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2022 awardees

OAHP’s 2022 Research Development Award Scheme for NHS clinical staff aims to improve the capability, capacity and support for those who wish to develop clinical academic careers and research skills.

The scheme provides funding for research skills training and supports participation in collaborative research projects. It is aimed at nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists, and early-career staff employed in either of the OAHP partner organisations.

The scheme is funded by the OAHP Charity, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley.

50 applications were received and judged by a panel consisting of:

  • Dr Cathy Henshall, Oxford Brookes University & University of Oxford,
  • Professor Eila Watson, Oxford Brookes University,
  • Dr Karen Bell, NIHR Oxford BRC,
  • Professor Karen Barker, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & University of Oxford,
  • Professor Helen Walthall, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Background

Research evidence drives improvements in the quality of care provided to patients and service users and can yield solutions to some of the day-to-day challenges of delivering high-quality health and care services.

Research-active healthcare organisations tend to see better patient outcomes, report higher levels of patient experience, and have better staff recruitment and retention compared with those who are less research active.  Across England, the culture and support to include allied health professionals and other frontline workers in clinical research programmes is lacking.

The Research Development Award Scheme takes steps to address this, supporting the development of a research culture that is inclusive of all professionals and patients.

The scheme is part of OAHP’s ongoing strategy of championing research literacy across the clinical and allied health disciplines, to help build and maintain the foundations for robust, interdisciplinary health and care research.

Awardees

26 grants totalling £72,791 have been awarded for staff to undertake research skills training and short research projects.

Staff employed at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

  • Meamui Lubinda, Research Nurse – Direct Delivery Team Breast Clinical Studies;
    PGCert in Clinical Research Delivery at Newcastle University.
  • Weronika Aleksandra Rabsztyn – Treatment and Research Radiographer;
    Data Analysis and Interpretation Module at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Katie Hard – Lead Diabetes Nurse;
    Funding towards Professional Doctorate in Nursing at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Rachel Lee – Senior Specialist Nurse, Palliative Care Team;
    Funding towards PhD exploring meaningful advanced care planning in the frail elderly population at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Zoe Miles – Occupational Therapist in Hand Therapy;
    Research into the management of hand trauma, and research methods training at the University of Derby.
  • Kathryn Lubasch – Principal Genetic Counsellor;
    Research project investigating the relationship between mental health and clinical outcomes for inherited cardiac conditions, with development of plans to translate findings into clinical practice.
  • Leila Heelas – Consultant Physiotherapy Practitioner, Pain Rehabilitation;
    Realist Reviews and Realist Evaluation Course at the University of Oxford.
  • Sam Monks – Team Lead Physiotherapist Neuroscience Critical Care;
    MSc module and workshop to support scoping project for research in the field of brain injury.
  • Gabriele Abu Eid – Clinical Research Nurse, Radiology;
    Planning and Managing Clinical Trials Course at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Mary Quirke – Advanced Nurse Practitioner;
    Funding towards a Professional Nursing Doctorate at Oxford Brookes University, with research on diagnosis and management of Myasthenia Gravis.

Staff employed at the University of Oxford / Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

  • Liliana Cristina Da Silva Rodrigues – Cardiovascular Research Nurse;
    Part-time Nursing Doctorate (1 year funding) at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Mary Lucas – Research Coordinator, Nuffield Department of Medicine;
    Planning and Managing Clinical Trials Module at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Sarah Brown – Programme Implementation Manager NIHR ARC OxTV and Orthoptist, OUH;
    Courses on Healthcare Evaluation and Research Impact at the University of Oxford, and creating sustainable change at The Centre for Implementation.

Staff employed at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust:

  • Amanda Colston – CRF Research Nurse;
    Contribution towards MSc course at Cardiff University.
  • Chloe Woodley, Occupational Therapist, CAHMS;
    Introduction to Study Design and Research Methods Module at the University of Oxford.
  • Balaji Rajendran – Clinical Research Nurse, NIHR Clinical Research Facility;
    Clinical Trials Management Course at the University of Oxford.
  • Samantha Groves – Early Career Research Assistant Centre for Suicide Research;
    Support for collaborative research project on suicide and self-harm in nurses, in partnership with the University of Oxford.
  • Kirsty Bartlett – Community Specialist Practitioner;
    Completion of Health and Sciences Open Award MSc, including module on Advanced Research Design at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Katy-Jane Pitt – Clinical Research Assistant;
    PgCert Leading Clinical Research at Exeter University.

Staff employed at the University of Oxford:

  • Injung Jang – Research Practitioner OCMR, Cardiovascular Medicine;
    Planning and Managing Clinical Trials Module, at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Jahnavi Seema – Clinical Trials Administrative Assistant, Gastroenterology;
    Planning and Managing Clinical Trials course at Oxford Brookes University.
  • Layla Lavalee – Research Midwife;
    Courses on qualitative research skills at the University of Surrey and University of Oxford.
  • Lizzie Stafford – Clinical Research Nurse Manager;
    Postgraduate Certificates in Clinical Research at Newcastle University.
  • Eileen Hughes – Clinical Research Nurse;
    Public Health MSc at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
  • Abigail Platt – Clinical Research Nurse, Jenner Institute;
    MSc in Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Staff employed at Oxford Brookes University:

  • Victoria Brown, Senior Lecturer, Midwifery;
    Professional Doctorate (2nd Year) in Midwifery at Oxford Brookes University, with research on intrapartum birthing pools.

Case studies

Amanda Colston

Navigating the frontiers of mental health research

Amanda Colston
Senior Research Nurse and Team Lead at the NIHR Oxford Cognitive Health Clinical Research Facility, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Zoe Miles

A leadership journey in hand therapy

Zoë Miles
Hand Therapist, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust