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
2022
- Llewelyn, M. J. et al. 2022. Impact of introducing procalcitonin testing on antibiotic usage in acute NHS hospitals during the first wave of COVID-19 in the UK: a controlled interrupted time series analysis of organization-level data. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 77(4), pp. 1189-1196. (10.1093/jac/dkac017)
- Gillespie, D. et al. 2022. Associations with post-consultation health-status in primary care managed acute exacerbation of COPD. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2022(17), pp. 383-394. (10.2147/COPD.S340710)
- Waldron, C. et al. 2022. Biomarker-guided duration of Antibiotic Treatment in Children Hospitalised with confirmed or suspected bacterial infection (BATCH): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 12(1), article number: e047490. (10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047490)
- Milosevic, S. et al. 2022. PrEdiction of Risk and Communication of outcomE followIng major lower limb amputation: a collaboratiVE study (PERCEIVE)—protocol for the PERCEIVE qualitative study. BMJ Open 12(1), article number: e053159. (10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053159)
2021
- Totty, J. P., Matin, R. N., Wernham, A., Ray, R., Thomas-Jones, E. and Abbott, R. A. 2021. Use of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics following excision of ulcerated skin lesions in the UK: a national, multispeciality survey of clinicians. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (10.1111/ced.15075)
- Milosevic, S. et al. 2021. Exploring patients’ experiences of analgesia after major lower limb amputation: A qualitative study. BMJ Open 11, article number: e054618. (10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054618)
- Gwilym, B. L. et al. 2021. The PERCEIVE quantitative study: PrEdiction of Risk and Communication of outcome following major lower-limb amputation: protocol for a collaboratiVE study. BJS Open 5(6), article number: zrab118. (10.1093/bjsopen/zrab118)
- Richards, O. et al. 2021. Procalcitonin increase is associated with the development of critical care-acquired infections in COVID-19 ARDS. Antibiotics 10(11), article number: 1425. (10.3390/antibiotics10111425)
- Phillips, R. et al. 2021. Cohort profile: The UK COVID-19 Public Experiences (COPE) prospective longitudinal mixed-methods study of health and well-being during the SARSCoV2 coronavirus pandemic. PLoS ONE 16(10), article number: e0258484. (10.1371/journal.pone.0258484)
- Milosevic, S. et al. 2021. Managing LUTS in primary care: qualitative study of GPs’ and patients’ experiences. British Journal of General Practice 71(710), pp. e685-e692. (10.3399/BJGP.2020.1043)
- 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 62(1), pp. 127-135. (10.1016/j.ejvs.2021.02.038)
- Abbott, R. A. et al. 2021. Observational study to estimate the proportion of surgical site infection following excision of ulcerated skin tumours (OASIS study). Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 47(5), pp. 882-888. (10.1111/ced.15037)
- 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 5, article number: 10. (10.1186/s41512-021-00100-y)
- 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)
- 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)
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., Thomas-Jones, E., Edwards, A. G. K. and Twine, C. P. 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., Francis, N. A., Carrol, E. D., Thomas-Jones, E., Butler, C. C. and Hood, K. 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., Bosanquet, D. C., Brookes-Howell, L., Thomas-Jones, R. E., Waldron, C., Edwards, A. G. K. and Twine, C. P. 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., Thomas-Jones, E., Ridd, M. J., Hood, K., Addison, K. and Francis, N. 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).
