Greater Manchester festival generates significant interest in research
A festival for all the family gave people the chance to learn about and get involved in health and care research in Greater Manchester.
Over 100 people came to the drop-in event which took place in Levenshulme Inspire community centre, Manchester, on Saturday 15 October 2022. The festival was the first of its kind to be organised by NIHR Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester.
People in attendance made the most of free health checks and met with local community health and wellbeing support organisations.
Lots of attendees took part in research on the day or signed-up to hear about upcoming opportunities to take part in studies happening locally. For example, almost 50 people registered to hear about research opportunities with Research for the Future. There was also plenty of fun activities for people of all ages.
Dr Fozia Ahmed, CRN Greater Manchester Specialty Lead for Cardiovascular Disease, said:
"Patients live in the community, so it’s critically important that we start to move research outside of hospital settings to the communities where patients live. It’s super easy for patients to be involved in research studies. It doesn’t always require them to attend hospitals for trips.
"It can [sometimes] be done virtually, from a home setting, in a community setting. So we want to show how easy it is for patients to be involved in research and how it can improve things for them but also other people in the future."
Local resident Arfon Griffiths visited the festival and spoke with several of the exhibitors. He said:
"I came here and I’ve had my blood pressure taken, I’ve spoken to a number of the representatives here relating to research into various diseases, and I’ve registered as a volunteer for medical research."
The OUTREACH study was just one of the research opportunities available. It gave people the chance to have their blood pressure checked during the festival.
Marta Ahmed, project manager on the OUTREACH study, said:
"Coming here to let people know about it and also get communities engaged was so important to us. We are still recruiting and we are passionate about making sure that people in the community live a happy and healthy life and that’s what brought us here.
"We were really happy to be involved and be partners at this wonderful event today. It was absolutely mindblowing. I wasn’t expecting such an interest. People seem really serious about their health."
Dr Abdul Ashish, CRN Greater Manchester Theme Lead for Exceptional Experience, said:
"As far as I’m concerned, I think this is just the beginning for us in NIHR. I’m hoping that these sort of research festivals which engage people, inform people and enthuse people to take part in research is held in every borough in the Greater Manchester area.
"Hopefully we get more people signed up for research and inform them about the wonderful work our colleagues and the NIHR is doing."
Invitation to collaborate on future festivals
Following this success, CRN GM is reaching out to local partner organisations who would like to collaborate and organise future festivals in different locations in the region.
Collaboration might involve supporting CRN GM throughout the entire process, from identifying a venue and helping deliver a festival in your borough. Or it might involve attending on the day to promote or recruit to a study. Or you might like to get involved in another way - we’d like to hear your thoughts.
Anyone interested in partnering on a future festival is asked to get in touch by contacting researchsupport.crngm@nihr.ac.uk
