News and Announcements

Cambridge and Peterborough Health & Care System Research Celebration Event - 8th March 2022

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group Research & Development Team are hosting a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System Research Celebration event on 8 March 2022 09.00-02.15 face to face (subject to prevailing conditions*). The venue is the Møller Institute, Churchill College, off Madingley Road in Cambridge (refreshments on arrival, mid-morning and a networking lunch, free parking available).

Welcome from 8.30am for Teas and coffee/networking with a prompt 9am start.

This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate research; to hear a variety of short engaging talks from people supporting or generating research on why they started in research, their research theme and future potential; and a panel discussion with senior leaders on how we can best capitalise on research and innovation for health and care benefit in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The event is free to attendees. Invitations are open to all from Health and Social Care settings, people working in National Institute for Health Research funded organisations, academic colleagues and industry colleagues, all comers very welcome.

Please book your place without delay to avoid disappointment as numbers are capped, the event is free of charge, there will though be a charge of £50 for non-attendees .

*Should Covid 19 restrictions intervene we may need to switch the event to an online format and this decision will be taken according to prevailing conditions in mid-late February if feasible.

Book your place here.

Latest Statement from DHSC on research during the current COVID wave

We recognise that at the current time those working in many NHS sites are under huge pressure as the number of COVID-19 cases and admissions to hospitals continue to rise and frontline clinical staff are unable to work due to sickness.

While we have a small number of proven treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, more are needed to reduce transmission, reduce the number of patients that require hospitalisation and to improve outcomes for those that do. It is therefore critical that at this challenging time we continue to recruit participants to our urgent public health (UPH) studies. As such I am writing to confirm that the current levels of prioritisation for research studies, set out within the Restart Framework still apply, as follows:

• Level 1a (Top Priority) - COVID-19 UPH vaccine and prophylactic studies (as prioritised by the Vaccines Task Force and agreed by Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy CMO) and platform therapeutics trials (currently RECOVERY/RECOVERY +; PRINCIPLE; REMAP CAP).

• Level 1b - Other COVID-19 UPH studies

• Level 2 - Studies where the research protocol includes an urgent treatment or intervention without which patients could come to harm. These might be studies that provide access to potentially life preserving or life-extending treatment not otherwise available to the patient.

• Level 3 - All other studies (including COVID-19 studies not in Level 1a or 1b).

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the NIHR guidance for a second wave of covid 19 activity (https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/nihr-guidance-for-a-second-wave-of-covid-19-activity/25837).This guidance still applies and, as outlined, states that the deployment of staff funded through an NIHR Infrastructure award or funded by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) to front line duties should only occur in exceptional circumstances.

The deployment of clinical academic staff should be undertaken within the guidelines issued by a working group convened by the UK Clinical Academic Training Forum and the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans of the UK. Where NHS Trusts consider they need to redeploy staff to support the frontline this should only be done to support clinical activity during the emergency phase of the pandemic and we would expect them to return to their R&D roles as soon as possible, once the pressures on the system reduce.

As indicated by the Restart Framework, at the current time, we need to continue prioritise our support for the most urgent COVID-19 research as part of the response to tackle the pandemic. At the same time we need to ensure we continue to try and maintain support to deliver non-COVID studies currently open on the portfolio, particularly those within Level 2. A system-wide Recovery, Resilience and Growth programme has been established which brings together the key partners across the clinical research ecosystem to ensure the UK is well-positioned to take a coordinated national approach to achieving the recovery of the UK’s clinical research delivery and restore a full, diverse and active research portfolio as soon as practicable.

HRA UPDATE: guidance on health and social care research projects for educational purposes

New Student Criteria

HRA have introduced new eligibility criteria for standalone student research on 1st September.

The new criteria now means that some Master's level students will be able to apply for ethics review and HRA Approval.

HRA have produced a new toolkit to pull together the resources a student will need to understand what approvals are required and whether they are eligible.

You can find more information on our current position on the HRA website:

https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving-research/research-planning/student-research/

Online Course: Commercialising Medtech Innovations

Health Enterprise East offer an online short-course on Commercialising MedTech Innovations on Tuesday 22 September at 2pm. This will be a free 1 hour webinar and topics covered will include a basic understanding of the innovation process, from idea to market, the different types of Intellectual Property Rights available, proof-of-concept activities and commercialisation strategies including licensing and spin-outs.

The course is suitable for all NHS staff, including research and development managers, commercial directors and innovators with an early-stage idea.

All attendees will receive a PDF with the course content.

See event details and book your place HERE

Quarter 1 CCG ETC payments

Due to the disruption arising from COVID-19 as well as enhancements that we are making to the payments process, all CCG Excess Treatment Cost (ETC) payments made by Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRNs) will be suspended until at least Quarter 2 of the financial year 2020/21. Note: This includes payments to both primary and secondary care providers.

Payment approach for ETCs after 1 April 2020

For all CCG Excess Treatment Cost (ETC) payments made after 1 April 2020, research Sponsors will be asked to choose a payment model that best fits their study. The aim of selecting a payment model will be to pay the site incurring the ETCs as opposed to the recruiting site, where these are not the same site. As a result, this should reduce the administration burden for organisations that have been asked to re-route ETC payments.

For studies currently receiving ETCs, the NIHR Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre (CRNCC) will be contacting sponsors over the next few months to explain the process and to discuss the payment options available.

If an investigator revises the SoECAT during the life of the study, the payment model will also be discussed as part of the approval of the SoECAT.

If a payment model is not agreed, then payments will continue to recruitment sites, as per the existing model.

Minimum trigger for payments to primary care providers

A minimum payment trigger for ETCs (currently £100) is applied to ETCs incurred by primary care providers. This was introduced to prevent the cost of processing ETC payments outweighing the actual value of the ETCs.

ETC payments are made to primary care providers each quarter, once the minimum payment trigger is reached. If a primary care provider does not reach their minimum payment trigger value during the year, they are reimbursed at year-end irrespective of whether the ETC payment trigger value has been reached.

A review of this minimum payment trigger took place and it was clear that the value of £100 was excessively low and that large numbers of payments for relatively low values were continuing to be made. As a result, from 1 April 2020, the minimum payment trigger for primary care providers will be increased to £500. This will be reviewed annually.

ARC workshop: Inclusive Involvement in Research Practice

NIHR Applied Research Collaboratior researchers are invited to an online collaborative workshop, on the very important topic of Inclusive Involvement in research.

The workshop is taking place, via Zoom, on 1st July 2020, between the hours of 11am and 3pm.

Interested researchers should email c.ponniah@uea.ac.uk by 24th June 2020 to register in the first instance. More information can be found on the ARC website.

NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme (RfPB)

The NIHR Research Design Services (RDS) East of England are holding a virtual information event for all interested applicants.

Distinguished speakers include, Professor Tracey Sach (RfPB Panel Chair for EoE), Simon Goodwin (RfPB programme manager for EoE) and a number of successful RfPB applicants.

Presentations will be pre-recorded and made available on 7th June via the RDS EoR website and a follow-up live Q&A session will take place on 9th June.

For more details, see the event flyer here

NIHR Nursing Times Awards 2020

The deadline for this year's Nursing Times Awards is 5th June 2020 - Enter here and make sure to share with your colleagues.

Clinical research is so important, and the NIHR would like to take the opportunity to recognise and raise further awareness about the importance of clinical research, and the hard work put in by research nurses and midwives.

Entrants can be individual nurses or teams and will be judged on the following criteria: Innovation, Value, Patient focus, Collaboration, Clinical effectiveness, Leadership, Adaptability, and Sustainability

NIHR Research Fellowship support

Are you thinking of applying for a NIHR Research Fellowship? The NIHR Research Design Service (RDS) provides support to clinicians and researchers who intend on applying to national peer-reviewed funding programmes to undertake applied health or social care research.

The next round of the NIHR'S Doctoral and Advanced Fellowship programme is open for applications until December 2020. If you would like to apply, please complete the RDS client enquiry form available on the RDS East of England website.

COVID-19: Guidance for sponsors, sites and researchers

For more information on guidance relating to Research Ethics Committee and NHS arrangements.

3.1.2. Studies making changes to how or when patients are seen to avoid exposing patients or to reduce burden on clinical services

a) In some cases changes will be deemed by the sponsor to reduce risk of potential exposure to COVID-19 by participants, for example changing participant site visits to phone calls or postal questionnaires. Sponsors must not make any such changes that would create additional burden to NHS staff or resources. These should be handled as a non-substantial amendment that does not require HRA/HCRW Approval or R&D agreement. For studies involving the NHS/HSC, these should be marked by the sponsor as category C and not requiring assessment and sent directly to sites following the instructions above. These should be implemented at sites on the date specified by the sponsor.

b) In some cases changes will be deemed by the sponsor to potentially increase risk to participants, eg less frequent participant checks. Sponsors must not make any such changes that would create additional burden to NHS staff or resources. These should be handled as a substantial amendment. Such amendments will be categorised and assessed according to existing guidance, but the process will be expedited. They should be sent to sites following the instructions above. These should be implemented at sites on the date specified by the sponsor.

Research Design Service East of England NIHR Fellowship Programme Information Event, Cambridge

Are you planning to submit an application within the next 18 months to the NIHR/other national, competitive funding organisation to undertake a fellowship in applied health or social care research? Click here for more details and to register.

