EDCRN
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Eating Disorders Clinical Research Network
IRAS ID
341570
Contact name
Gerome Breen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
UK Eating Disorder services are facing unprecedented demand, with effective service delivery hampered by inadequate resources, fragmented services and variable care pathways. Individuals with eating disorders, families and clinicians all agree on the critical need to improve care pathways and treatment, leading to better outcomes.
Eating disorders are serious, complex conditions influenced by a blend of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Our approach is grounded in the "biopsychosocial" model. Recently, anorexia research confirms a genetic component, with biological, metabolic, and psychological mechanisms at play. Further biological research across eating disorders could allow a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying eating disorder development and better, more personalised treatments.
This project will test the feasibility of establishing a UK-wide NHS research network spanning child and adult eating disorder services to enable a step change in the ability to conduct eating disorder research. It will help address fragmentation and facilitate novel biological, psychological, and social research collaborations. The data we gather will be open to all researchers for data analyses, and the collaboration we establish will form a collaborative network to enable future clinical trials, experimental medicine and psychology.
The study will be conducted at child and adult eating disorder services who opt to join the Network. Participants will be patients receiving treatment for an eating disorder at one of the participating services, and their parents/guardians if applicable.
Participants will complete questionnaires and have blood and other physical tests as specified in the EDCRN dataset. The study will last until 29th October 2026 (the end of the current funding period) and/or when a participant is discharged from treatment, whichever is sooner. For participants discharged before the study ends, there will be an opportunity for patients to complete optional follow-up questionnaires on a periodic basis.
The study is funded by the MRC, MRF & NIHR.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0736
Date of REC Opinion
9 Dec 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion