New focus on research opportunities for Allied Health Professionals
Research in the Black Country is to receive a boost from an innovative project that will see a group of staff trained and supported to enhance their knowledge, awareness and confidence in research.
Funded by the Clinical Research Network West Midands (CRN WM) the project, known as Research ABC (AHP Building Capacity Across the Black Country), aims to encourage more Allied Health Professionals across six Trusts to become more involved research, including potentially running research studies in the future.
Led by Dr Ali Aries (pictured), AHP Research Lead at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), work will begin in August to collect information on the current levels of engagement with research and existing research skills among AHPs, a group of professions which includes Podiatrists, Dieticians, Physiotherapists and Paramedics.
Following this benchmarking exercise, AHPs will be offered training, resources and support to set up and run research studies throughout the region, as well as networking opportunities.
Dr Ros Leslie, Chief Allied Health Professional at RWT said: ‘We are very excited about this project, which will build research capacity across the Black Country. It is well known that research active organisations are able to offer a higher standard of care, so enabling as many staff to carry out research as we can will ultimately benefit patients, the Trusts and the staff themselves.”
Dr Aries added: “This support from the CRN West Midlands has allowed us to put together an experienced team to help AHPs take the next step in their research careers.”
The six Trusts involved in the project are:
- The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
- Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
- The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
- Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
- Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Dudley Integrated Health and Care Trust
ENDS
For further information contact claireanne.hall@nihr.ac.uk
