Jessica Quinn, a 35-year-old NHS doctor from Bristol, took part in the BEATRIX study at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust’s St Michael’s Hospital. This world-first Phase 3 clinical trial is testing a new vaccine against Group B streptococcus (GBS).
The trial, which is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), aims to prevent infant deaths and severe illness caused by the bacterial infection.
Jessica was first made aware of the study at a 30-week appointment during her pregnancy with her second child. She said:
"Signing up was really easy and the first appointment was over the phone, where I found out what the study would involve.”
GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies, causing sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. It can kill a newborn baby within hours if untreated.
Around one in every 1,000 babies in the UK and Ireland develops a GBS infection in their first three months of life. Each year, GBS kills 50 babies in the UK and Ireland, while around a further 70 babies survive with long-term disabilities, such as hearing loss, vision problems, cerebral palsy, or developmental difficulties.
Jessica attended an appointment to receive the vaccination, which involved a conversation and physical examination with the research team.
The vaccine works by stimulating the mother’s antibodies, which are transferred to the foetus via the placenta. The BEATRIX study is testing whether these antibodies can protect the infant against GBS disease during their first three months of life.
Jessica said:
"I found it really reassuring to get another check on me and my baby, and although the appointments were longer than my standard midwife appointments, the team were really friendly and informative."
For 14 days after the vaccination, Jessica was monitored for potential side effects via a log on her phone.
Jessica has since given birth to baby Clemmie, now three months old. Reflecting on her experience, she said:
"As a doctor in the NHS, I have seen the benefit of research for patients I have treated, but had never been part of research before this. I would really encourage anyone pregnant to be part of this research. I look forward to telling my baby girl she was in a study that could potentially help other babies before she was even born!"
The BEATRIX study is being developed by researchers from the NHS and UK universities alongside international partners.
Who can take part?
Healthy pregnant women aged 49 and under may be eligible to join the study between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
Participants receive one injection in the arm, with mothers followed up for up to 14 months (ending six months after giving birth) and babies monitored for around 12 months after birth.
Estimates suggest 70% coverage could avoid more than 50,000 GBS-related deaths and 170,000 pre-term births annually worldwide.
Dr Sneha Basude, BEATRIX Principal Investigator at St Michael’s Hospital said:
"Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can cause life-threatening infections in newborn babies, yet current methods of detection are not always effective at identifying who is at risk. This means some women receive antibiotics in labour to prevent GBS unnecessarily while others who could benefit may be missed. If this vaccine is shown to be effective, it has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of GBS disease, improve outcomes for babies, and transform how we prevent these infections in the future.”
For more information on this new Strep B vaccine trial or to take part in clinical research, visit the NIHR’s Be Part of Research Service online or through the NHS app.
The research team at St Michael’s Hospital can be contacted by email at bft.research-st.michaels.city@nhs.net and by telephone at 0117 342 5756.
The study is open across hospitals supported by NIHR clinical research facilities, biomedical research centres and clinical research delivery centres.