CRN Greater Manchester takes Research Van on the road for first time
CRN Greater Manchester staff had their first opportunity to utilise the region's NIHR Research Van when they used it to deliver a study in the community.
The Research Van, only the second of its kind in the UK, has been designed to deliver care and widen opportunities to be part of research in communities across the region. It can visit easy-to-reach locations such as community centres and supermarket car parks.
CRN Greater Manchester Team Lead Research Nurse Louise Woodhead and Senior Clinical Trials Administrator Sharon Morrison helped recruit participants to the Patterns and Prevalence of Adult Food Allergy (PAFA) study when the van visited Longsight, Manchester, on 16 November 2022.
Participants have been providing very positive feedback about the bespoke facility.
Raheela Kousar, 37, from Fallowfield, took part in the study aboard the van. She said: "Last year I did the first part of this study, which was a survey, and now I am doing the second part which is taking part in allergy tests.
"The staff here made me feel very comfortable and at ease. It's really convenient and saves me a lot of time.
"I think it's a great idea to bring research into the community and think it will encourage more people to take part because it's so easy and knowing we are helping other people makes it worthwhile."
