Category / NHS

Good Clinical Practice Refresher – Monday 4th February

BU research, Clinical Governance, NHS, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, Research Training, Training

Are you currently undertaking research within the NHS, and your Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training is due to expire? Or has it expired recently?

GCP certification lasts for two years, so if your training is due to expire, has expired, or you want to validate your learning, then take advantage of the upcoming refresher half day session, taking place at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester on Monday 4th February, 9am – 12:30pm.

Spaces are still remaining, so if you’d like to enrol, get in touch with Research Ethics.

Southern Health Research and Development Conference 2019

conferences, Events, Knowledge Exchange, NHS, Research communication

‘Population Health: Can Research Improve Outcomes’

Southern Health Research & Development will be holding the above conference on Wednesday 30th January, at the Hilton, Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

The conference is free and will feature a range of guest speakers focusing on research’s impact on population health and how this can not only improve the health of the population but also reduce health inequalities across diverse population groups. The programme for the day can be found here.

This event is open to everyone within research, business, and voluntary sectors as well as to the public – you can find out more and register through the Eventbrite link here.

Training opportunity – Next steps in delivering Clinical Research

Clinical Governance, NHS, Research Training, Training

The Wessex Clinical Research Network are accepting applications from research practitioners for the above training, taking place Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th February 2019. The course will take place in Hedge End, Southampton.

The two day course is designed for research practitioners who are new to research posts, (in post for more than 6 months and as a refresher for all research practitioners). The NIHR GCP course is a prerequisite for this course.

The training will cover –

  1. Historical context of research
  2. The basics of clinical research methodology
  3. Human subjects protection, advocacy and the 6 C’s
  4. Patient information giving and Informed consent: process and principals
  5. Recruitment and retention of patients in clinical research
  6. Protocol review and feasibility
  7. Study management and documentation
  8. Roles and responsibilities of the research team
  9. Monitoring, audits and MHRA
  10. Drug and medical device development
  11. The national and international picture

Applications should be submitted by Friday 25th January for consideration, with more information found here.

Research Active Dorset – delivering research and Innovation in Dorset’s Integrated Care Systems

BU research, Clinical Governance, NHS, Research news

There are some exciting developments surrounding clinical research within Dorset, most recently with the formation of the Research Active Dorset (RAD) group. The group has a number of representatives from BU, and recently has launched their online platform, which you can find here.

Please see below for a message from the Chair of RAD, Dr Phil Richardson, NHS Dorset CCG:

‘Senior clinical and management research leads from all NHS and Local Authority partners in Dorset have agreed to work together to drive research and innovation to deliver better quality of health and care for the Dorset population. Members of Research Active Dorset also includes Bournemouth University, Southampton University, Academic Health Science Network, Applied Research Collaboration, the National Institute for Health Research and Clinical Research Network (Wessex).

Our aim is to provide research and innovation that leads to better health, employment, economic development, national and international collaboration. Please share the link with all those interested in research and innovation. In the coming months we will be setting up a community of interest.

I look forward to bringing you more news as RAD develops.’

Valid Informed Consent training – 15th January at Poole Hospital

Clinical Governance, NHS, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, Research Training, Training

There are still seats available for the above training session, taking place at Poole Hospital, Education Centre on Tuesday January 15th.

The VIC workshop has been designed to enable attendees to embed the core principles of valid informed consent into their practice. The materials, developed by a group of Lead Nurses throughout the Clinical Research Network (CRN) aim to provide a foundation upon which to build competence in the valid informed consent process in a research setting.

Locally delivered workshops take the form of a combination of presentations, discussions and group activities designed to bring the principles of valid informed consent into the workplace.

Get in touch with Research Ethics if you are interested in booking a place.

Free Health Research Authority webinars on 10th January

BU research, Clinical Governance, data management, NHS, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, Research Training, Training

The HRA are hosting three webinars this Thursday 10th January, for those undertaking healthcare research or for those applying for approval. You can book onto them by following this link.

On offer are the following webinars –

  • Managing your approval, scheduled from 2:30pm – 3:30pm
  • Understanding GDPR in relation to health research in the UK, scheduled from 11am – noon
  • Applying for HRA Approval – ‘getting it right first time’, scheduled from 1pm – 2pm

Remember that support is on offer at BU if you are thinking of introducing your research ideas into the NHS – email the Research Ethics mailbox, and take a look at the Clinical Governance blog.

