UNITE Collaborative
The UNITE Collaborative is a UK-based IR research group. We undertake high quality multi-centre projects to generate evidence to answer key questions relevant to the current and future practice of interventional radiology. We are supported by senior clinical academics who form the UNITE specialist advisor group.
The collaborative was founded in 2021. Since then, the group has completed 3 multi centre projects, and is currently undertaking 3 more. We have also provided research education and training for hundreds of trainees, running a successful journal club, and 3 research conferences to date.
The UNITE committee consists of radiology/IR registrars across 10 centres in the UK. We are supported by an expert panel of academic IRs from the UK and globally.
Current/Upcoming Projects
Audit of Contrast Dose and Renal Injury After Interventional Radiology Procedures - ACORN.
The project aims to assess the incidence of AKI in patients who underwent IR procedures with intravascular contrast administration. Therefore, participants will be involved in collecting patient data before during and after certain IR procedures.
Status: OPEN
Contact details: Michael Stephanou - [email protected]
ASsessing Practice of Image-guided spInal Injections: a National collaborative Audit - SPIINA.
The SPIINA study is a national snapshot audit assessing current practice of image-guided spinal injections. We are recruiting centres who are performing these procedures to participate in a national collaborative audit.
Status: OPEN & RECRUITING additional NHS sites
Contact details: Dr Indrajeet Mandal - [email protected] / Site Registration Form: www.tinyurl.com/spiinastudy
UK Interventional Oncology Services - IOUK1.
Status: OPEN for expressions of interest
Contact details: Dr Diana Velazquez-Pimentel - [email protected]
SPlEnic artery Embolisaiton Decisions - SPEED.
This study aims to answer key questions about splenic artery embolisation practice in the UK. This is a NIHR portfolio adopted study run from the University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust, with the support of the Trauma and Audit Research Network (TARN) and British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) and will focus on Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) in England.
Status: OPEN & RECRUITING additional NHS sites
Contact details: Dr Paul Jenkins - [email protected]
Previous Projects
IR COVID19 Review. The first project was a review looking into the impact of COVID19 on interventional radiology services and training. Article published in Clinical Radiology
MACAFI. The MACAFI project was the first multi-centre audit undertaken by the collaborative. The project looked into the outcomes of percutaneous cholecystostomy. Published in JVIR and BJR (accepted). Presented at BSIR 2021 and CIRSE 2022.
CAASP. The CAASP project is a collaborative project looking into the diagnosis of acute aortic syndrome. The project is beign run jointly with the Vascular & Endovascular Research Network (VERN) and The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust (TADCT). The project is currently in progress.
Links:
View the UNITE Collaborative website on https://www.unitecollaborative.com/