Dr Emma Thomas-Jones

Biography

Education and qualifications

• 1997: PhD "The estimation of circulating plasma volume using fluorescently labelled hydroxyethyl starch”. School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences, University of Wales, Cardiff.
• 1993: BSc in Biochemistry and Physiology (Joint Honours), University of Wales, College of Cardiff.

Career overview

• 2020 - onwards: Deputy Director of Infections, Inflammation and Immunity Division, at Centre for Trials Research.
• 2019 - onwards: Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University.
• 2011 - 2019: Research Fellow (Senior Trial Manager), Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University.
• 2010 – 2011: Acting Research Fellow (Senior Trial Manager), South East Wales Trials Unit, Cardiff University
• 2009 – 2010: Research Associate (Trial Manager), South East Wales Trials Unit, Cardiff University.
• 1999 – 2008: Senior Scientist, Molecular Light Technology (GenProbe Inc.), Cardiff
• 1997 – 1999: Research Associate, School of Biosciences, University of Wales, Cardiff.

Professional memberships

• Member of the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC).
• Member of BSAC

Committees and reviewing

• Grant reviewer for the Health and Care Research Wales Research for Patient and Public Benefit (RfPPB),  NIHR School of Primary Care Research
• Grant reviewer for Cardiff Univeristy MRC Confidence in Concept and MRC Proximity to Discovery funding awards
• Member of Cwm Taf Research and Development Committee
• Member of HCRW Primary Care Research Strategy Committee
• Steering committee member for South West Hub Research Forum
• Journal reviewer for the BMJ, BMJ Open, British Journal of General Practice, Trials, and BMC Series (Infectious Diseases, Family Practice).

Publications

Research Interests

• Infections, Inflammation and Immunity
• Biomarkers and Point of Care Devices
• Primary Care
• Sepsis
• Antimicrobial stewardship

Grants

2021: RAPID PROTECTION: an adaptive clinical trial of AZD7442 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in immunosuppressed patients highly vulnerable to infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus (Principal Investigator for CU and CTR Study lead) £3.1M 

2020: NIHR COVID Rapid Recovery Call - Procalcitonin: Evaluation of Antibiotic use in COVID-19 Hospitalised patients (The PEACH Study). (Principial Investigator for CU and CTR study lead). £731,859

2020: Sêr Cymru (Welsh Governement) - COPE CYMRU - COVID-19 public experiences in Wales: A longitudinal mixed-methods study of attitudes, beliefs and behaviour in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Co-Chief Investigator). £127,871

2020: Health and Care Research Wales (Research for Patient and Public Benefit RfPPB) - PrEdiction of Risk and Communication of outcomE followIng major lower limb amputation- a collaboratiVE study (PERCEIVE). (Co-applicant). £229,225

2020: Health Care Research Wales (Welsh Government Infrastructure Funding) - PRIME CENTRE. (Co-applicant). £4.8M

2020: NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) - MR-Pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and ImmunoExpert Evaluation of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic duration in Children with Infection for Stratification of Effectiveness (PRECISE). (Co-Chief Investigator and CTR study lead). £385,451

2019: NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) - Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Autoimmune Encephalitis in Adults: A Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial (ENCEPH-IG). (Principal Investigator for CU and CTR study lead). £2,734,732.

2019: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) - PROcalcitonin and NEWS evaluation for Timely identification of sepsis and Optimal use of antibiotics in the Emergency Department (PRONTO). (Principal Investigator for CU and CTR study lead), ££1,964,286.

2019: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) - Azithromycin therapy for Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity – AZTEC Trial.(Co-applicant), £2,518,929.

2018: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) - "Management of Hidrandenitis Suppurativa (THESEUS). (Co-applicant and CTR study lead), £629,000

2017: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) - “Biomarker-guided duration of Antibiotic Treatment in Children Hospitalised with confirmed or suspected bacterial infection (BATCH). (Principal Investigator and CTR study lead), £1.5M

2017: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) - Primary care management of lower urinary tract symptoms in men: Development and validation of a diagnostic and decision-making aid (PRIMUS). (Co-applicant and CTR study lead), £1.6M

2016: Health and Care Research Wales (RfPPB) - A phase II clinical trial examining the use of perineural catheters after major lower limb amputation in adults with critical limb ischaemia (PLACEMENT) (Principal Investigator and CTR study lead), £210,552.

2015: Health and Care Research Wales. Clinical Trials Unit infrastructure funding 2015-18. (Co-applicant), £2.9m

2014: NIHR Health Service & Delivery Research (HS&DR) - Paediatric early warning system (PEWS): Utilisation and Mortality Avoidance (PUMA). (Co-applicant and CTR Study Lead), £1.9M

2013: Health and Care Research Wales RfPPB - Supporting antibiotic prescribing decisions for diabetic foot ulcer infections: an investigation of the diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory biomarkers. (Co-applicant and SEWTU study lead), £195,920.

2011: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) - Oral Steroids for the Resolution of otitis media with effusion (OME) In Children (OSTRICH) (Co-applicant and SEWTU study lead), £1.3M

Supervision

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

• Biomarker guided antimicrobial decision making
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Clinical trials methodology

Past projects

• Co-supervisor (33%) for Dr Brenig Gwylim - Investigating healthcare professionals’ risk perception and the utility of statistical outcome prediction tools in arterial surgery through a groin incision and major lower limb amputation surgery by utilising an international collaborative multicentre cohort study method (PhD by publication, in progress).
• Co-supervisor (33%) for Dr Graeme Ambler - Development of a core outcome set for studies involving patients undergoing major lower limb amputation for peripheral arterial disease: study protocol for a systematic review and identification of a core outcome set using a Delphi survey (PhD by publication; awarded 2020).