CRN Wessex Awards – shortlist revealed

NHS, Research communication, Research news

Huge congratulations to our colleagues at neighbouring NHS Trusts, who have been shortlisted for a CRN Wessex Award!

The Wessex Awards comprises seven categories which celebrate those who have made outstanding contributions to the delivery of NIHR CRN portfolio studies. The categories are:

– Rising star
– Excellence in the delivery of commercial research studies
– Outstanding research professional
– Excellence in patient & public involvement & engagement
– Outstanding collaborative working
– Outstanding clinical trial support
– Outstanding research leaders

You can see the shortlist here.

Great to see those we work with closely being appreciated for their hard work. Congratulations again!

The NHS Long Term Plan – released today

BU research, Clinical Governance, NHS, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy

The NHS Long Term Plan has been released today, having been developed in partnership with those who know the NHS best – frontline health and care staff, patients and their families and other experts.

You can download the document here.

The plan discusses research and innovation throughout – see page 75 onward for plans surrounding research and innovation to drive future outcomes improvement.

NHS Research – Twitter pages to follow!

Clinical Governance, NHS, Research communication, Research news

There is a huge amount of research being conducted across the county by our neighbouring NHS Trusts – you can follow them all on Twitter on the links below.

It’s a great way to keep up to date with developments, news and upcoming events. as well as interesting articles related to healthcare research:

Follow Dorset County Hospital Research & Innovation’s page here;
Follow Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s Research page here:
Follow Dorset HealthCare Research & Development’s page here;
Follow Poole Hospital’s page here.

Happy tweeting!

Remember that support is on offer at BU if you are thinking of introducing your research ideas into the NHS – email the Research Ethics mailbox, and take a look at the Clinical Governance blog.

Good Clinical Practice Refresher – Monday 4th February

BU research, Clinical Governance, NHS, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, Research Training, Training

Are you currently undertaking research within the NHS, and your Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training is due to expire? Or has it expired recently?

GCP certification lasts for two years, so if your training is due to expire, has expired, or you want to validate your learning, then take advantage of the upcoming refresher half day session, taking place at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester on Monday 4th February, 9am – 12:30pm.

Spaces are still remaining, so if you’d like to enrol, get in touch with Research Ethics.

Introduction to Good Clinical Practice – 17th January 2019

BU research, Clinical Governance, NHS, Research communication, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, Research Training, Training

Are you interested in running your own research project within the NHS? Good Clinical Practice, or ‘GCP’, is a requirement for those wishing to work on clinical research projects in a healthcare setting.

GCP is the international ethical, scientific and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted. By undertaking GCP, you’re able to demonstrate the rights, safety and wellbeing of your research participants are protected, and that the data collected are reliable.

The next GCP full day session is scheduled for Thursday 17th January, at Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus (Executive Business Centre) – 8:45am – 4:30pm.

The day will comprise of the following sessions:

  • Introduction to research and the GCP standards;
  • Preparing to deliver your study;
  • Identifying and recruiting participants – eligibility and informed consent;
  • Data collection and ongoing study delivery;
  • Safety reporting;
  • Study closure.

If you’re interested in booking a place, please contact Research Ethics.

Remember that support is on offer at BU if you are thinking of introducing your research ideas into the NHS – email the Research Ethics mailbox, and take a look at the Clinical Governance blog.

First publication of 2019

Featured academics, NHS, Publishing, Research communication, Research news, Uncategorized, writing

Having had the pleasure of announcing the last BU publication yesterday, today we received an email that our paper ‘Design errors in vital sign charts used in consultant-led maternity units in the United Kingdom’ has been accepted by the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia.  This paper is led by FHSS Visiting Faculty Gary Smith and Richard Isaac and has as co-authors Vanora Hundley, Lisa Gale-Andrews and Edwin van Teijlingen as well as two further BU Visiting Professors: Mike Wee and Debra Bick.

CHAIN – Contact, Help, Advice and Information Network

BU research, Clinical Governance, Knowledge Exchange, NHS, Research communication, Research news

CHAIN is an online mutual support network for people working in health and social care. It gives people a simple and informal way of contacting each other to exchange ideas and share knowledge.

