU incorporates the International Centre for Circulatory Health Trials Unit and the Clinical Trial and Evaluation Unit at the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. It will also work with Imperial’s other partner NHS Trusts.

The consortium started looking at the problem in 2008 and has started to publish its findings:

It is essential to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of drugs. And clinical trials need to take into account issues relevant to this population, i.e. changed metabolism, multiple chronic conditions and polypharmacy. This Charter has been developed as part of PREDICT (www.predicteu.org) a project supported by the EU to investigate in/ exclusion of older people from clinical trials.

Research findings will be presented of systematic reviews of the literature, surveys with health professionals working with older people, and focus groups with patients and carers.

Find out more on the PREDICT website

Over the coming weeks we will be sending out more information and adding trials to the site.  If you’re interested in taking part, don’t forget to register now and we will make sure that your details get passed to the company undertaking the clinical trial.

Trial Description

Are you post-menopausal or surgically sterile?

• Are you aged 35 to 75?
• Can you spare us some time?
• Do you want to earn up to £2,500 for your time?

Anyone with ongoing medical conditions or who is currently taking medications will not be eligible for the study.

Trial Description

Optometric Technology Group Ltd is an independent group of research clinicians and scientists; carrying out clinical trials approved by an Independent Ethics Committee.

We currently require volunteers aged 18-70, currently wearing soft contact lenses and/or spectacles for distance or near vision, willing to take part in clinical trials of contact lenses, dry eye products, eye drops and ointments.

IF YOU ARE FOUND TO BE SUITABLE, all contact lenses and services will be provided free of charge for the duration of the trial, and in return for your participation you may receive compensation for your time and travel.

Trial Description

Are you Asthmatic? Are you aged 18 – 55?

LCG Bioscience is currently seeking volunteers who have Asthma to take part in ethically approved clinical studies.

If you have moderate to severe asthma not well controlled or at least one asthma attack in last year treated with steroids you can apply for this study now.

Trial Description

Simbec is looking for Moderate to Severe COPD patients between the ages of 40 and 65 years and who are current or ex-smokers to take part in COPD related clinical trials. You will be well compensated for your time. We will also cover any reasonable travel expenses. In addition you will receive a thorough medical.

Trial Description

Are you allergic to House Dust Mite and do you experience the following symptoms (which often get worse between October and January)?

• Runny and stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Watery and itchy eyes

If YES, would you be interested in taking part in a Clinical Trial at our Clinical Research Unit based in Slough, Berkshire?

You must be aged 18 to 60 years and suffering from allergy symptoms due to House Dust Mites.

Roche, a leading pharmaceutical company, is looking for people aged 18-65 with Rheumatoid Arthritis to help with research to develop new treatments. The study will take place in Welwyn Garden City, Herts. You will, of course, be compensated for your time and expenses