March 2024 Newsletter
Date: 1 April 2024
Welcome to the Forum March 2024 Newsletter
There is a lot of change in UK health and care research space at the present time, which for some can feel exciting, and for others can feel unsettling. It can also feel quite a lonely space, and this is something I experience in my day job.
However, through the power of networks, we can come together with those with similar experiences and influence what we may sometimes think individually we can do nothing about. This is the role of the Research & Development Forum, which only exists because of you.
It is there to support you through sharing news, creating a safe space for questions through HIVE Mind, our active working groups, training programmes, symposia, and of course our annual conference. It is also supporting you by working closely with UKRD and UHA at a national level to ensure your voices are heard.
Being inclusive is essential to our work.
In the spirit of inclusivity, we are actively seeking expressions of interest from across the UK Health and Care System to join our Board of Trustees. You can find more details in the newsletter, and I, along with the Trustees, welcome your applications to join us and be part of something where we can make a difference for many.
Angela Topping
Chair – R&D Forum
Almost 800 Booked for RDF24
The R&D Forum is delighted to share that almost 800 attendees have already booked their place to join us at RDF24. This has been an amazing response, and we look forward to welcoming so many of you to Celtic Manor in Wales.
RDF24 will bring together the UK wide professional community in research management, support & leadership in health and care.
The programme will see full two days of content, conference dinner and awards, two workshops on the Sunday followed by networking, and a poster display throughout the main two days.
Research & Development Forum Trustees – Expression of Interest
We are seeking to appoint up to three new trustees who possess the skills, knowledge and experience needed to join the Board of Trustees of the charity that leads the work of the Research & Development Forum (Charity 1189876). The trustees who make up the board are representative of the communities it is there to serve. Applications are therefore welcome from across the Health and Care System.
One critical gap we have identified is representation from the Devolved Administrations. We are therefore actively encouraging applications from those working in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. To apply, please submit a covering letter and 2 page CV (including 2 references), along with the RDF Skills Matrix and Personal Qualities Form which can be found on the website.
Closing Date: Friday 3rd May 2024
For more information and to access the documents, visit our website below.
#Red4Research – Friday 7th June 2024
On the front line and behind the scenes, incredible research teams continue to collectively work on health and social care research. The R&D community is innovative, flexible and dynamic. Research doesn’t just happen though, people make it happen – research participants, patients, professionals, volunteers and regulatory bodies all collectively working together.
#Red4Research Day on Friday 7th June 2024 aims to get as many people as possible wearing red to demonstrate their support and appreciation for research and all those participating, undertaking and supporting it. It is an opportunity to showcase the work, learning legacy and the new innovative research system/techniques that have arisen from R&D.
Download the #Red4Research resources from The R&D Forum website to get involved.
Sustainability Working Group
The Trustees of the R&D Forum are committed to reduce its carbon footprint and support the ambition of a net zero UK health care system. As part of this we are keen to develop a Sustainability Working Group. This group would help support the research, development and innovation community with net zero strategy and implementation, work with partners and stakeholders, share best practice, and help the community remain updated on the latest national developments.
If you are interested in joining this group please email: info@rdforum.org.uk
ICB Research Leads Working Group
We are delighted to announce three new co-chairs for ICB Research Leads Working Group:
- Philippa Brice, Head of Research and Development Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System
- Helen Duffy, Research and Innovation Programme Manager (SSHERPa), Head of Research Partnerships and Programmes (MPFT), Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Victoria Tzortziou Brown, GP Tower Hamlets, east London and NHS NEL ICB Research and Innovation Lead
Clara Yates, Associate Director of Research, NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB), is Interim Chair for the ICB Research Leads Working Group.
The NHS ICB Research Leads Working Group is set up to bring together those individuals whose remit it is to lead, support and enable ICBs to meet their statutory duties in relation to research and the use of evidence from research.
Working Group of the Month – Research Contracts Group
R&D Forum Contracts Group a small informal group of experienced NHS contract managers which aims to be a mechanism to share contract related best practice and ideas and also to discuss operational aspects of research contracts. We are contributing to various national contractual initiatives, such as, a investigator led study agreement, research collaboration agreements (suitable for NHS parties to use) and a data sharing agreements (research datasets not patient or personal data).
