CLARITY

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A multimodal imaging study to characterise Changes of Language AReas In posterior fossa Tumours of the Young (CLARITY)

• IRAS ID

  241738

• Contact name

  Emanuela /EM Molinari

• Contact email

  emanuela.molinari@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  GN18ON049P, R&D GGC reference

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Summary of Research

  Our focus is on predicting which children with brain tumours are going to develop problems with the brain function (neuro-cognition).

  Life beyond cancer is often burdened by a lower quality of life for children and families. Each year over 400 children in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour, mostly arising in the back space of the skull (the “posterior fossa”). Post-surgery, 25% of children show a condition called cerebellar mutism syndrome, where they are unable to speak, are weak, uncoordinated and irritable (easily upset). Although they partially recover, they may not reach their potential in life. There is little information on why it happens and no interventions to lessen its consequences.

  We combine advanced imaging techniques onto the MRIs children have as part of their standard care. This innovative approach allow us to study how brain areas interaction changes over time and how it reflects what we see in the children.
  
  Scottish centres with some of the best available imaging platforms will set up the MRI technique on the healthy paediatric population (phase 1). There are no side effects. Then we will recruit children with a posterior fossa tumour (phase 2) for two consecutive years and follow them over one year by adding a few minutes of specific sequences to their standard MRI. We will collect a variety of data from their clinical notes and put the findings into context. We will not interfere with the child’s care.
  
  We aim to:
  - identify children at high risk of serious consequences
  - tailor interventions based on what’s best for the child
  - better inform patients and families on what to expect
  - test a less invasive technique which can provide a greater depth of information
  - find out how to reduce negative consequences
  - improve the quality of survivorship

  Summary of Results
  The study has been prematurely closed due to change in anaesthetic support during an dafter the Civid-19 pandemic.

• REC name

  South East Scotland REC 01

• REC reference

  18/SS/0123

• Date of REC Opinion

  21 Dec 2018

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion