Issue 16: Summer 2017
RD&I Newsletter www.rlbuht.nhs.uk
Professor Robert Sutton Clinical Director - RD&I Julia West Operational Director – RD&I 0151 706 3754 julia.west@rlbuht.nhs.uk
Inside: International Clinical Trials Day 2017
International Clinical Trials Day 20 May is the anniversary of what is considered by many to be the first clinical trial, conducted in 1747 by Dr James Lind of the Royal Navy. The date, or the nearest weekday to it, is now used to promote clinical research. At this year’s event the Trust’s staff choir performed in the foyer and in the process raised £77 for R Charity. As always, the Trust’s Clinical Research Unit was at the forefront of the activities. Highlights included CRU staff attending the events at Alder Hey to promote the Consent 4 Consent database, the launch of the RD&I YouTube playlist on the Trust’s channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O1waQDGP3U&list=PL1cJKXopEJRgIpKKico4XEHxvs_XRf 6Wi&spfreload=10), the launch of the Research Link Practitioner programme and the Cookie trial which was a great success and illustrated how patients are randomized onto clinical trials.
International Clinical Trials Day fell alongside Dementia Awareness Week and in recognition of this CRU staff attended the Trust’s Dementia event and also the North West wide event held at Salford University. CRU staff also became Dementia Friends at a session held on the unit. Throughout all events there was great interest in the C4C database and approximately 50 potential volunteers were signed up with many people taking information home to complete. The RD Showcase Working Group would like to thank everyone who was involved in making the week extremely successful. Thank you to Kate Dodd.
Stephen Chand of the CRU on International Clinical Trials Day.
Well done!
The Generic Research Nurse team, Left to right: Fran Westwell, Jo Stokes-Denson, Debbie Scanlon, Lorna Fleming-Bird, Julie Haydock and Joanne Bell.
The RD&I Generic Research Nurses presented a display of ongoing research within the Trust and promoted the Research Link Practitioner programme at International Nurses Day, which was held on 12 May in the Education Centre. They were awarded second prize by Lisa Grant, Chief Nurse. This has helped raise the profile of both the team and research projects throughout the Trust.
Thank you to Fran Westwell.
Showers of praise! Dr Tina Dutt, Joanne Bell and a patient who has taken part in Clinical trials are under the umbrella of research that is provided at the Roald Dahl Centre, this was to promote International Clinical Trials Day in May. The research team at the Roald Dahl Centre has recently been shortlisted for the Research & Development Award at the Make a Difference Awards for Coupling Clinical Care & Clinical Research – The Best of Both at the Roald Dahl Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre. Joanne Bell (left) and Dr Tina Dutt (far right) mark International Clinical Trials Day with a patient.
Business update If you or your staff are considering an application for funding, please contact the Business Team (RBT@rlbuht.nhs.uk) at the earliest possible moment so that we can support you going forward with the application and ensure your application is compliant with Trust policies and procedures. We need at least 6 weeks to cost and prepare an application for Trust financial approval. For up and coming calls please visit https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/current-fundingopportunities/ and keep in touch!
Research Charity Ball Why not celebrate Christmas in the stunning Isla Gladstone conservatory and raise money for R Charity at the same time!
Doors will open from 6.00 pm and the meal will be from 7.30 pm. Entertainment will be provided on what will be a great night.
Tickets cost £50 and a deposit of £10 will secure you a ticket and full payment will be required by the end of October.
For more information please contact Christie.
T: 0151 706 4863/4859 E: c4c@rlbuht.nhs.uk
Do you have a story? If you have any stories all developments that you’d like to see in the next newsletter please contact John Rowan.
T: 0151 706 3702 E: john.rowan@rlbuht.nhs.uk
Clinical trial training in September Location: University of Liverpool Course dates: 25 - 29 September 2017 Course fee: £475, includes course materials, lunch and refreshments CPD accredited: 30 points awarded for full week attendance Individual day attendance available: Charged at £95 per day
Target audience This course is aimed at health and research professionals, particularly those aiming to become Chief Investigators.
Faculty includes experts in: Clinical trials: Professor Paula Williamson, Dr Susanna Dodd Statistics: Professor Richard Emsley, Professor Thomas Jaki, Dr Chris Sutton Qualitative and recruitment research: Professor Peter Bower, Professor Bridget Young Health economics: Professor Dyfrig Hughes
Overview The number of clinical trials being conducted has increased, and the need for greater efficiency in design, conduct, analysis and reporting has been recognised in both the public and industry sector. The programme will include: •
Trial design
•
Trial conduct
•
Recruitment of trial participants
•
Public and patient involvement
•
Analysis and reporting
•
Health Informatics
•
Health economics
How to apply To apply for this course please email nwhtmr@liv.ac.uk
NIHR Journals Library Don’t forget to keep a regular eye on the NIHR Journals Library which is constantly updated: www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/
Research Education Programme The Research Education Programme is designed to help staff working within clinical research to expand their knowledge of the speciality and to fully engage with all aspects of the research process.
