Dr Emma Thomas-Jones
Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director Infections Inflammation and Immunity Division
- thomas-jonese@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2068 7520
- 708F, Neuadd Meirionnydd, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS
- Welsh speaking
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director for Infections, Inflammation & Immunity Research Division at the Centre for Trials Research .
My research areas are in common infections in primary care (e.g. UTI), biomarkers for infections and sepsis. I conduct evidence-based research testing the effectiveness of interventions with the aim of reducing antibiotic resistance.
I have extensive knowledge and experience in trial methodology and research governance.
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).
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
2021
- Powell, N.et al. 2021. Use of procalcitonin during the first wave of COVID-19 in the acute NHS hospitals: a retrospective observational study. Antibiotics 10(5), article number: 516. (10.3390/antibiotics10050516)
- Preece, R.et al. 2021. A systematic review and narrative synthesis of risk prediction tools used to estimate mortality, morbidity, and other outcomes following major lower limb amputation. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (10.1016/j.ejvs.2021.02.038)
- Gwilym, B.et al. 2021. PERCEIVE: PrEdiction of Risk and Communication of outcome following major lower limb amputation - a collaboratIVE study. Presented at: National Research Collaborative Meeting 2020 (NRCM 2020), Virtual, 19 November - 10 December 2020, Vol. 5. Vol. Supple. Wiley, (10.1093/bjsopen/zrab032.089)
- Milosevic, S.et al. 2021. Managing LUTS in primary care: qualitative study of GPs’ and patients’ experiences. British Journal of General Practice
- Milosevic, S.et al. 2021. Conducting invasive urodynamics in primary care: Qualitative interview study examining experiences of patients and healthcare professionals. Diagnostic and Prognostic Research
2020
- Pell, B.et al. 2020. PRImary care Management of lower Urinary tract Symptoms in men: protocol for development and validation of a diagnostic and clinical decision support tool (the PriMUS study). BMJ 10(6), article number: e037634. (10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037634)
- Ambler, G. K.et al. 2020. Prognostic risk modelling for patients undergoing major lower limb amputation: an analysis of the UK National Vascular Registry. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 59(4), pp. 606-613. (10.1016/j.ejvs.2019.12.006)
2019
- Brookes-Howell, L.et al. 2019. Challenges in managing urinary tract infection and the potential of a point-of-care test guided care in primary care: an international qualitative study. BJGP Open 3(2), article number: 18X101630. (10.3399/bjgpopen18X101630)
2018
- Santer, M.et al. 2018. Adding emollient bath additives to standard eczema management for children with eczema: the BATHE RCT. Health Technology Assessment 22(57) (10.3310/hta22570)
- Francis, N. A.et al. 2018. Oral steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children aged 2 8 years: the OSTRICH RCT. Health Technology Assessment 22(61) (10.3310/hta22610)
- Bosanquet, D. C.et al. 2018. Major lower limb amputation audit – introduction and implementation of a multimodal perioperative pain management guideline. British Journal of Pain 12(4), pp. 257-258. (10.1177/2049463718800736)
- Stuart, B.et al. 2018. Feasibility of weekly participant-reported data collection in a pragmatic randomised controlled trial in primary care: Experiences from the BATHE trial (Bath Additives for the Treatment of cHildhood Eczema). Trials 19, article number: 582.
