New Partners join the Lakeside Research Team  

Lakeside Research, which runs clinical trials, has been boosted by the addition of two new Partners, Dr Rex Sarmiento and Dr Sophie Reiter.

Dr Sarmiento has been with the team since 2016 and has now decided to step into Partnership, while Dr Reiter is experienced in research and new to the team.

Dr Sarmiento first got involved as a student in his native Philippines. His initial project was testing the antibacterial properties of kapok tree bark, earning his first ever research award as a teenager and firing up a love for research.

He trained as a doctor, then came to the UK to work in hospitals before becoming a research physician in Birmingham, Cannock, London and Leeds. He has been involved in research at the Corby site for the past ten years, working as a crucial part of the team.

Dr Sarmiento said: ‘The turning point for the unit was the pandemic. When no vaccine was available it was good to be able to be in the forefront of Covid vaccine studies, to make a difference and to have been part of the research behind successful drugs. Being at the forefront of clinical research gives you a real feeling of accomplishment and pride.

‘Partnership is a step up in terms of responsibility. I have nearly finished my Masters in Clinical Trials and so, with my training and experience, I hope to bring more to Lakeside and the Research team.’

Dr Sophie Reiter’s passion is to ‘make research accessible to everyone’ and champion studies that have the most beneficial effect for patients locally and nationally. As well as being a GP and Principal Investigator, she is also a regional lead for Primary Care Research in the East of England, supporting workforce development and research capacity and capability.

She has been involved in many academic and commercial studies involving vaccines, cardiovascular disease, lipid disorders, and cancer screening and said: ‘What really drives me is making research accessible. I believe that all patients should have access to the newest treatments, innovations and research opportunities as a part of routine General Practice.

‘To provide the highest standard of care, we prioritise research studies that have the potential to directly benefit our patients, while also contributing to the wider research community. For example, if we identify a high prevalence of COPD or cardiovascular disease within our patient population, we actively seek to participate in research studies focused on those conditions. The team has been incredibly welcoming, with a strong sense of camaraderie, and I am really looking forward to being a part of it.’

More information on the team and current studies

Published: Feb 27, 2026