PSP087: Local Champion

Champions are volunteers who work with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery  Network (RDN), and their Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) to raise awareness about RDN sub-specialty research in their professional communities.

The role of the Champion is to support the outreach activities of the sub-specialty area to include a range of healthcare specialists and early career researchers. The Champion will be an advocate for the RDN Specialty and need to have a good understanding of the challenges, barriers and opportunities for delivering sub-specialty research in their locality.

From October 2024 to March 2025 RRDNs should maintain existing local Champions where they remain in post.

NIHR RRDN (insert sub-specialty) Champion

Responsible for the following priority areas: (insert priority areas) 

Examples of duties may include but are not limited to the following (the RRDN should determine the specific remit of Champion based on local / specialty need):

• provide subspecialty representation in each RRDN;

• engage with (insert sub specialty) colleagues across the designated priority areas on the NIHR RDN Portfolio;

• identify barriers affecting (insert sub-specialty) studies and look at possible solutions;

• contact / meet with the local NIHR RDN (insert discipline) Specialty Lead every two months to review and plan regional study activity in the designated priority areas and provide (insert sub-specialty) specific study advice as necessary;

• attend the local and national (insert sub specialty) specialty meetings;

• promote the work of the NIHR and RDN at specialty and sub-specialty meetings and conferences, serving as an ambassador for the RDN locally, regionally and nationally, whenever opportunities arise;

• if required, deputise for the local NIHR RDN (discipline) Specialty Lead (SL).

Opportunities

• undertake training and development to become a Principal Investigator (PI) for studies in designated and priority areas on the NIHR RDN Portfolio;

• train and mentor (insert sub-specialty) colleagues to become a Principal Investigator (PI) for studies in designated priority areas on the NIHR RDN Portfolio;

• organise or contribute to NIHR RDN Portfolio development workshops relevant designated priority areas

• build (insert sub specialty) communities of practice across the region

• provide strategic leadership on NIHR RDN research within the (insert sub-specialty) profession.

NIHR: National Institute for Health and Care Research

NSG: National Specialty Group

NSL: National Specialty Lead

PI: Principal Investigator

RDN: Research Delivery Network

RDNCC: Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre

RRDN: Regional Research Delivery Network

SL: Specialty Lead

Version number: 1.2 

Effective from date: October 2024

Tracy Harman

Deputy Director of Strategic Development 

Email: tracy.harman@nihr.ac.uk