- Francis, N. A.et al. 2018. Oral steroids for resolution of otitis media with effusion in children (OSTRICH): a double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial. Lancet 392(10147), pp. 557-568. (10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31490-9)
- Prout, H. C.et al. 2018. Patient understanding and acceptability of an early lung cancer diagnosis trial: a qualitative study. Trials 19, article number: 419. (10.1186/s13063-018-2803-4)
- Gillespie, D.et al. 2018. Use of co-primary outcomes for trials of antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Lancet Infectious Diseases 18(6), pp. 595-597. (10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30289-5)
- Santer, M.et al. 2018. Emollient bath additives for the treatment of childhood eczema (BATHE): multicentre pragmatic parallel group randomised controlled trial of clinical and cost effectiveness. BMJ 361, article number: k1332. (10.1136/bmj.k1332)
- Butler, C. C.et al. 2018. Point-of-care urine culture for managing urinary tract infection in primary care: a randomised controlled trial of clinical and cost-effectiveness. British Journal of General Practice 68(669), pp. e268-e278. (10.3399/bjgp18X695285)
- Ingram, J.et al. 2018. Levels of wound calprotectin and other inflammatory biomarkers aid in deciding which patients with a diabetic foot ulcer need antibiotic therapy (INDUCE study). Diabetic Medicine 35(2), pp. 255-261. (10.1111/dme.13431)
2017
- Butler, C. C.et al. 2017. Variations in presentation, management, and patient outcomes of urinary tract infection: a prospective four-country primary care observational cohort study. British Journal of General Practice 67(665), pp. e830-e841. (10.3399/bjgp17X693641)
- Ambler, G. K.et al. 2017. 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. Trials 18(1), article number: 628. (10.1186/s13063-017-2358-9)
- Bosanquet, D. C.et al. 2017. Perineural local anaesthetic catheter after major lower limb amputation trial (PLACEMENT): study protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study. Trials 18, article number: 629. (10.1186/s13063-017-2357-x)
- Shepherd, V.et al. 2017. Impact of a deferred recruitment model in a randomised controlled trial in primary care (CREAM study). Trials 18(1), article number: 533. (10.1186/s13063-017-2284-x)
- Hollingworth, W.et al. 2017. The diagnosis of urinary tract infection in young children (DUTY) study clinical rule: economic evaluation. Value in Health 20(4), pp. 556-566. (10.1016/j.jval.2017.01.003)
- Francis, N. A.et al. 2017. Oral and topical antibiotics for clinically infected eczema in children: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial in ambulatory care. Annals of Family Medicine 15(2), pp. 124-130. (10.1370/afm.2038)
2016
- Glover, G. W.et al. 2016. Intravascular versus surface cooling for targeted temperature management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest - an analysis of the TTM trial data. Critical care (London, England) 20(1), article number: 381. (10.1186/s13054-016-1552-6)
- Francis, N. A.et al. 2016. A randomised placebo-controlled trial of oral and topical antibiotics for children with clinically infected eczema in the community: the ChildRen with Eczema, Antibiotic Management (CREAM) study. Health Technology Assessment 20(19), pp. 1-84. (10.3310/hta20190)
- Waldron, C.et al. 2016. Oral Steroids for the Resolution of Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in Children (OSTRICH): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 17, article number: 115. (10.1186/s13063-016-1236-1)
2015
- Gillespie, D.et al. 2015. Antibiotic prescribing and associated diarrhoea: a prospective cohort study of care home residents. Age and Ageing 44(5), pp. 853-860. (10.1093/ageing/afv072)
- Butler, C. C.et al. 2015. Childhood urinary tract infection in primary care: a prospective observational study of prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. British Journal of General Practice 65(633), pp. e217-e223. (10.3399/bjgp15X684361)
2014
- Bates, J.et al. 2014. Point of care testing for urinary tract infection in primary care (POETIC): protocol for a randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of FLEXICULT (TM) informed management of uncomplicated UTI in primary care. BMC Family Practice 15, pp. -., article number: 187. (10.1186/s12875-014-0187-4)
2013
- Bates, J.et al. 2013. Effects of an optimised POCT guided diagnostic and treatment strategy for symptoms of uncomplicated UTI on use of appropriate antibiotics and uptake into primary care practice. [Abstract]. Trials 14(S1), pp. -., article number: P10. (10.1186/1745-6215-14-S1-P10)
- Waldron, C.et al. 2013. Recruitment to diagnosis of urinary tract infections in young children (DUTY) study: an evaluation of the successful methods used in a primary care, prospective cohort study. [Abstract]. Trials 14(S1), pp. -., article number: P37. (10.1186/1745-6215-14-S1-P37)
2012
- Robling, M. R.et al. 2012. The effect of the Talking Diabetes consulting skills intervention on glycaemic control and quality of life in children with type 1 diabetes: cluster randomised controlled trial (DEPICTED study). British Medical Journal 344, article number: e2359. (10.1136/bmj.e2359)
2011
- Gregory, J. W.et al. 2011. Development and evaluation by a cluster randomised trial of a psychosocial intervention in children and teenagers experiencing diabetes: The DEPICTED study. Health Technology Assessment 15(29), pp. 1-202. (10.3310/hta15290)
Research Interests
- Infections, Inflammation and Immunity
- Biomarkers and Point of Care Devices
- Primary Care
- Sepsis
- Antimicrobial stewardship
Grants
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).
