AHSN NENC: Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria

The Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC) works with Member Organisations including the NHS Trusts, CCGs and Universities, and Partner Organisations including the NIHR Clinical Research Network NENC, across the region to help them identify, evaluate, adopt and disseminate transformative innovation. The AHSN NENC works a lot with Industry too, as a source of innovation and helps industry to access the expertise within the NHS that is so crucial to the development, testing and deployment of products and services that are the basis of the UK’s Life Sciences sector.

As part of a national network of 15 AHSNs, and with colleagues across the country, they collaborate to make nationally important innovation visible and accessible throughout the NHS.

The work of the AHSN NENC focuses on four main areas:

• Supporting Economic Growth
• Transforming Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
• Improving Population HealthDigital

Across all these activities, The AHSN NENC acts as the trusted broker of cross-organisational work.

Twitter: @AHSN_NENC

Website: http://www.ahsn-nenc.org.uk/

Great North Care Record

The Great North Care Record makes information appropriately available to support frontline care, individual self-management, service planning and evaluation and research. They are exploring how researchers can gain legitimate access to patient data for data analysis and to contact them to participate in clinical trials.

Twitter: @GreatNorthCare

Website: www.greatnorthcarerecord.org.uk/

MedConNecT North

MedConNecT North aims to bridge the gap between the NHS and the development of new technology.

They are passionate about the contribution clinical research can make to improve people’s lives, reduce health costs and benefit economic growth. MedConNecT North work collaboratively with NHS trusts, primary care organisations and other qualified stakeholders and providers of health and social care services, the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria (NIHR CRN NENC) can translate that passion into effective delivery of research studies.

MedConNecT North in collaboration with North East and North Cumbria Clinical Research Network (NENC CRN) and the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN NENC) provides free support to help medical technology companies; SMEs, National and International Companies, deliver high quality research in the NHS. The MedConNecT North team can provide access to world leading NHS consultants covering all medical specialities, whether this is to facilitate feedback on a technology or to act as a Chief Investigator for a clinical trial. The team can appropriately sign post to key individuals and organisations to facilitate study design, delivery of research and adoption into the NHS clinical pathway. In addition, MedConNecT North supports NHS staff to encourage, develop and drive medical technology innovation within their organisation

Website: medconnectnorth.com

Twitter: @MedConNecTNorth

NESCHA

Newcastle University

Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Newcastle BRC)

Newcastle In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative (NIHR Newcastle MIC)

The NIHR Newcastle In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative (NIHR Newcastle MIC) was established in January 2018, building upon the success of the previous NIHR Diagnostic Evidence Co-operative (DEC) Newcastle (2013 - 2017). The role of the NIHR Newcastle MIC is to deliver high quality, robust scientific evidence on in vitro diagnostic tests (IVDs) and diagnostic medical devices — i.e. how their adoption by the NHS would improve patient health and provide value for money in an affordable way.

The focus of the Newcastle MIC lies in three areas of important unmet clinical need: Infectious diseases, Stratified Medicine, and Ageing and long term chronic conditions. This is supported through collaboration with external partners, such as other NIHR resources, commercial and academic organisations. Together, they can plan, design and carry out the necessary research to provide the evidence required by NHS clinicians and commissioners for investing in the most promising new technologies, as well as informing key developmental decisions.

Twitter: @NIHR_NCL_MIC

Website: http://www.newcastle.mic.nihr.ac.uk/

NIHR CRN NENC: Clinical Research Practitioners

Their main aim is to provide support for Clinical Research Practitioners across the NENC region and to help raise the profile of Clinical Research Practitioners and the vital role they play in research delivery.

They hope to engage with researchers through the R&D community, through regular communication updates so CRPs are aware of the work they're doing and through newly appointed Clinical Research Practitioner Champions who will act as a link between the CRN and Clinical Research Practitioners.

Twitter: @NIHRCRN_nencumb

Website: https://sites.google.com/nihr.ac.uk/newsroomnenc/home

NIHR CRN NENC: Wellbeing Team

The Wellbeing team within the Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria aim to promote and support wellbeing in the workplace.

The team were formed in August 2018 and, amongst other wellbeing activities, have so far completed two step challenges (totalling 9,359,263 steps), raised money for charity and had many walks.

You can find out more about our wellbeing activities by visiting us at the Market Place or by joining us for a lunchtime walk.

Twitter: @NIHRCRN_nencumb

Northumbria University: Department of Nursing Midwifery and Health

Northumbria's Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health offers students the opportunity to develop caring careers that can transform the lives of patients, families and communities.

