BU Research Blog

May 30, 2023

RIPEN Hub Funding Calls Live

Funding opportunities, Research Integritiy, research integrity, Research news, research opportunities, research staff ngkounta

The RIPEN Hub will receive £250,000 per annum from the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) – Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club to fund research across three streams. The three streams are:

Feasibility Award, each with a maximum value of £100,000 with match funding from industrial partner

Mobility Award, each with a maximum value of £100,000

Progression Award, each with a maximum value of £50,000

Project applications should align with the 2023/24 priority areas listed below:

a. Food structure (matrix effects, bioavailability)

b. Food processing (degree and type of processing)

c. Chemical constituents in foods (fibre, vitamins, additives, sweeteners)

d. Alternative food sources (plants, insects, algae)

e. Targeted nutrition (individual/grouped)

To be able to apply, you have to be a member of the RIPEN Hub.

Join the RIPEN Hub:

https://www.ripenhub.co.uk/membership

April 24, 2023

BU PhD student publishes in The Conversation

BU research, data management, Featured academics, international, Postgraduate Research, Publishing, research integrity, research methods, Student Engagement, the conversation, Uncategorized, Women's Academic Network, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Congratulations the Abier Hamidi, PhD student in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (FHSS) whose PhD work was published in The Conversation this week (24 April) under the title Social media now trumps traditional family networks in Libya – my Facebook survey reached 446,000 women. Her piece in The Conversation on the recruitment of female participants for a PhD study in a rather patriarchal society brings together issues of anonymity, gender, and wider social culture.

This is Abier’s PhD research is supervised by Dr. Pramod Regmi, Senior Lecturer in International Health and the Global Engagement Lead in the Department of Nursing Sciences, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen in the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health (CMMPH).

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

April 21, 2023

Free workshop: Data management basics: Introduction to data management and sharing

BU research, data management, Guidance, Research communication, research integrity, research methods, Research news, Research Training Suzy Wignall

Data management is essential to make sure that well-organised, well-documented, high quality and shareable research data can be produced from our research projects.

The free introductory workshops on data management basics are intended for researchers and anyone who wants to learn about research data management. This workshop is part of a series of two workshops focusing on the basics of data management.

This first workshop, scheduled for 27th April 11am – 12.30pm, provides an overview of how to manage, document, store and safeguard research data well and how to plan and implement good data management in research projects, with a focus on optimising data sharing.

Register for the workshop here.

April 21, 2023

Free workshop – Data management basics: Ethical and legal issues in data sharing

BU research, data management, Guidance, Postgraduate Research, Research communication, Research Ethics, research governance, research integrity, research methods, Research Training Suzy Wignall

Data management is essential to make sure that well-organised, well-documented, high quality and shareable research data can be produced from our research projects.

The free introductory workshops on data management basics are intended for researchers and anyone who wants to learn about research data management.

The first session, scheduled for 4th May 10am – 11.30am: Introduction to data management and sharing, provides an overview of how to manage, document and store research data. This second session focuses on the ethical and legal aspects of data management.

In this free 90-minute online workshop, participants will learn about the relevant legislation, such as data protection legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Participants will also learn about strategies that enable them to share research data. This includes carrying out an assessment of disclosure risk, obtaining informed consent, anonymising data and regulating access to enable data to be shared.

There will be time at the end for questions and discussion.

This event is part of our UK Data Service introductory training series: Spring 2023.

Register for this workshop here.

April 20, 2023

Post-Doctoral Researchers, Research Assistants, ECR’s, Research Fellows

BU Challenges, BU research, BU2025, ECR Network, Fusion, Impact, Knowledge Exchange, Research Centres, Research Concordat, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, research integrity, research methods, Research news, research staff, Research Supervision, Research Training, RKE development framework, Vitae, Women's Academic Network rarnold

Post-Doctoral Researchers, Research Assistants, ECR’s, Research Fellows. It’s the final day of the CEDARS survey and not many of you have completed the survey. We would particularly love to hear your thoughts/feedback.

Don’t miss the chance to influence policies and initiatives relating to research at BU. Please complete the BU Vitae CEDARS survey 2023 (Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research survey)* today. The survey closes today Friday 21st April.

This is an important survey as it benchmarks BU against the rest of the sector. It will, therefore, help us to identify where we are excelling and where there is room for improvement.

