Funding for the Study
OxVALVE received seed funding from Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (OxBRC). This allowed the initial team to be put in place, consisting of a research fellow, a research nurse, an echocardiographer and a data entry clerk.
OxBRC also provided funding for the purchase of an echo machine, as well as to cover the cost of consumables. Logistical support has also been provided by OxBRC, in such areas as IT. Further funding has also been secured from the Clinical Research Network – Thames Valley and South Midlands, allowing expansion of the study, and allowing reimbursement to general practice for the costs incurred in the community. The OxVALVE Study Team now consists of a Chief Investigator, Principal Investigator, Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Research Administrator and a Echocardiographer.
In July 2022 the study was awarded a Special Project Grant by the British Heart Foundation, to support the study for a further 3 years.
The study started enrolling participants in Didcot Health Centre in August 2009. A second screening site in Bampton Medical Practice was set up in January 2010. A third; Horsefair Surgery, Banbury begun recruitment in November 2010, moving on to Temple Cowley Health Centre , Oxford opened in May 2012, Broadshires in Carterton opened to recruitment in December 2012, Donnington Health Centre opened late August 2014 and Bicester Health Centre opened in March 2015. The response from patients invited for screening has been good, and feedback provided by them has been very positive. We completed Phase One in May 2016.
Phase Two commenced in Winter 2016 and was completed in January 2025 with over 1600 patients returning for post 5 year follow up visits. The team are now busy analysing the data and future publications are expected.