Request for Patient Feedback
Multimodality investigation of visual recovery in
compressive pituitary tumours
We would like to receive your feedback on a proposed research study involving patients with
pituitary tumours.
Aims of the Study
Patients with pituitary tumours experience visual failure because of the pressure these
tumours exert on the optic nerves. Recovery after surgery is variable and is dependent
various interacting mechanisms. This research aims to utilize novel Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) techniques to measure changes along the visual pathway.
This study aims to develop these non-invasive imaging techniques to quantify changes seen
in the optic pathway during visual recovery in order to identify the reversible and irreversible
factors associated with visual failure in these patients. This will provide clinicians with the
evidence to be able to confidently advise patients about the optimum timing of treatment and
will aid in counselling patients as to the likelihood of visual recovery following tumour
resection.
Patient Participation
The total duration of involvement in the study will be approximately 6 months.
As part of the study each patient will be assessed on 4 occasions. Each assessment
involves a series of eye tests and one MRI scan. In total, the eye tests will take around 40
minutes and the MRI scan will take up to 90 minutes. All study assessments will be in
addition to the usual clinic appointments patients have with their treating Consultant but the
research team will try and arrange these on the same day as other hospital visits.
The surgery patients undergo will not change if they choose to participate in the study and
their outpatient follow-up arrangements will also remain unchanged.
Patients will be assessed once before surgery and 3 times after surgery. The first
assessment will be performed 2 days after surgery whilst patients are still in hospital and
further assessments will then be arranged as an out-patient at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.
Patient Involvement Request
Date of issue: 15/12/2014 Version 1.0
REC Reference No: 13/EE/0414
Page 1 of 3
Request for Feedback
We are very interested in any feedback you may have regarding this study. In particular we
would welcome your comments concerning the following aspects of the project:
1. Do you feel that this is an important area to research?
2. Is the level of expected patient participation reasonable?
3. If eligible, would you be prepared to participate in the study?
Please complete our brief survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7FHJL5V or
alternatively you can email your comments to pituitaryvisionstudy@gmail.com.
The Principal Investigator for this study is Mr Stephen Price, NIHR Clinical Scientist and
Hon. Consultant Neurosurgeon and is based in Cambridge. The Researcher involved in the
study is Mr Jonathan Shapey.
Further information
If you would like more information about the study, please do not hesitate to contact the
research team by phone (01223 746455) or email pituitaryvisionstudy@gmail.com.
If you have a concern about any aspect of this study, please contact the research team.
Please contact the Department of Neurosurgery, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and
ask to speak to Mr Stephen Price (Principal Investigator) or Mr Jonathan Shapey
(Researcher). Alternatively you can contact Jackie Williams who is the clinical nurse
specialist for endocrine and pituitary disease at Addenbrooke’s Hospital on 01223 348749.
Further advice may also be sought Patient Advice and Liaison Service (contact details listed
at the end of this document).
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this information and we look forward
to receiving your comments.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Stephen J Price
Principal Investigator
Mr Jonathan Shapey
Research Fellow
Patient Involvement Request
Date of issue: 15/12/2014 Version 1.0
Dr Mark Gurnell
Consultant Endocrinologist
REC Reference No: 13/EE/0414
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Contact details
If you require any further information regarding the study please feel free to contact any of
the following people:
1. Principal Investigator
Mr Stephen J. Price
NIHR Clinician Scientist and Hon. Consultant Neurosurgeon
Department of Clinical Neurosciences
Box 167 Cambridge University Hospitals
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge CB2 0QQ
Tel: 01223 746455
2. Researcher
Mr Jonathan Shapey
Research Fellow
Department of Clinical Neurosciences
Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Tel: 01223 274295
3. Clinical Nurse Specialist
Ms Jackie Williams
Clinical Nurse Specialist for Endocrine/Pituitary Disease
Department of Endocrinology
Cambridge University Hospitals
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Tel: 01223 348749
If you wish to formally complain about any aspect of the study further advice on how to do so
may be sought from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS):
Box 53 Cambridge University Hospitals
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Email: pals@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Tel: 01223 256170
Patient Involvement Request
Date of issue: 15/12/2014 Version 1.0
REC Reference No: 13/EE/0414
Page 3 of 3