Wednesday 29th April 2020

Seminar Room 20, School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge

Health and care explained: how the system works and how it is changing

"Understanding the commissioning process can be daunting. At our Health and care explained event on 30 January, we'll explain how commissioning works within the NHS and which organisations are involved. We'll share tips on how to work with clinical commissioning groups and the most common mistakes made by those wanting to engage with the process."

The R&D team together with Clinical Outcomes colleagues, got into the festive spirit this year by taking part in the C&P CCG's 'Best decorated desk' competition and came in 2nd place!

Research Skills for Clinicians Course:

An opportunity for Nurses, Midwives & Allied Health Professionals

18&19 January 2020 at the Møller Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge

More details and Booking form.

Public Health England and NIHR Clinical Research Network Award

The first ever Public Health England (PHE) and NIHR CRN award has been developed to recognise public health professionals and early career researchers* who are active in research. For award and application details please click here.

Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research will be having their Annual Lecture

Professor Sir Mike Richards

‘Closing the survival gap: The importance of screening and early diagnosis in improving cancer survival in England’

Wed, November 27, 2019: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge

Please book your place

Closing the survival gap: The importance of screening and early diagnosis in improving cancer survival in England

Although cancer survival in England has improved steadily over the past 20 years, survival rates for most types of cancer continue to lag behind those in other developed countries. We have failed to close the gap. Factors underlying our poor performance will be explored and recommendations for radical action will be presented at the 2019 annual Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research lecture.

Speaker

Professor Sir Mike Richards trained as a medical oncologist at St Bartholomew's, before specialising mainly in breast cancer at Guy’s and St Thomas’. In 1999 he was appointed as the first National Cancer Director, where he was responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of cancer strategy in England over a 13 year period. In 2013 he was appointed Chief inspector of Hospitals at the Care Quality Commission. Following his retirement in 2017 he renewed his interest in cancer, writing a report with the Health Foundation entitled ‘Unfinished Business’. He is currently leading reviews of cancer screening and diagnostic capacity for NHS England.

Timing

6pm Lecture

7pm Wine and nibbles

The Primary Care Unit at the University of Cambridge is hosting the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) South East conference ‘Academic Primary Care: Optimising Impact’

At Madingley Hall, Cambridge on 23 and 24 January 2020.

"We are hoping to welcome a wide range of researchers and students to join us at the conference to share the latest in academic primary care. The focus will be on how research can have direct impact on population health and well-being, how patient and public involvement in research can improve results and how medical education can improve healthcare.

We are thrilled that our keynote speakers will be Prof Mike Kelly, Prof Robbie Foy and Prof Amanda Howe.

Bursaries for patients and members of the public who are (or wish to be) involved in primary care research are available, thanks to the NIHR SPCR.

We are now inviting abstract submissions for oral presentations, posters, and practical workshops. We are especially keen to encourage attendance and abstracts from students and early career researchers.

There is more information on the conference website and colleagues can follow conference news on Twitter at this hashtag #SAPCSE2020"

GLoW Study NOW RECRUITING! Looking for practices near Cambridge, Ely, or Wisbech

The GLoW (Glucose Lowering through Weight Management) study is looking for participants. Please see here for more details.

Tele-First: Evaluation of a 'Telephone First' Approach to Demand Management for General Practice

"NIHR sought input on the opportunities of and barriers to the wider roll-out of the ‘telephone-first’ approach by GPs in England."

See the full article here.

Behaviour Change by Design Annual Lecture 2019: Why Don’t We Stick with Behaviour Change?

When: 26 September, 18:00 – 19:00 (Drinks reception to follow)

Where: Howard Theatre, Downing College, Cambridge

Wendy Wood, Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at the University of Southern California, will address the ways that habits guide behaviour—and why they are so difficult to break. In this lecture, Wendy will argue that habits are the central reason for not sticking with decisions over time. She will explore the basic features of habit formation and change and then present research on how people understand their own habits.

To attend the lecture please book via Eventbrite

Health Enterprise East Innovation Voucher Competition!

Win Innovation Vouchers to the value of £5000!

Monday 30th September is the deadline for applicants to put their ideas forward and have the chance of winning Innovation Vouchers up to the value of £5000 to help progress their innovative idea. Please click here for more information.

Essential CPMS e-learning for CIs launched

After considerable hard work and collective effort, the Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS) Research Activity Confirmation process has now gone live, meaning data input at EDGE (NIHR Local Portfolio Management System, or LPMS) level can now be viewed and confirmed at the national CPMS level (for a handy overview of the process so far click here). In line with this, the NIHR Coordinating Centre have launched a new 'CPMS: Research Activity Confirmation (for LPMS studies)' e-learning module for Chief Investigators/nominated representatives here on NIHR Learn. If you have any queries about this e-learning module, or about the new process, please contact the NIHR Coordinating Centre at supportmystudy@nihr.ac.uk or the NIHR's own Eastern team at edge.live.eastern@nihr.ac.uk. Please see our recruitment data confirmation for more details.