Researchers are looking for participants to test a potential new treatment for OCD
Volunteers taking part will be reimbursed for their time (including reasonable travel costs) and may be offered the study medication free of charge for 48 weeks.
A leading clinical research organisation is running a clinical trial to test a potential new medication for people living with OCD.
According to the NHS, it is estimated that a quarter of a million people are living with OCD in the UK at some point in their lives, that’s equivalent to 12 in every 1,000.
This number increases drastically when we consider those who haven’t received a diagnosis who could be living with OCD symptoms and not receiving the professional support they may need or understand why they are experiencing intrusive thoughts.
Dr Alex Worthington, Clinical Research Physician at MAC Clinical Research, explains that “obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly referred to as OCD, is a mental health condition with three main parts: obsessions, emotions, and compulsions.
For #OCDWeek, we wanted to highlight some statistics and information to raise awareness of #OCD.
If you have OCD and are having little to no response to your current antidepressant treatment, you may be eligible to take part in a clinical trial.
“Obsessions are persistent thoughts, images, doubts, worries, or urges that intrude on an individual’s mind, despite being unwanted.
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“These thoughts can cause significant mental discomfort or anxiety. Some of the emotions felt due to intrusive thoughts can include guilt, depression, and disgust.
“Compulsions refer to repetitive behaviours that an individual engages in to temporarily alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsession. Examples of compulsions include checking if a door is locked multiple times or repeating certain phrases mentally.”
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There’s a need for more effective treatment options for OCD, which is why award-winning clinical research organisation, MAC Clinical Research is conducting a clinical trial to test a potential new treatment that is hoped to reduce OCD symptoms and ultimately improve quality of life.
Here at MAC, our OCD clinical trial is open for people struggling with OCD symptoms.
Eligible participants will receive up to £490 plus reasonable travel expenses.
If you or someone you know has been living with OCD or OCD symptoms, and provided you meet the overall criteria, you could be reimbursed up to £490 for your time and participation in the clinical trial plus reasonable travel expenses.
If the treatment works, you may be able to receive nearly a year’s worth (48 weeks) of the medication free of charge as part of an open-label extension study.
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You can find out more and register your interest HERE.
As explained in the summary for this clinical trial, “people with OCD tend to have signalling pathways in the brain which are overactive, causing intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviour or other OCD symptoms.
“Previous clinical trials suggest that the study medication works to dampen down these overactive pathways which may help people with OCD when used in combination with their usual antidepressant medication.”
The study is expected to run for approximately five months. The trial itself will involve taking the oral medication or a placebo daily for ten weeks alongside seven visits to the clinic for check-ups to examine if your OCD symptoms improve and how well you are coping with taking the medication.
As part of International OCD Awareness Week, MAC also looked intohow the condition affects people in the workplace and answered some of the public’s pressing questions surrounding the disorder with one of the organisation’s leading psychiatrists, Dr David Gregory.
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One of MAC’s leading psychiatrists sheds light on OCD treatment.
To ensure optimal safety, each study participant must meet a pre-determined set of eligibility criteria. To be eligible for the trial, you need to:
Be aged between 18-65
Have had OCD symptoms or an OCD diagnosis for at least 1 year that affects daily life.
Be taking an antidepressant for your OCD that isn’t fully helping.
To ensure optimal patient safety, participants must not have any of the following:
Bipolar, schizophrenia, autism, Tourette’s, or other psychiatric conditions
Diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Have diabetes that requires insulin.
Other criteria will apply.
If you want to learn more about MAC Clinical Research or if you’re considering being part of the clinical trial, you can learn more and register your interest by visiting their OCD research webpage.
For #OCDWeek, we wanted to share what some of our clinical trial participants said made them want to take part in OCD clinical research with MAC.
Featured Image — MAC Clinical Trial/The Manc Group
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Thanks to Terminal 2’s major upgrade, now holidays really do start at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
It’s a phrase that’s almost as old as air travel itself, but luckily, Manchester Airport are well and truly getting your holidays started early, courtesy of the new and improved Terminal 2.
T2‘s massive upgrade technically finished in 2025, but with other bits debuting already this year and even more to come in 2026, Manchester’s biggest terminal is a more fully-fledged travel hub than ever.
Complete everything from the essentials and a healthy supply of food and drink, to lots of luxuries and plenty of ways to unwind and kill time between both before and after flights, you can feel extra smug about getting to the airport early.
As part of their latest ‘Terminal Explorer’ campaign, we recently paid a visit to see just how much fun we could get up to in and around T2. Spoilers: quite a lot.
With a little help from their wayfinding screens dotted around the various areas, from the World Duty Free section and ever-growing internal shopping district, to all the bars and restaurants that have opened since the big refurb, we took ourselves on a very fun day out.
And that was without even having an actual holiday booked to look forward to, so just imagine how good it must feel to top all this off with a real trip away.
In fact, you don’t even need to think that hard about it; roughly 80% of all passengers heading in and out of Manchester Airport now come through T2, and with the experience improving all the time, they’re seeing a serious uptick in visitors and their time spent enjoying some leisure before their getaway.
From additions like the LEGO store to keep the kids entertained, as well as numerous places to grab a brew, a bite, or even your first adult beverage of the holiday, it’s up to you how you choose to explore – they’ve just given you plenty of options.
There’s no bigger testament to the latest hospitality offerings in Terminal 2 than the recently opened Great Northern Market, which brings a rather big taste of the Mackie Mayor vibe to Manchester Airport.
A VERY comfortable place to wind down any wait times before you fly.
You’ll be blown away by the amount of choice on offer in here – we certainly were – and, of course, the multi-vendor culinary destination epicentre is just one of many fantastic food and drink offerings now boasted by the T2 ‘2.0.’
For instance, we could happily spend most of the time before our next hypothetical flight just chilling in the super stylish Fever-Tree Bar, which includes a wonderful range of breakfast and light bites, charcuterie boards, small plates, sandwiches and so on – plus a cocktail menu perfect for any occasion.
Put simply, you’ve now been given all the tools and means to turn downtime of almost any duration into an excuse to explore Manchester Airport at its best; in fact, scratch that: it’s an opportunity to go for a wander and make the most of it – and it’s one you don’t want to waste.
Whether it’s stocking up pre-flight or kicking back with your first drink of many, don’t just be another person sitting watching the departures board, be a terminal explorer.
Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
Danny Jones -
16th November 2023 
