Category / HSS Our 9 Research Entities

HSS Our 9 Research Entities

Funding to compare imaging modalities for liver cancer detection

Bournemouth University researchers at the Institute of Medical Imaging and Visualisation (IMIV) will contribute to a new national study evaluating non-contrast-enhanced MRI and comparing it to standard of care ultrasound in a cohort of patients under surveillance for liver cancer.

Researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Nottingham, Bournemouth and Glasgow Caledonian will lead the £2.2 million AMULET clinical study into the use of a new imaging technique for surveillance of liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis. The study is funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, a partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council. The team will compare non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the standard of care ultrasound to assess which imaging technique is better for diagnosing liver cancer earlier.

The study is led by Dr Michael Pavlides (study chief investigator, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford) and Professor Susan Francis (study lead technical investigator, University of Nottingham). Associate Professor Jamie Franklin, Head of the IMIV, is a co-investigator on the project and the study lead radiologist.

Liver cancer incidence is increasing in the UK. The earlier that liver cancer is detected, the more likely that treatment will be successful. Currently we use ultrasound to detect liver cancer, but liver ultrasound has poor sensitivity in some patients meaning that early liver cancers can be missed. MRI is not routinely used for liver cancer surveillance. The study team are developing a shorter non-contrast-enhanced MRI protocol, as an alternative to ultrasound and contrast-enhanced MRI, with the aim of using it for more sensitive surveillance.

Dr Franklin said: “This is an important and timely project. We need more accurate, cost-effective tools to detect liver cancer at an early stage, which gives us the best chance of successful treatment. We’re excited to be working with the research team to deliver this study, which we hope will benefit patients in the future.”

The AMULET project will build on the University of Oxford’s DeLIVER programme (funded by Cancer Research UK). For more information about the DeLIVER early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma research programme, please visit the DeLIVER website: https://deliver.cancer.ox.ac.uk/

NIHR Grant Applications Seminar ONLINE

  

Dear colleagues

– Do you have a great idea for research in health, social care or public health?
– Are you planning to submit a grant application to NIHR?

Our popular seminar has now moved online and will take place on Tuesday 24th November 2020 from 10.00am – 12.30pm.

The seminar provides an overview of NIHR funding opportunities and research programme remits, requirements and application processes. We will give you top tips for your application and answer specific questions with experienced RDS South West advisers.

Find out more and book a place.

Your local branch of the NIHR RDS (Research Design Service) is based within the BU Clinical Research Unit (BUCRU)

We can help with your application. We advise on all aspects of developing an application and can review application drafts as well as put them to a mock funding panel (run by RDS South West) known as Project Review Committee, which is a fantastic opportunity for researchers to obtain a critical review of a proposed grant application before this is sent to a funding body.

Come as early as possible to benefit fully from the advice

Feel free to call us on 01202 961939 or send us an email.

 

Writing Week – support from BUCRU and RDS

Writing Week in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences is coming up next week and we wanted to highlight some of the expertise within BUCRU and NIHR RDS (Research Design Service) and remind you that we’re available to provide support for your health or social care research.

Bournemouth University Clinical Research Unit (BUCRU) supports researchers in improving the quality, quantity and efficiency of research across the University and local NHS Trusts.

We do this by:

  • Helping researchers develop high quality applications for external research funding (including small grants)
  • Ongoing involvement in funded research projects

How can we help?

BUCRU/RDS can provide help in the following areas:

  • Formulating research questions
  • Building an appropriate team
  • Study design
  • Appropriate methodologies for quantitative research, e.g. statistical issues, health economics
  • Appropriate methodologies for qualitative research, e.g. sampling, analytical strategies
  • Advice on data management and data analysis
  • Identifying suitable funding sources
  • Writing plain English summaries
  • Identifying the resources required for a successful project
  • Critical reviews of proposed grant applications can be obtained through our Project Review Committee before they are sent to a funding body.
  • Patient and public involvement in research
  • Trial management
  • Ethics, governance and other regulatory issues
  • Linking University and NHS researchers

Over the coming weeks we’ll cover some of these areas in more detail in future blogs and how we can help you.

Our support is available to Bournemouth University staff and people working locally in the NHS, and depending on the support you require, is mostly free of charge. There are no general restrictions on topic area or professional background of the researcher.

If you would like support in developing your research please get in touch through bucru@bournemouth.ac.uk or by calling us on 01202 961939. Please see our website for further information, details of our current and previous projects and a link to our recent newsletter.

