NIHR20 Impact Prize recognises study for protecting millions of babies worldwide
An international study co-led by University Hospital Southampton has been awarded an NIHR20 Impact Prize.
The national honour recognises how the HARMONIE trial has transformed protection against a common virus for babies around the world.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the leading reasons babies are admitted to hospital. The study has helped change policy and clinical practice globally. More than 11 million children have now received the winter jab and the treatment is approved in more than 50 countries.
Delivering global change
Before the HARMONIE trial, preventative options were limited, costly and available only to a small number of babies at highest risk. The trial provided the first large-scale, real-world evidence that a single-dose immunisation could protect healthy babies throughout the RSV season.
The study was co-led by experts at UHS, the University of Southampton, St George’s University Hospital and University of Nottingham Health Service.
Researchers and delivery teams from the NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Southampton and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Southampton played a leading role in the design and delivery of the study.
Anniversary award
This is one of 11 NIHR20 Impact Prizes to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). They celebrate researchers and teams whose work has improved health and care outcomes across the UK and internationally.
Professor Saul Faust, Director of the NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Southampton and co-lead investigator for the HARMONIE trial, said:
“This award recognises the dedication of an extraordinary team effort. HARMONIE brought together multiple parts of the NIHR research infrastructure to work alongside NHS organisations, academic partners and industry collaborators to design and deliver a large, pragmatic trial at unprecedented speed and scale.
“Seeing this research translate into policy change and protection for millions of babies around the world is an achievement shared by everyone involved.”
Informing healthcare policy
The study recruited more than 8,000 babies across the UK, France and Germany. This included over 4,000 babies through the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
The research demonstrated that a single dose of the long-acting antibody nirsevimab can reduce RSV-related hospitalisations in infants by 83%.
The findings from HARMONIE have already informed RSV immunisation programmes internationally. Last winter, the NHS rolled out nirsevimab to thousands of babies born before 32 weeks.
Paul Grundy, Chief Medical Officer at University Hospital Southampton, said:
“Research matters because of the difference it makes to patients, families and healthcare systems. We are proud that research led from Southampton is making such a significant difference to lives around the world.
“We are also incredibly grateful to the thousands of families who chose to take part in the study. Their contribution has helped generate evidence that is now influencing healthcare policy internationally, reducing serious illness in babies and helping to ease pressure on health services.”
‘Changing lives through research’
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care, said:
“I offer my warmest congratulations to all the excellent winners and commended teams of this year’s NIHR Impact Prizes, who have all made a crucial contribution to changing lives through research.”