Participating in this study will also influence policy. Your input will help us to understand where to focus our efforts and resources – it will give us the data to make the argument for you. (The results of the previous PIRLS and CROS surveys that CEDARS has replaced were used to develop new policies and initiatives, as well as training and development opportunities).

The CEDARS survey is for everyone who is research-active (whether on a full-time, part-time or part-time hourly paid contract). This includes researchers at all stages in your career, those who manage researchers, or are Principal Investigators, or contribute to research by providing professional services for researchers, (i.e. researcher developers, research officers or technical staff).

Your responses will be anonymous; you will not be identified or identifiable in any published results. It will take approximately 20 minutes to complete the survey. BU Vitae CEDARS survey 2023

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please email Rachel Arnold: rarnold@bournemouth.ac.uk

Thank you, the Research Development and Support Team

*CEDARS is a national survey that explores the views and experiences of researchers and those supporting researchers across the UK. It is based on the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, which aims to create the best culture for researchers to thrive. This survey replaces the previous CROS and PIRLS surveys.

Please find more information here on the ‘Concordat to Support the Careers of Researchers’ and what BU is doing to support researchers.

April 3, 2023

#StepForward and become an NHS Research Ethics Committee member

BU research, Clinical Governance, nhs, NHS, Research communication, Research Ethics, research integrity, Research news, research opportunities, Research Training Suzy Wignall

The Health Research Authority are inviting people to #StepForward and become a Research Ethics Committee (REC) member.

REC members meet virtually to review exciting new research studies for some of the biggest challenges in health and social care, including cancer, dementia and COVID-19.

It’s important that committees have insight from different perspectives so that we can all trust their decisions. The HRA are particularly looking for people with no healthcare or research experience.

You’ll be provided with regular training and support and it’s a great opportunity to work with people from a range of backgrounds and learn new skills.

You can find out more here. Alternatively, if you have any questions about being on a REC, please get in touch with Suzy Wignall, Clinical Governance Advisor, and Alternate Vice Chair of the West Midlands – Black Country Research Ethics Committee.

March 19, 2023

A global health journal with a diverse editorial board

BU research, COVID-19, Global engagement, international, open access, Publishing, research integrity, Uncategorized, Women's Academic Network, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

A recent study of 43 journals in the global health field found that PLOS Global Public Health has the joint highest diversity index, whilst also recording the maximum geographic diversity score! [1] The paper by a team from Pakistan and Canada addressed the question: “What is the current state of ethics of diversity and representation in global health publications?” In order to be able to answer this question they developed their own Journal Diversity Index (JDI) to measure three parameters of diversity and representation, namely gender, geographic & socioeconomic status.

The fact that PLOS Global Public Health came out top is good news for the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health (CMMPH) as we published a paper in this journal last month. [2] Our qualitative paper ‘Perceptions around COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy: A qualitative study in Kaski district, Western Nepal’ comprises 19 interviews in the city of Pokhara and its surrounding rural areas.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

References:

Manan, M.R., Nawaz, I., Rahman, S. et al. (2023). Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Editorial Boards of Global Health Journals. Asian Bioethics Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41649-023-00243-8
Mahato P., Adhikari B., Marahatta S.B., Bhusal S., Kunwar K., Yadav R.K., Baral, S., Adhikari, A., van Teijlingen, E. (2023). Perceptions around COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy: A qualitative study in Kaski district, Western Nepal. PLOS Global Public Health 3(2): e0000564. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000564

March 13, 2023

Applying FUSION in Bangladesh

Awarded & submitted bids, BU research, Featured academics, Fusion, Global engagement, Impact, international, Public engagement, research integrity, Uncategorized Edwin van Teijlingen

Photo: RNLI /Kate Eardley

Late in 2022 we started a new interdisciplinary study funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The research aims to reduce the deaths of newly-mobile toddlers from drowning in rural Bangladesh. This project called Sonamoni is being co-ordinated by Bournemouth University in collaboration with the University of the West of England, Bristol, the University of Southampton, the Poole-based Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB).

