RecruitingInterventional

A national perioperative platform trial to improve outcomes for surgical patients (PROTECT)

The PROTECT study aims to find better ways to care for surgical patients across the UK. This study uses a new approach, called a 'platform trial,' which can test many different treatments at once, much like was done during the pandemic. This makes it quicker and more efficient to discover new and improved care methods. If you're an adult aged 18 or over and are having surgery, you might be asked to take part. The study will collect information about your health 30 and 90 days after your operation. This data will help researchers understand which treatments work best, so that future surgical patients can have even better results. Your participation helps improve care for everyone undergoing surgery.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Queen Mary University of London

Enrolment target

1,000

Start

06 Mar 2026

Estimated completion

01 Jan 2035

All adult patients (≥18 years) being treated within a surgical care pathway at the recruitment sites will be eligible for the trial.

What is this study about?

The PROTECT study is a major new research effort designed to improve the care and outcomes for people having surgery across the UK. Often, bringing new treatments into hospitals takes a very long time because traditional research studies are slow and expensive. This study is different.

It uses a modern approach called a 'platform trial,' which was used successfully during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of testing just one treatment at a time, a platform trial can test several different treatments against a standard type of care all at once. Once it's set up, new treatments can be easily added and tested over time. This makes the research process much faster and more efficient, ultimately helping new and better ways of caring for patients get into practice more quickly.

The main goal is to create a long-lasting research platform specifically for surgical patients. If you take part, the study will gather information about your health and recovery 30 and 90 days after your operation. This information, along with other health data collected safely from national NHS records (like Hospital Episode Statistics), will help researchers understand which treatments lead to the best results for people having surgery. Your involvement will help shape better care for surgical patients in the future.

Key takeaways

PROTECT is a UK-wide study aiming to improve surgical patient care.
It uses a modern 'platform trial' approach to test treatments quickly.
Adults (18+) undergoing surgery might be asked to participate.
The study collects health information at 30 and 90 days post-surgery.
Your participation helps improve care for future surgical patients.
It does not involve extra hospital visits or change your planned surgery.

Who may be eligible?

This study is open to anyone aged 18 or older who is receiving treatment or care related to surgery at one of the hospitals taking part in the PROTECT programme. Essentially, if you are an adult patient undergoing or preparing for surgery, you will likely be considered for participation.

The main reason someone might not be able to join is if they are unable or unwilling to give their permission (called 'informed consent') after understanding what the study involves. For each specific research question being looked at within the PROTECT platform, your care team will check if you meet the particular requirements for that part of the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you having surgery or receiving care related to surgery?
Are you able and willing to understand information about the study and give your permission?
Is your hospital taking part in the PROTECT study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join the PROTECT study, you'll be asked to let the research team collect some information about your health and recovery. Specifically, they will check how you are doing 30 days and 90 days after your surgery using standard health information. For some specific parts of PROTECT focusing on particular treatments or questions, there might be additional steps you would need to take, such as receiving a specific treatment or having extra checks. You would be told about these in detail if you were eligible for one of these specific 'sub-studies'.

The researchers may also look at your existing health records from national NHS databases over a longer period to see how you are doing months or even years later. There are no special appointments or extra hospital trips just for this core part of the PROTECT study; the information will mainly be gathered from your routine care and national health records. The study is expected to run from March 2026 until February 2035.

Potential risks and benefits

You might not personally feel any direct health benefits from taking part in the main PROTECT study. However, by allowing researchers to collect information about your care, you'll be helping to improve how surgical patients are treated in the future, which is a very valuable contribution to medical science. There are no known direct risks associated with simply allowing your health information to be collected for this study, as it primarily involves looking at existing data. You always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (20)

Barts Health NHS Trust
City only
London, England
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Approximate
Plymouth, England
The Royal Marsden Hospital
Approximate
London, England
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
City only
Birmingham, England
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
City only
Southampton, England
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
City only
Thornton Heath, England
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
City only
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
City only
Leeds, England
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
City only
Romford, England
NHS National Waiting Times Centre Board
City only
Clydebank, Scotland
NHS Grampian
Unverified
Aberdeen, Scotland
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Unverified
Redhill, England

Common questions

What is a 'platform trial'?

It's a new type of research study that can test many different treatments at once, making it faster and more efficient to find better ways to care for patients.

Will taking part change my surgery or treatment?

For the main PROTECT study, no. Your surgery and care will be as planned. If you are asked to join a specific 'sub-study' looking at a particular treatment, you will be told all about any changes to your care.

What information will the study collect about me?

The study will collect general information about your health and recovery 30 and 90 days after your surgery. They may also look at your routine health records from national NHS databases over time.

Will my personal information be kept private?

Yes, all your personal information is handled very carefully and kept confidential according to strict rules to protect your privacy.

Who is paying for this research?

The study is funded by several health charities and organisations, including Barts Charity, the Academy of Medical Science, and the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

How to find out more

Priyanthi Dias

p.dias@qmul.ac.uk +44 20 3594 0349 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.