Sheffield Children’s leads the way in global vitiligo clinical trial as 150 years of pioneering care continues

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is the first site in the UK to recruit a patient to a global clinical trial investigating a potential new treatment for the skin condition vitiligo. 

The milestone comes as Sheffield Children’s celebrates 150 years of caring for children and young people, highlighting how its long tradition of pioneering care continues to give families access to the latest treatments and innovations. 

Sheffield Children’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Commercial Research Delivery Centre is one of the sites delivering the study that will see up to 250 participants take part across the UK, Europe and South America. 

Vitiligo is a long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin. It’s caused by the lack of the pigment melanin. Vitiligo can affect any area of skin, but it commonly appears on the face, neck and hands, and in skin creases. 

The pale areas of skin are more vulnerable to sunburn, so it’s important to take extra care when in the sun and use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). 

Eight-year-old Aria from Rotherham has Vitiligo and is being treated in a specialised Dermatology clinic at Sheffield Children’s.  

Her mum Teagan explains: “It makes her skin more sensitive to the sun, so we have to be very careful. Luckily it doesn’t bother her too much now, but that may change as she gets older. 

“When we heard about the trial, and having access to a treatment potentially years before it’s available, we decided to give it a try.  

“As well as Vitiligo Aria also has Autism, and the team at Sheffield Children’s has been amazing with her. They’ve taken the time to understand her needs and what does and doesn’t work for her in terms of her hospital visits.” 

Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) were created to support the rapid set-up of commercial trials and establish the UK as the leading country for the delivery of commercial research. Sheffield Children’s is the only CRDC dedicated to delivering commercial clinical trials for children and young people. 

Professor Mike Cork, Dermatology lead and Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Commercial Research Delivery Centre: Sheffield Children’s, said: “Research is fundamental to what we do at Sheffield Children’s. Our specialist expertise in dermatology, combined with our dedicated research teams and facilities, means we can give children and young people access to innovative treatments that may not otherwise be available to them. 

“Being involved in pioneering, international research also means we are helping to shape the future of children’s healthcare. By testing promising new treatments, we can build the evidence needed to bring better options to families sooner, while contributing to knowledge that could benefit children both here and around the world.” 

NIHR CRDC: Sheffield Children’s is part of the CRDC UK Network, which brings together 35 centres across primary, secondary and specialist care to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in commercial clinical research.   

Supported by the NIHR in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry, the Network provides a coordinated UK‑wide infrastructure for fast, reliable and consistent trial delivery at scale. It offers industry access to high‑performing research sites and enables inclusive, decentralised trials, allowing more people from more communities across the NHS to take part in research.   

Jenny Crooks, Operations Director for the CRDC UK Network, added: “Congratulations to the team at CRDC: Sheffield Children’s for recruiting the UK’s first participant to this important trial.  

“Delivering commercial research quickly and efficiently is exactly what the CRDCs were established to do, helping to bring innovative studies to the UK and giving more people, like Aria, the opportunity to access potentially life-changing treatments earlier.” 

As Sheffield Children’s marks 150 years of caring for children and young people, this latest research milestone demonstrates how its pioneering spirit continues to drive advances in healthcare. 

For a century and a half, Sheffield Children’s has combined compassionate care with research, innovation and discovery to improve outcomes for children. Today, through world-leading studies such as this vitiligo trial, the Sheffield Children’s continues to shape a healthier future for children and young people. 

You can find out more about research at Sheffield Children’s by visiting: www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/research