In Bangladesh, drowning is the leading cause of death in children between one and two years old. This low-income country has one of the highest rates of drowning, especially among children in the world. The risk of drowning in rural areas is twice that in cities, because there are significant numbers of ponds and ditches, creating natural drowning hazards for very young children. CIPRB has implemented several effective drowning prevention solutions focused on children over the past 15 years, including a successful daycare model to keep young children safely away from water. However, enrollment and attendance rates for children under two years (those at the highest risk of accidental drowning) have been low.

The team will be working with communities to apply human-centred design techniques in Bangladesh. Together they will identify and prioritise potential solutions, develop prototype interventions, and assess the acceptability and usability of proposed interventions.

This research is an excellent example of BU’s FUSION. BU endeavours to bring together Research, Education and Practice to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. FUSION is central to our Bangladesh project, the Research is focusing on social sciences and public health, the Education is around health education of people in rural communities as well as training of the research team members, whilst Practice will be the outcome of the human-centred design approach, when we test the best interventions.

The £1.6m project has been made possible thanks to a grant from the NIHR through their Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme. For more information, visit the NIHR website. NIHR uses aid from the UK government to support global health research.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH (Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health)

December 20, 2022

Journals, editors and censorship

BU Challenges, COVID-19, Featured academics, Global engagement, international, Publishing, research integrity, Uncategorized, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

On the day that The Sun took down an column in which Jeremy Clarkson spat vitriol at Meghan Markle, it seems odd to question what the role is of an editor in preventing material from being published. Especially since Ipso (the independent press standards organisation) received more complaints (17,500+) about the column published on Friday 16th December than the total it received in the whole of 2021. Not publishing an article is of course censorship. Many will be calling for the column to be withdrawn and questioning why the editor accepted it in the first place. Censorship is the suppression or prohibition of any parts of a book, article, film, blog, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.

But what if you are not a Mr. Clarkson, but you are a conscientious academic, doing proper research and drafting an evidence-based paper and the editor of an academic journal refuses to publish your article, not because of academic quality, but because the “…manuscript is likely to create disharmony in society”. With the additional detail, that according to the “National Ethical Guidelines for Health Research in Nepal, 2022, section 3, article 2.2 and section 3, article 3.1, this manuscript can’t be accepted for publication.” We (Nirmal Aryal, Pramod Regmi, Shovita Dhakal Adhikari, Shreeman Sharma & Edwin van Teijlingen) had submitted a paper with the title ‘Moral panic, fear, stigma, and discrimination against returnee migrants and Muslim populations in Nepal: analyses of COVID-19 media content’ to a health journal. We don’t think the title of the journal is relevant at this stage.

In the first round of reviewing one of the reviewers questioned our focus on the Muslim population. In our resubmission we stressed that we focused on two separate population groups because the media in Nepal did. In other words, we had noticed discriminatory media coverage towards returnee migrants (particularly those from India) and Muslim populations living in Nepal. These are key populations which experienced stigmatising and ostracising behaviour and media coverage further instigated moral panic and fear. We also conducted interviews with returnee migrants, Muslims in Nepal and key stakeholders, including agencies working with these sub-populations, and these findings have already been published. [1] Image how we felt being censored or in other words ‘cancelled’.

Our paper addressed issues, explanations and allegations related to COVID-19 as portrayed in the media in Nepal, indeed some discriminatory and many very unfair. However, as researchers we were merely the ‘messenger of bad news’. If Mr. Clarkson had not been headline news we would probably have called this blog ‘Don’t shoot the messenger!”.

References:

Regmi, P.R., Dhakal Adhikari, S., Aryal, N., Wasti, S.P. and van Teijlingen, E., 2022. Fear, Stigma and Othering: The Impact of COVID-19 Rumours on Returnee Migrants and Muslim Populations of Nepal. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (15). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9331294/

December 14, 2022

Researcher Roadshow – Exploring Health Data Science

BU research, Clinical Governance, data management, Guidance, nhs, NHS, Research Ethics, research integrity, research methods, Research Training, Training Suzy Wignall

Researcher Roadshow
Exploring Health Data Science

March 1st, 2023. 10:00 – 12:00

The NIHR Research Design Service, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the MRC Regulatory Support Centre and NHS Digital are pleased to offer the opportunity to attend the sixth in a series of virtual researcher roadshows.

This free to attend event is aimed at researchers and others working with health and social care datasets who would like to increase their understanding of roles of health data scientists and value of health data science.

The event will bring together health data scientists from the NHS, academia, and industry and provide insights and perspectives on the important work they do.