Olivia Chalwin, Senior Contracts Manager at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, is the chair of the group.
Find out more about this group here.
Upcoming Courses
The R&D Forum courses have been designed to support individual development in health research management, support, and leadership.
Bookings are open for our upcoming courses taking place this April:
Full details of all our courses and events, and how to book your place, can be found on our website.
NIHR Updates
- NIHR Annual Report 2022/2023
- NIHR Learn Research in Community Settings Toolkit
- NIHR CRNCC – Public perception and awareness of commercial research
- 435,000 volunteers sign up with Be Part of Research
- Transforming the Study Support Service
- Research Delivery Network
DHSC – Processes for Managing and Monitoring Studies in your Trust – We are asking for help from the R&D Community
The Full Government Response to the Lord O’Shaughnessy Review of Commercial Clinical Trials included a commitment to implement a developing a new research delivery performance system in 2025/2026, which aims to reduce the administrative burden for research delivery teams, give better visibility to all research activity that takes place in the NHS and improve the timeliness of data uploads on research activity. The new system will capture all studies which require HRA Approval, not solely the NIHR CRN portfolio.
In order to develop the system effectively, we are trying to understand the full spread of the systems that NHS trusts currently use to manage and monitor all their research activity. This will help us to identify where duplication occurs with an aim to reduce this where possible in the design of the new system.
As such, the policy team in DHSC have asked us to send round a short google form to understand your processes for managing and monitoring studies in your trust. We would much appreciate if you could fill this out as it will be invaluable in shaping the next steps for the new system.
Find out more and complete here by 11th April
Portfolio Management Incentive for Infrastructure Competitions – England Only
The DHSC recently circulated a letter to Research and Development Directors to set out the details for the DHSC policy which was sent to NIHR Infrastructure Directors in September 2023 from Louise Knowles (former Deputy Director of Research Capacity and Growth in DHSC) on the Research Reset Programme next phase.
Building collaboration in the health of women
On 1 February the NIHR brought together thought-leaders in women’s health research at the first Women’s Health Infrastructure workshop in Birmingham. The three key themes emerging from the workshop were: expanding the lens of women’s health; embedding women’s voices in research; and linking with the life sciences industry.
The workshop generated discussion on the current challenges in the field and building knowledge and capacity for the future, including opportunities to improve women’s health through research highlighted by Dr Kate Bramham: “There is an opportunity to use data to inform personalised care for the health of women.”
Fundamentals of Clinical Trials course – Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit
The booking page is now open for the 5-day Fundamentals of Clinical Trials course which is being held at Trent Vineyard in Nottingham from the 13th to 17th May.
10th Edinburgh Clinical Research Methodology Course
This is a two-day introductory course providing a comprehensive overview of methods and frameworks essential for conducting clinical research, recognising the diversity of approaches from randomised controlled trials through to qualitative methods. Participants will learn how to integrate Patient and Public Involvement into research design and delivery, as well as how to effectively engage with industry partners to advance research and promote innovation.
The course will consist of interactive lectures and opportunities for delegates to network with distinguished researchers, all of whom are recognised experts in their field.
This course will take place on Monday 30 September & Tuesday 01 October 2024.
Research Framework Launched
Health research is essential to improving outcomes for patients and improving the efficiency and efficacy of care. The Multi-professional Practice-based Research Capabilities Framework has been developed to clearly outline how practitioners can get involved in health and care research. In doing so, it supports changes in health and care service delivery to better meet the needs and expectations of the people and communities we serve.
New Resources
Resources from The Research and Development Forum to support health and care research in the UK:
- Research in Community Settings Toolkit
- Government response to the independent review of research bureaucracy published
- Multi-professional Practice-based Research Capabilities Framework
Contacting The R&D Forum
As a reminder, should you need to contact the Forum the best way is via email which is info@rdforum.org.uk
The latest job vacancies displayed on our website.