Northumbria University is well-established with highly rated Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Health and Care Professions Council (HPC) approved programmes. Their BSc nursing programmes are ranked in the top 20 in the UK according to both The Guardian and Complete University Guides.

Twitter: @NorthumbriaUni

Website: www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/nursing-midwifery-health/

Research Design Service North East & North Cumbria (NIHR RDS NENC)

The Research Design Service (RDS) is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to support research teams to develop and submit high quality applied health and social care grant applications to NIHR and other national peer-reviewed funding programmes.

Their advice is confidential and free of charge. They offer specialist advice on all aspects of an application including:

• designing a research study
• research methods (qualitative and quantitative)
• identifying suitable sources of funding
• involving patients and public in research design
• identifying potential academic, clinical and lay collaborators.

Twitter: @NIHR_RDSNENC

Website: https://rds-nenc.nihr.ac.uk/

University of Sunderland

The University of Sunderland offers a wide range of Nursing and Allied Health Professional Undergraduate Programmes. At postgraduate level they offer MSc Nursing and have a thriving community of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health PhD students, current and alumni.

Their researchers have access to facilities which include include the Living Lab which supports state-of-the-art facilities for all forms of healthcare related simulation based education and support to research. The Living Lab boasts the region’s only immersive simulation room allowing participants to experience events in simulated environments.

Twitter: @UofSPubHealth

Website: Health Sciences and Wellbeing

Teeside University, School of Health and Social Care

Teesside University School of Health and Social Care delivers courses in nursing, midwifery, allied health professions and sport and exercise performance. The School has well-established relationships with local health and sports services. They aim to enhance the lives of service users, which includes a broad range of people from older adults with chronic conditions to elite athletes.

The School of Health and Social Care conducts high quality applied research focused on improving health and wellness. Delivered through research centres, they have a particular focus on public health, rehabilitation, exercise and sports sciences, and a strong emphasis on the translation of research into policy and practice. They work collaboratively with a range of national and international organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO), Public Health England and FUSE. The Healthcare Innovation Center (HIC) also sits within the School. The mission of HIC is to undertake multi-disciplinary research to develop new interventions and technologies to improve people’s health and quality of life.

Twitter: @TeesUniSOHSC

Website: School of Health and Social Care

Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) North East Hub: Teesside University

CAHPR strengthens allied health professional (AHP) research activities and outputs facilitating the transfer of research findings into practice. It provides opportunities for learning, networking and access to advice and support.

The North East hub, hosted by Teesside University , offers an annual small grants scheme in collaboration with Yorkshire and South Yorkshire hubs. Novice AHP researchers have the opportunity to compete for five awards of up to £1000 each to conduct a small research project which has the potential to influence clinical practice and/or lead to a larger funding application or fellowship. They also host two research symposiums each year, one at Teesside University and one at Newcastle or Northumbria University. Topics presented previously include: working with industry, managing and explaining pain and becoming an occupational therapy researcher.

Twitter: @CAHPRNNorthEast

Website: https://cahpr.csp.org.uk/

Voice

VOICE is a patient and public involvement and engagement network, and associated digital platform, based at Newcastle University. VOICE exists to harness the experience, insights and ideas of patients and the public to improve the relevance and impact of research.

Through the VOICE digital platform, we can help to:

- Organise and promote workshops and focus groups

- Undertake online surveys and polls

- Host online discussions and debates

- Support the recruitment of public members to projects and steering groups

- Organise and promote themed events

- Support patient and public involvement in research and innovation

Twitter: @VOICE__Global

Website: www.voice-global.org/

Young Person's Advisory Group: North England (YPAGne)

YPAGne meet monthly in Newcastle, and are integrated into the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Children’s Specialty YPAG model which aims to increase the input and influence of young people in the development of clinical and public health research. YPAGne launched in 2015 and currently has over 45 active members aged 13-18. Some of members have experienced care in a hospital setting, some have experience of living with a condition or disability but most have a general interest in learning about health and research.

Researchers and Health care professionals contact YPAGne for help at varying degrees of their research, with many attending to put the finishing touches to their study and to gain feedback on the design or content of the research. Some researchers come with an idea, concept and ask YPAGne to help form that idea with input on questions, where to get information or how to disseminate their findings.

The group also take part in other activities, such as quality improvement for wards and departments in the hospital and attend events, symposiums and conferences that promote young person involvement in research.

Twitter: @YPAGne

Website: https://sites.google.com/nihr.ac.uk/ypagne