This event will include presentations on different roles and careers in health data science and different methods and approaches used by health data scientists.

Speakers will be confirmed in the New Year.

Provisional registration is at: https://ukri.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GntzbzTITLmw0ghBRadQKQ

Recordings of previous Researcher Roadshows can be viewed here – Research Advisory Group (RAG) researcher roadshows – NHS Digital

Queries: If you have any questions about this event, please contact: rsc@mrc.ukri.org

November 14, 2022

Introduction to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) for Researchers – free event

BU research, Clinical Governance, data management, Guidance, nhs, NHS, research integrity, research methods, Research news, Research Training Suzy Wignall

Introduction to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) for Researchers

Date: Tuesday 10 January 2023
Time: 10:30 – 12:30

This event is aimed at people who are new to PPI or setting up their first PPI project, and is free for students and staff from the NIHR, NHS, UK universities, public sector institutions and registered charities based in the UK.

It will help them to discover the support available to plan, deliver and build PPI into their research, and highlight how PPI improves research for patients, services users and carers.

October 27, 2022

Free online course – Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research

BU research, Clinical Governance, data management, nhs, NHS, Research communication, Research Ethics, research integrity, Research Training, Training Suzy Wignall

Interested in clinical research and what’s involved? Are you contemplating a career in healthcare or the life sciences, or, do you want to find out more about the role of clinical research in improving healthcare?

If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions, then why not sign up to FutureLearn’s Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research course?

The course has been developed by the University of Leeds and is be available now, via this link.

It is completely free and all online, lasting 4 weeks.

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. By completing the course you will have achieved 16 hours of CPD time.

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

October 5, 2022

BU Ageing and Dementia Research Forum

BU research, Research Centres, Research Ethics, Research Integritiy, research integrity, research methods, Research news mheward

We are developing a forum for those interested in ageing and dementia research at Bournemouth University. The forum is an opportunity to get together to chat about research and share experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Specific topics will be discussed but there will also be time for open discussion to mull over aspects of research such as project ideas and planning, ethical considerations and patient and public involvement.

The next forum meetings will be in October and November (see table below), if you would like to join us, please email adrc@bournemouth.ac.uk so we can send you the meeting details.

Date, time, and campus

Research areas

27^th October 2022

15.30-17.00

Talbot Campus

Dr Michele Board – Frailty

Dr Susan Dewhurst – Falls prevention

24^th November 2022

15.30-17.00

Lansdowne Campus

Dorset Healthcare – Down syndrome and dementia

If you would like to discuss your research ideas at a future meeting, please email Michelle mheward@bournemouth.ac.uk

August 15, 2022

Could you help the Health Research Authority improve the research ethics review?

BU research, Clinical Governance, data management, Guidance, nhs, NHS, PG research, Postgraduate Research, Research communication, Research Ethics, research integrity, Research news Suzy Wignall

What: Join a workshop to help the HRA improve research ethics review

Who: Researchers and people who apply for ethics review

When: Wednesday 31 August 10am to 12.30pm

Are you a researcher in health and social care? If so, the HRA want to hear from you.

They are holding a workshop to gather ideas to make the ethics review more proportionate. The HRA want to hear from researchers and people who apply for ethics review about your views on how they can further improve the current service.

The Research Ethics Service reviews a wide range of studies with varying levels of ethical complexity and ethical risk. The HRA know that there are ways in which they can make some of the current methods of review more proportionate to the material ethical risks within a research proposal, which could contribute to an overall streamlining of review of research.

Their ideas

Introduce a tool to support researchers to think ethically as they design their study and before they submit their study for review
Make more use of expert Research Ethics Service and approvals staff in reviewing lower risk research
Delegate ethics review for studies within a programme of research to research institutions, cutting back bureaucracy for programmes which already have a favourable ethics opinion

The online workshop will take place on Wednesday 31 August from 10am to 12.30pm. To express interest in attending this workshop, please email engagement.team@hra.nhs.uk.

Rethinking ethics review: the public conversation runs from 13 June until 23 September. You can read more and take part in the HRA’s survey on their website.

Remember – support is on offer at BU if you are thinking of introducing your research ideas into the NHS or social care – email the Clinical Research mailbox, and take a look at the Clinical Governance section of the website.