Staff from the RD&I department are invited to attend the sessions on a drop in basis as deemed appropriate by their line manager. The sessions are not intended to replace training and as such are not mandatory. Staff are however encouraged to attend relevant sessions where possible and sessions may be used as evidence for revalidation. Over-subscribed sessions may be repeated as deemed necessary.
Each session links with one of the UKCRF competency framework themes. Staff are encouraged within their annual appraisal to consider how the sessions they have attended have supported their individual development or have improved the way in which they work. Staff are also encouraged to identify and highlight areas for additional development which may be integrated within the programme in the following year or delivered on a bespoke basis.
For further information please contact: Anna Clarkson, Clinical Research Assistant Anna.Clarkson@rlbuht.nhs.uk 0151 706 4860
HRA releases three eLearning modules The HRA has developed six new eLearning modules as an aid for researchers, R&D staff, study sponsors, research ethics committee members and the wider research community. The modules cover the key areas of research regulation, helping to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and care research. Find out more at: http://www.hra.nhs.uk/news/2017/07/10/hra-releases-six-elearning-modules/ http://www.hra.nhs.uk/hra-training/elearning/
National Pancreatic Forum The 4th National Pancreatic Forum was held on Friday 5 May 2017 in the Foresight Centre, Liverpool. Entitled ‘Giving patients and carers a
In the news The New England Journal of Medicine takes a look at informed consent: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1603773 An editor from the Nursing Times proposes making research a routine part of nurse education: https://www.nursingtimes.net/break-time/editorscomment/clinical-research-should-be-a-routine-element-ofnurse-education/7016332.article The Guardian looks at how to tackle the problem of fraudulent research: https://www.theguardian.com/highereducation-network/2017/mar/13/fraudulent-research-academicmisconduct-solutions?CMP=share_btn_tw
voice’ eminent guest speakers included Professor Robert Sutton, Consultant surgeon RLBUHT and Dr Tassos Grammatikos, Consultant Paediatrician
The FUTURE trial at International Clinical Trials Day
from King’s College London. The development of new and better medicines is vital for public The forum was facilitated by
health, the FUTURE Initiative plans to develop a panel of
the pancreatic diseases PPI
healthy volunteers who will donate a sample of their DNA. This
group, (established at the
will be used to establish a database to help identify healthy
Royal and facilitated by
individuals who may be suitable to take part in phase 1 clinical
RD&I) and the Generic
trials. The study aims to facilitate ‘Personalised Medicine’ which
Nurse team. Fifty delegates
can improve the safety and efficacy of new medications in the
attended from around the
future.
UK and the feedback was extremely positive and plans
In addition, International Clinical Trials Day allowed the team to
are in progress for next
highlight the importance of reporting Adverse Drug Reactions
year’s forum.
(ADRs). Health professionals, patients and members of the public can report ADRs through the Yellow Card Scheme, but
Thank you to Fran Westwell who was in attendance at the forum.
there is a lack of awareness of this facility. Working with Jane Burns, the Patient and Public Involvement representative, the team has attended International Nurses Day, International Clinical Trials Day and a recent event hosted by the CRN called ‘People are Messy’ to raise awareness of this important topic. Thank you to Anita Hanson, Lisa Gaskell and Jane Burns.
Welcome to the team! Anouska Warren Anouska Warren has joined the Business Team in the RD&I department as RD&I Administrator. She has experience in working in the NHS over a 10 year period at Walton Hospital, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust. She has come to us more recently from the RD&I department at the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust where she has developed both local and national knowledge of research governance.
Roger Hunt Roger has also joined the Business Team as an RD&I Administrator. Roger has worked within 999 services for over 25 years, starting with Merseyside Police for 19 years in the Police National Computer bureau within a support staff role and then within various NHS trusts across the North Title Westtext region within the area of Quality Assurance. Roger’s last position was as a Business Body Support Manager/Sales Executive for Volvo Warrington. Lorna Fleming-Bird Lorna has joined the RD&I department as a Research Nurse. She has come to us from the Pancreatic Biomedical Research Unit where she was the Senior Research Nurse for 6 years looking after patients with various pancreatic disorders including cancer. As well as leading in this trial area, she is delighted to be working on other studies within different specialities. She states, “I am delighted to join the Generic Research team and look forward to new and exciting research opportunities.”
Title Body text Left to right: Anouska Warren, Roger Hunt and Lorna Fleming-Bird.