NIHR Grant Applications Seminar ONLINE

  

Dear colleagues

– Do you have a great idea for research in health, social care or public health?
– Are you planning to submit a grant application to NIHR?

Our popular seminar (which was previously planned in Bournemouth on 24 March and cancelled due to lockdown) has now moved online and will take place on Tuesday 28th July 2020 from 2.00pm – 4.30pm.

The seminar provides an overview of NIHR funding opportunities and research programme remits, requirements and application processes. We will give you top tips for your application and answer specific questions with experienced RDS South West advisers.

We will also be joined by Simon Goodwin – RfPB Programme Manager for the South West and East of England. Find out more and book a place.

Your local branch of the NIHR RDS (Research Design Service) is based within the BU Clinical Research Unit (BUCRU)

We can help with your application. We advise on all aspects of developing an application and can review application drafts as well as put them to a mock funding panel (run by RDS South West) known as Project Review Committee, which is a fantastic opportunity for researchers to obtain a critical review of a proposed grant application before this is sent to a funding body.

Come as early as possible to benefit fully from the advice

Feel free to call us on 01202 961939 or send us an email.

 

HSS Lunchtime Seminar Session on Wednesday

Professor Ann Hemingway and Dr Katey Collins will be sharing their latest research at a lunchtime seminar session on Wednesday (13th November). All are very welcome to attend. The session will run from 1:15 – 2:00 in B321, Bournemouth House. Please feel free to bring your lunch.

So…on Monday I was in the Kremlin!!

but no worries I’m out and back in the UK!!

I had the privilege of being invited to represent the British Geriatric Society (BGS) Nurses and AHP Council to talk about Dementia and the nurse’s role at the Scientific and Practical Conference Long Term Care Focus on Dementia in St Petersburg last week. What struck me most as I listened to the presentation interpreted from Russian or Hebrew into English is that when it comes to talking about dementia we have more in common than divides us. Nurses, academics, physicians, psychiatrists, and nutritionists all talked about wanting to provide a person centred approach to care, seeing the person not their diagnosis and in essence wanting to offer a humanised approach to care. They discussed the importance of preparing nurses to work with older people and people with dementia and the challenges this poses for the curriculum. They emphasised the need for more research into what is ‘living well with dementia’ and how we can provide it. The presenters spoke with a passion that was inspiring.

I was able to offer the UK perspective and highlight examples from the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) at BU about our innovative approaches to education, research and practical examples of enabling people with dementia to live richer lives. My talk was being translated from English to Russian so as I started my talk I invited everyone to stand up to relieve their pressure areas (we had been sitting still for 2 hours and I am a nurse after all), I do not know what was translated but everyone did stand up, looking a bit bemused. Fortunately when I said to sit down again they all did – hand gestures helped! I felt like I was at the UN with my earpiece carefully in place, but was in awe of the eagerness to learn from others. I was the only person from the UK, but there were speakers from Norway, Israel and of course Russia all presenting. We have so much in common that I hope our conversations will continue.

I was able to stay the weekend and did a mini tour, that included the Hermitage Museum, the ballet (wow!), an overnight sleeper train to Moscow (I felt like I was in a Agatha Christi film), and of course go in to the Kremlin.  It was a fascinating conference and trip.

Article published in Physiological Reports

 

The article titled “The effects of 8 weeks of inspiratory muscle training on the balance of healthy older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study” has been published by Physiological Reports.

 

It is the first research to describe the effects of inspiratory muscle training (i.e. breathing exercises that improve the strength of inspiratory muscles) on static and dynamic balance (measured with the clinical tool mini-BEST) and functional mobility (such as Timed Up and Go and 5 sit to stand tasks) with community dwellers older adults (aged 65+).

The research is part of Francesco Ferraro PhD journey. Journey guided with the supervision of Professor Alison McConnell, Dr James Gavin and Tom Wainwright

The article is now fully available as open access here

https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.14076

Abstract

To examine the effects of 8‐week unsupervised, home‐based inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on the balance and physical performance of healthy older adults. Fifty‐nine participants (74 ± 6 years) were assigned randomly in a double‐blinded fashion to either IMT or sham‐IMT, using a pressure threshold loading device. The IMT group performed 30‐breath twice daily at ~50% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). The sham‐IMT group performed 60‐breaths once daily at ~15% MIP; training was home‐based and unsupervised, with adherence self‐reported through training diaries. Respiratory outcomes were assessed pre‐ and postintervention, including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR), MIP, and inspiratory peak power. Balance and physical performance outcomes were measured using the shortened version of the Balance Evaluation System test (mini‐BEST), Biodex® postural stability test, timed up and go, five sit‐to‐stand, isometric “sit‐up” and Biering–Sørensen tests. Between‐group effects were examined using two‐way repeated measures ANOVA, with Bonferroni correction. After 8‐week, the IMT group demonstrated greater improvements (P ≤ 0.05) in: PIFR (IMT = 0.9 ± 0.3 L sec−1; sham‐IMT = 0.3 L sec−1); mini‐BEST (IMT = 3.7 ± 1.3; sham‐IMT = 0.5 ± 0.9) and Biering–Sørensen (IMT = 62.9 ± 6.4 sec; sham‐IMT = 24.3 ± 1.4 sec) tests. The authors concluded that twice daily unsupervised, home‐based IMT is feasible and enhances inspiratory muscle function and balance for community‐dwelling older adults.

Successful Away Day for the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal and Perinatal Health

CMMPH held its annual away day on the 12th December and was led by the Centre leads, Professors Edwin van Teijlingen and Susan Way. It is an opportunity for BU staff, PGR students and Visiting Faculty to come together and share their research development and impact over the previous year. Time is also given to thinking ahead to ensure the Centre is meeting its aims of promoting the health and wellbeing of women, babies and their families by enhancing practice through education, research and scholarship.

The morning started with an update about EDGE, an NHS IT platform that provides a governance framework for tracking NHS research studies. Doctoral students whose studies require NHS ethics approval will have their research tracked through this system. Other discussions included an update on REF and BU2025, developing a publications strategy and match-funded PhD studentships.

  

Luisa Cescutti-Butler                            Malika Felton

Several PGR students presented their work to date, ranging from rising caesarean section rates in hospitals in Nepal (Sulochana Dhakal working towards Probationary Review); acute and chronic effects of slow and deep breathing upon women who have pregnancy-induced hypertension (Malika Felton working towards Major Review); updating the understanding perineal practice at the time of birth by midwives (Sara Stride working towards Probationary Review) and women’s experiences of caring for their late preterm babies (Dr Luisa Cescutti-Butler recently awarded doctorate). The presentations were all excellent and produced a lot of questions and discussion. Well done to all those who presented.

 

Sulochana Dhakal                                                 Sara Stride

The afternoon was used as an opportunity to think ahead about future collaborative research, how this fits in with the Centre aims and objectives as well as meeting the university’s ambitions to be a world class organisation.

The day was really enjoyable with a lot of positive feedback.

 

Edwin and Sue

REGISTER NOW: 18th September 2018 – Sixth Annual Wessex CRN Research Meeting & Regional BGS

Click links for programme and registration form, spaces limited!

Programme for SIXTH Annual Wessex CRN and Regional BGS 18 Sept 2018 with sponsors v3

REGISTRATION FORM for 6th annual Wessex CRN Research BGS MEET

ING 18 09 2018

HSS Research Areas Membership 2018

Nearly two thirds of FHSS academics are now members of research entities. You are encouraged to join a research cluster, centre or institute in order to access support and maximise your research. Please click on the links to find further details about the research entities and current membership.

Ageing & Dementia Research Centre (ADRC)

Centre Heads: Prof Jane Murphy / Prof Jan Weiner

Deputies: Dr Michele Board / Dr Ben Hicks

 

Bournemouth University Clinical Research Unit (BUCRU)

Centre Heads: Prof Peter Thomas / Prof Tamas Hickish

Deputy: Dr Sarah Thomas

 

BU iWell

Centre Head: Dr Steve Trenoweth

Deputy: Prof Ann Hemingway

 

Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health (CMMPH)

Centre Head: Prof Edwin van Teijlingen

Deputy: Dr Sue Way

 

Centre for Qualitative Research (CQR)

Centre Head: Dr Kip Jones

Deputy: Dr Caroline Ellis-Hill

 

National Centre for Post-qualifying Social Work (NCPQSW)

Centre Head: Prof Keith Brown

 

Nursing long term health care challenges

Cluster Head: Dr Janet Scammell

 

Orthopaedics Research Institute

Institute Head: Prof Rob Middleton

Deputy: Tom Wainwright

 

Seldom Heard Voices: Marginalisation and Societal integration

Centre Head: Prof Lee-Ann Fenge

Deputies: Dr Mel Hughes / Dr Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers

 

 

Seldom Heard Voices: Marginalisation and Societal integration

Seldom Heard Voices: marginalisation and societal integration brings together a range of existing academics across Social Sciences and Social Work, both early career researchers keen to be mentored and established researchers. A key aspiration is to collaborate, develop and share networks for joint research activities and funding bids to achieve a critical mass of high quality Social Science focussed research within the faculty that will underpin a credible REF submission. This area includes both qualitative and quantitative methods to engage with marginalised communities and often excluded or silenced voices, particularly through user-led and participatory co-created research.