June 16, 2022

Trusted Research – information now live

BU research, Guidance, Research assessment, Research communication, Research Concordat, Research Ethics, research integrity, Research news Suzy Wignall

Within the Research Environment pages on the BU website, there is now a section on the Trusted Research agenda.

The Trusted Research Agenda is a government initiative to secure the integrity of the system of international research collaboration and innovation.

Please visit the page to find out more, including key details and guidance.

June 9, 2022

RKEDF Clinical Research Governance Sessions

BU research, Clinical Governance, data management, Guidance, nhs, NHS, Research communication, Research Ethics, research integrity, Research Training, RKE development framework Suzy Wignall

As you will be aware, RDS offers something called the RKEDF, or Research & Knowledge Exchange Development Framework – as part of this there are a number of sessions available surrounding clinical research governance. These sessions can be booked as a 1:2:1 or in bespoke group sessions with Suzy Wignall, BU’s Clinical Governance Advisor.

As always, general chats/specific discussions can also be booked in too – please just email!

The RKEDF sessions available are as follows:

Please get in touch if you are interested in any of these sessions.

For general guidance, documents and further information surrounding processes, take a look at the Clinical Governance website.

May 30, 2022

Panel recruitment: EoI for Deputy Chair (Science, Technology & Health Panel)

BU research, Research Ethics, research integrity sbell

Expressions of interest are invited from members of the Professoriate, for the prestigious and honorary role of Deputy Chair, Science Technology Research Ethics Panel. The central research ethics panels work across the University to champion the highest ethical standards in research undertaken by staff and students (PGR).

This document provides further information about the role and the application process. The opportunity is open to Professors and Associate Professors.

Expressions of interest should consist of a CV and brief statement outlining your suitability for the role. These should be submitted to the RDS (researchethics@bournemouth.ac.uk) by 5pm on Friday 1 July 2022.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact:

– Prof Sam Porter, Chair of the Science, Technology and Health Ethics Panel

If you have any questions regarding the process, please email Sarah Bell or Suzy Wignall by email to researchethics@bournemouth.ac.uk.

May 18, 2022

Integrity week 16 – 20 May 2022

BU research, PG research, research integrity sbell

A reminder that we still have space on our research integrity events taking place this week:

Wednesday 18 May at 3 pm in the CREATE Lecture Theatre, Fusion Building, Talbot Campus – join Tim Clavert and the library team to consider Publications, open access and data. Booking via Eventbrite
Thursday 19 May at 10.30 pm join online (only) – Fay Sweeting and Emily Bird who will be discussing their research with the Police. Booking via Eventbrite
Thursday 19 May at 3 pm in FG06, Fusion Building, Talbot Campus – join Dr Sue Sudbury and Jess Ruddock for a workshop on ‘Practice Research Case Studies of Dorset Food Bank & Dorset Police’. Booking via Eventbrite.
Friday 20 May at 10.30 am and again at 3.30 pm in the CREATE Lecture Theatre, Fusion Building, Talbot Campus – join Dr Huseyin Dogan for two separate sessions considering Diversity, Accessibility & Inclusivity. Booking via Eventbrite.

Category / research integrity

RIPEN Hub Funding Calls Live

BU PhD student publishes in The Conversation

Post-Doctoral Researchers, Research Assistants, ECR’s, Research Fellows

#StepForward and become an NHS Research Ethics Committee member

Researcher Roadshow – Exploring Health Data Science

Researcher Roadshow
Exploring Health Data Science

March 1st, 2023. 10:00 – 12:00

Introduction to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) for Researchers – free event

Free online course – Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research

Could you help the Health Research Authority improve the research ethics review?

Their ideas

Rethinking ethics review: the public conversation runs from 13 June until 23 September. You can read more and take part in the HRA’s survey on their website.

Trusted Research – information now live

RKEDF Clinical Research Governance Sessions

Panel recruitment: EoI for Deputy Chair (Science, Technology & Health Panel)

Integrity week 16 – 20 May 2022

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Category / research integrity

Register for the workshop here.

Register for this workshop here.

Researcher Roadshow Exploring Health Data Science

March 1st, 2023. 10:00 – 12:00

Their ideas

Rethinking ethics review: the public conversation runs from 13 June until 23 September. You can read more and take part in the HRA’s survey on their website.

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