CRN Greater Manchester core team blog series: Research Delivery Managers
We are delighted to have this opportunity to write about our role as Research Delivery Managers (RDM). It's a really busy, interesting and varied role, with no two days ever the same! Our responsibilities include NIHR portfolio delivery, strategic leadership/initiatives, supporting national CRN programmes, resource/infrastructure management, oversight of cross-cutting CRN GM departments, providing a direct link to local NHS Trusts/Partner Organisations as well as working alongside the Assistant Research Delivery Managers, Specialty Leads and CRN GM Theme Leads. Being able to manage lots of competing tasks definitely helps!
Partnership working is a vital part of what we do, we work closely with partner organisations across Greater Manchester, working together to look at ways we can support and facilitate the delivery of portfolio research. Regular communication facilitates a collaborative approach to research, it promotes shared goals aiding local and nationally important objectives to be implemented together within GM.
As RDMs we are greatly involved in supporting the CRN GM Strategic Funding Projects The projects are aligned to the CRN GM Vision and Values. This year's projects cover a wide range of topics which include exploring developing partnerships across different health and care settings as well as community engagement within the Relevant Research Theme. The Inclusive Involvement Theme includes a range of projects which are investigating, developing and piloting strategies to increase equal access and participation in research from across different communities within GM. With the Exceptional Experience Theme projects will focus on participants experiences, student placements and the progression of collaborative pharmacy risks assessments to be utilised across GM. In March 2024 all the project leads will be invited to showcase their outcomes, conclusions and future plans at a poster presentation event. One of the purposes of the strategic funding is to demonstrate how the learning can be shared and used across different health care and care settings across the region. The event is therefore a great opportunity to talk to the project leads. Do keep a look out for the date later in the year through our CRN GM comms channels, it would be great to see you there!
It has been a busy year so far and we are already part way through 23/24, however there is still lots to look forward to in the months ahead. As well as supporting NIHR portfolio studies we have the Greater Manchester Health and Care Research Awards ceremony in October, the Great North Research Conference in November as well as more Research Festivals in the planning for October.
If you want to find out more about our work, do get in touch, we look forward to hearing from you!
Joanne Collins and Liam Taylor
CRN GM Research Delivery Managers
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