Members:

Sara Ashencaen Crabtree, Jennifer Bigmore, Tula Brannelly, Sid Carter, Wendy Cutts, Jill Davey, Lee-Ann Fenge, Jane Healy, Richard Heslop, Kate Howe, Mel Hughes, Maggie Hutchings, Hyun-Joo Lim, Stefan Kleipoedszus, Richard Murphy, Jonathan Parker, Rosie Read, Ros Richards, Lynne Rutter, Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers, Patrick Van Calster, Richard Williams.

 

Associate members

Sarah Collard, Vanessa Heaslip, Sally Lee, Lisa Oakley – Visiting Fellow, Sam Porter, Colin Pritchard, Emily Rosenorn-Lanng, Julie Ryden

Nursing Long – Term Health Care Challenges

Nursing Long – Term Health Care Challenges

The Nursing Research Cluster came into being in May 2016 and following some scoping of members’ expertise and areas of interest in the context of contemporary nursing and health care, our focus from autumn 2017 will concern Nursing and long-term health challenges.  The cluster brings together academics with passion, expertise and reputation in nurse education and research for impact on patient benefit and the preparation of a resilient workforce to support healthy communities.  It is led by a core group of very experienced researchers with high level collaborations nationally and internationally.  It will support and build the reputation of nursing research at Bournemouth University and enable many more staff to achieve a fused portfolio of activity for Ref 2021.

Managing people with long-term conditions is a significant challenge for the UK and global health community. As the largest professional group in health care, nursing has a major role to play.  Colleagues at BU have been researching leadership, workforce development and value-based nurse education, as well as issues pertaining to long-term conditions such as cancer and chronic obstructive airway disease (COPD).  The aim is to bring these three strands together to form a synergy to establish a clear framework for research activity that supports the development of a nursing workforce capable of meeting the challenges of changing patterns of health need in the coming decades.

Moving forward cluster members will develop and lead distinct research themes to provide a clear framework for nursing research at BU. The potential for collaborative activity with FHSS research groups is clearly evident and to be encouraged. However the unique focus of this group is the nursing contribution towards healthy communities, particularly for those living with long-term conditions.

 

Members

Janet Scammell; Sam Porter; Elizabeth Rosser; Stephen Tee; Katherine Curtis; Sue Baron; Teresa Burdett; Ian Donaldson; Sarah Eales; Martin Hind; Janet James; Andy Mercer; Desiree Tait; Petra Brown; Sonya Chelvanayagam; Karen Cooper; Nikki Glendening; Sue Melling; Jill Phillips; Ashley Spriggs; Lucy Stainer; Sharon Waight; Clive Andrewes; Amanda Watson; Sarah Keeley; Clive Andrewes; Ann Bevan; Clive Matthews; Emma Bockle; Mark Gagan; Helen Farasat; Bernie Edwards; Jane Hunt; Ros Joy; Julie Ryden; Hilary Walsgrove; Belinda Humphries; Eleanor Jack; Clare Uren

Associate members

Michele Board; Sara White; Anneyce Knight; Jonny Branney; Lisa Gale-Andrews; Vanessa Heaslip; Peter Thomas; Andrew Powell, Mariam Vahdanina.

PGRs

Adam Spacey; Gladys Yinusa; Ejike Thankgod Ezeh; Emma Thorne

External members (associates)

Debbie Streeter (DHC)

 

 

 

 

National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work (NCPQSW)

NCPQSW specialises in providing high quality education, continuing professional development (CPD) and training for professionals within Health and Social Care. Post qualifying social work education is centred on a commitment, passion and dedication to develop professional practice, the enhancement of which is crucially focused on challenge and creative resolve, encompassing sound professional values, reasoning and judgement.

The centre currently works in partnership with over one third of local authorities in England. The flexible delivery model means we come to you to deliver education and training designed to make a positive contribution to practice.

https://research.bournemouth.ac.uk/centre/national-centre-for-post-qualifying-social/

 

Current Membership

Keith Brown (Head), Melanie Forsyth-Smith, Michael Lynne, Joanne Parker, Lynne Rutter, Sarah Williams, Sally Lee.

 

Associate Membership

Lee-Ann Fenge, Jennifer Bigmore, Kate Howe