Healthy volunteers needed for ground-breaking study into blood vessel cells | News

Intensive care researchers are calling on healthy adults to take part in a new study aimed at advancing our understanding of vascular health to help prevent life-threatening emergencies like sepsis.

The JEDI-2 (J-wire extraction discovery initiative) research project, led by Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with the University of Surrey, is seeking volunteers to help investigate the vital role endothelial cells play in maintaining the health of our blood vessels.

Endothelial cells line all blood vessels in the body and are essential for vascular health. They act as a barrier and control the passage of substances in and out of the bloodstream. However, when these cells are damaged due to infection or trauma, their function can change dramatically, leading to severe health emergencies such as sepsis.

The JEDI-2 study aims to identify how these changes occur and what can be done to prevent life-threatening conditions in critically ill patients. Using a unique technique, researchers can safely isolate endothelial cells from participants to allow them to study part of the cells genetic material know as messenger RNA. By doing this, the team hopes to understand the specific molecular changes that take place when the cells are damaged.

To make sure the research is accurate, they are looking for healthy volunteers to provide control samples. Your participation will help create a baseline for comparison, facilitating researchers to better understand the alterations seen in patients with vascular damage.

What does participation involve?

If you're eligible, your participation will involve a quick, one-time visit to the Royal Surrey Hospital. The process is simple and takes only around 30 minutes. During the visit, you'll provide two small samples:

• One blood sample (about 25 ml)

Eligibility check

Before the visit, you'll have a short screening interview to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. You must be:

• Age 40 years or older
• Have no recent history of infection or trauma
• Not currently taking medications that affect immune cell function

If you meet these criteria and are willing to help advance vital research into vascular health, we’d love to hear from you.

Why should you get involved?

By volunteering, you’ll play a crucial role in the development of new treatments that could save lives in critical care situations. Not only will you be contributing to medical knowledge, but you'll also be supporting research that could directly impact the treatment of sepsis and other life-threatening conditions related to vascular health.

If you're interested in taking part or would like more information, please contact the JEDI-2 research lead, Charlie Piercy.