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Spotlight: Senior Clinical Research Practitioner Cynthia Dube

The NIHR CRN South London’s Senior Clinical Research Practitioner Cynthia Dube speaks about her passion for public health and community research and how the findings benefit all communities.

The aim of this monthly spotlight blog series is to celebrate, highlight, educate and inform the public about the diverse range of people who support vital research studies from within our region. We are proud of everyone who plays their part in contributing to improving the health of the population.

What do you do?

I am a Senior Clinical Research Practitioner for CRN South London’s new direct delivery team. We will be supporting research delivery in the community, predominantly in non-NHS settings such as schools, prisons, care homes, etc. Part of my role will be to implement research activities in these new areas and to support the team in navigating their way around engagement and in scoping out new opportunities for research participation for all of south London’s communities.

What do you enjoy the most about this role?

I am privileged that I am able to collaborate with other research professionals whose aim is to investigate and ask vital clinical and social care research questions. My job gives me the opportunity to learn, but also impart my knowledge to new areas that would have otherwise not been involved in research, and also reach out across our community and to potential volunteers to promote their involvement in research. My postgraduate degree in health promotion and public health has come full circle in this role as I enjoy co-ordinating public health and community studies.

How would you describe yourself?

Apparently, I am one of those human beings you can work with easily. I am patient, empathetic and diplomatic, that sums me up. Though, I must say, when presented with a tough situation, I am calm and emotionally resilient.

Why did you join CRN South London?

I came to learn about the network through completing Integrated Research Application System forms in my previous research roles and, at the time, had no idea about the impact and influence this organisation has in supporting research. I, therefore, applied for a role working in primary care as a Clinical Research Practitioner about five years ago and have been lucky to work for an employer that has enabled me to network and support research in collaboration with GPs and their teams, pharmacists, academics and the wider community.

What are you interested in?

Travel, books, television and swimming in a nutshell. Since the pandemic, I have fallen back into reading books, something I enjoyed a lot before, except this time I am listening to e-books via Audible. Right now I am listening to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee. I also enjoy watching social and cultural documentaries, these programmes sort of give me an abstract of the world and because I enjoy travelling, I get ideas from watching them about my next trip.

Why are you involved in research?

When I support research, I am helping to build a future with better medical treatment, better care and much better services. We are able to make significant headway when we partner up and collaborate with professional teams and our communities within south London and beyond.

Why is research important?

The medical care and improved services we are enjoying today are a result of the work that has been put in by all professionals involved in research, including our volunteers. Research is about more than finding treatments and services that work better for us all, it is also about engaging with our varied communities. This is done to give people a chance to influence and have a say in how we carry out research, to enable better care and choices in how services are run and also in how we receive improved treatment. Research has made many once life-threatening diseases and conditions just a memory.

You can find out about the latest opportunities to take part in research in south London via the NIHR’s Be Part of Research online service.


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.