Members use CHAIN in all sorts of ways, from highly proactive networking to more passive ‘horizon-scanning’.
CHAIN also provides a simple mechanism for ideas which emerge in one context to be shared with fellow-members across boundaries of organisations, professions, and territories which makes the network unique.

Joining is free, and open to anyone working in these areas. You can see recent examples of feedback here, as well as a snapshot report here, of the network’s reach.

Follow CHAIN updates on Twitter; @CHAIN_Network ; Find them on Facebook; Connect with CHAIN on LinkedIn.

NHS research cost attribution and funding update – support on offer at BU

BU research, Clinical Governance, Guidance, NHS, Research news

You may have seen an earlier post regarding recent developments, surrounding changes to the way that NHS research costs will be attributed and funded.

Acord specialists working within Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRN) are available to assist researchers in completing the SoECAT.
However, there is also further guidance and support on offer at BU. Email Research Ethics with any queries you may have, as well as requests for any guidance surrounding NHS research and associated procedures.

From one NIHR Fellowship to another!

Awarded & submitted bids, NHS, Research Training

From one NIHR Fellowship to another!

This week I complete my 3-year, 100% FTE NIHR Career Development Fellowship. After the Christmas holiday I then start on a new NIHR Clinical Trials Fellowship.

If you’re not familiar with NIHR fellowships you can find out more here: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/our-research-community/NIHR-academy/nihr-training-programmes/fellowship-programme.htm. The NIHR have re-packaged their fellowship programme and so the Career Development Fellowship is no longer available, as it has been superseded with an Advanced Fellowship.

The Career Development Fellowship has been a career-changing experience. It not only provides you with funding to lead a multidisciplinary team to conduct a research project of importance, but the opportunity to undertake a training and development programme. This has enabled me to further develop my skills and expertise in clinical trial research methods so that I can undertake larger, more complex studies, and therefore go on to produce much higher quality work with greater impact.

The new fellowship that I will start in January 2019 is a Clinical Trials Fellowship. These are designed to provide further advanced research methods training in clinical trials. They provide hands-on experience with several trials at different phases of progression and are to be based in a clinical trials unit. For me, I will be based at PRIMENT, the Clinical Trials Unit at UCL with expertise in trials conducted in primary care and to do with mental health, including my area of dementia. This will help consolidate the experience I have gained so far and training from completing an MSc in Clinical Trials, with further hands-on experience in dementia trials at a leading trials unit.

I can highly recommend NIHR fellowships and happy to discuss them with colleagues interested in applying for one.

Dr Samuel Nyman

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

BU research, Fusion, HSS Our 9 Research Entities, international, NHS

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

Congratulations to Dr. Mariam Vahdaninia

BU research, Featured, NHS, Publishing, Research communication, Research news, Uncategorized, writing

Congratulations to Dr. Vahdaninia in FHSS on the publication of her PhD paper ‘ω-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy and risk of allergic outcomes or sensitisation in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis’ which has been accepted by the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. This journal is published by Elsevier and has an Impact factor of 2.6.

This paper addresses the increasing global trend in allergic diseases over the past last two decades with children suffering the highest burden. The increasing burden of allergic conditions is an important public health concern and understanding how to prevent the development of allergic diseases is a vital area of research. In this paper, the authors have assessed the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in randomised controlled trials that have supplemented pregnant women during pregnancy for prevention of allergic diseases in children. Their results have shown that intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy can reduce the risk of sensitisation to egg and peanut in children. These findings have important implications in research since food allergies are common in children and are a key risk factor for developing sensitisation to aero-allergens and allergic respiratory diseases later in life.

The publication is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2018.12.008

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Transparency in research: Health Research Authority survey results

BU research, Clinical Governance, data management, NHS, open access, Research assessment, Research communication, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, Research news

The HRA recently carried out a survey which aimed to establish some of the current obstacles to transparency, and to identify future opportunities to improve practices.
The survey was advertised to researchers, researcher managers, sponsors and funders in order to collate views surrounding research transparency.

You can see the results here on the HRA website.

It’s vital that research participants are informed about the results of research, and in the beginning they are told about the research and implications, in a transparent fashion.

BU has access to the ClinicalTrials.gov system so get in touch if you would like access. This is a great opportunity to register your study and study results in the public domain.
Despite the name, the system may be used for other clinical research projects.