Keele researcher leading world-first baby vaccine trial at Shropshire hospital

A world-first clinical trial testing a new vaccine which could prevent infant deaths and stillbirths from a life-threatening bacterial infection is underway at one of Keele’s partner hospitals in Shropshire. 

Professor William Parry-Smith, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Keele University and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, is the Principal Investigator of the BEATRIX study at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. The trial is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and sponsored by Pfizer. 

The BEATRIX study is evaluating the effectiveness of the vaccine for Group B streptococcus (GBS), which is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies, causing sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. It can kill a newborn baby within hours if untreated.  

Around 1 in every 1,750 babies in the UK and Ireland develops a GBS infection. Each year, GBS kills 50 babies a year in the UK - around 1 a week - and around a further 70 babies survive with long-term disabilities, such as hearing loss, vision problems, cerebral palsy, or developmental difficulties.  

The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, Shropshire, managed by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, is among 10 sites across the UK administering the vaccine for Group B streptococcus (GBS) as part of the BEATRIX study 

There are typically around 4,000 births annually at SaTH and more than 60,000 each year in the West Midlands region. 

Professor Parry-Smith said: “said: “Group B Streptococcus can cause serious illness in newborn babies, yet there is currently no licensed vaccine available to help prevent these infections.   

“The BEATRIX study is evaluating an investigational maternal vaccine and aims to expand our understanding of maternal immunisation against GBS.   

“Research such as this is important in helping build the evidence needed to address a significant unmet public health need.”  

The BEATRIX study is the first large-scale phase 3 vaccine trial in the world for GBS. The study is being developed by researchers from the NHS and UK universities, alongside international partners. 

Pregnant women can take part in this study for 14 months - 6 months after delivery - and their babies for about 12 months after they are born. Estimates suggest 70% coverage could avoid more than 50,000 GBS-related deaths and 170,000 pre-term births annually worldwide.  

For more information on this new Strep B vaccine trial or to take part in clinical research, visit the NIHR’s Be Part of Research Service online or through the NHS app.  

The study is open across hospitals supported by NIHR Clinical Research Facilities, Biomedical Research Centres and Clinical Research Delivery Centres.  

Any women who would like to be part of the BEATRIX study should email sath.research.maty@nhs.net  

For more information on this new Strep B vaccine trial or to take part in clinical research, visit the NIHR’s Be Part of Research Service online or through the NHS app. 

Patient story

Menna Hulme, Ellesmere, Shropshire

Mum of 3 Menna Hulme, 32, from Cockshutt, near Ellesmere, was the first person in Europe to sign up to the BEATRIX study.  

She said: “I was chuffed to be the first European participant. Other ladies enrolled locally too and I would hope others will, because there would be massive benefits to developing this vaccine."

Read the story ▾