Contact us
Tel: 01603 272251 | Email: research@nchc.nhs.uk | Twitter: @NCHCresearch
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the NHS arm for research, encourages patients, service users and the public to get involved in clinical research, by talking to healthcare professionals about research activities in their area. The part of the NIHR that helps run the delivery of research is called the Clinical Research Network.
NCH&C works closely with the CRN Eastern, hosted by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, to set up clinical studies quickly and effectively, provide health professionals with research training, and work with patients and the public to ensure their needs are at the centre of all research activity.
Benefits of research
Research changes people's lives, which is why we are we are committed to enabling our patients and service users’ opportunities to participate in clinical research studies and enhance treatment and care. NCH&C are very proud to have our own dedicated research team who work across all our services to support the delivery of NIHR research projects.
Evidence suggests that people who receive care in research active organisations have better health outcomes. The main aims of research are to:
- improve patient care
- provide the best advice and treatment for our patients
- improve the quality of life for people living with illness
- prevent disease and reduce the number of people who become ill
- make sure the treatments we give are effective
Be Part of Research
You can be part of research by taking part in one of our current studies listed below. Or you can sign up to our Research Interest Database – RESIDE – to hear about research studies that you might want to be part of. Just click here.
You can also ask your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional about clinical trials and other health and care studies that you may be suitable for.
You can visit the NHS Be Part of Research website to find out more.
Read the latest Getting Involved in Research newsletter (March 2023) or browse previous editions below.
Meet the Community Research Team
Anna Lartey – Research Manager
Stephanie Howard – Research Co-ordinator
Donna Clements – Research Nurse
Laura Towers – Research Nurse
Stephanie Tuck – Research Occupational Therapist
Louise Gilbert – Research Physiotherapist
Catherine Mingay – Research Physiotherapist (bank)
Adam Peel – Research Nurse for non-NHS settings
Beth Sergeant – Research Nurse non-NHS settings
Current studies
Vapeline: Do e-cigarettes help smokers quit when not accompanied by intensive behavioural support?
Researchers at the Queen Mary University of London are seeking smokers in Norfolk who want to quit, who would like to take part in a new research project. Vapeline is a new study researching e-cigarettes as a quitting aid. Researchers want to establish whether smokers using a vape to quit also need face-to-face support or telephone support messages. If you, or someone you know, may be interested, please email vapeline@qmul.ac.uk or text REPLY to 07860 040099.
Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Families Project (PFP)
Researchers from the University College London are conducting a research study to investigate the genetic makeup of patients with Parkinson’s Disease or another movement disorder (eg, tremor, dystonia, myoclonus). The hope is to identify new genetic variants associated with these conditions, so that we can understand them better and develop new tests and treatments. We would be interested to talk to those individuals in Norfolk, who have either symptom onset at or <45 years of age or with a family history of one of these conditions, as you may be able to take part.
MINDARISE
The University of Sussex is carrying out a new study, MINDARISE, to see if mindfulness can help with some of the stress that NHS staff are currently experiencing. They are looking for NHS staff members who have ever practiced mindfulness to complete a few online questionnaires at three separate time-points over six months, with the additional option of a remote Zoom interview for those who are keen.
If you would like more information on this study, please visit: https://universityofsussex.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9LEL9rM1w09osuy
MiNDToolkit
This is a feasibility study assessing the acceptability of an online platform available to carers of people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Information on the platform is designed to help in the management of behavioural changes associated with MND.
To find out more, please visit https://mindtoolkit.org/
The geko Cross-Therapy REGISTRY – Wound
This is an observational, anonymised data collection registry with no experimental treatment, that will fulfil an unmet need to provide long-term clinical data to demonstrate patient benefit and regulatory compliance. We are working closely with the Leg Ulcer Clinic at the Norwich Community Hospital to identify suitable participants for this study. Patients recruited onto this study will receive a geko device, alongside their standard care.
To find out more, please visit https://www.gekodevices.com/
Getting Involved in Research newsletters
Performance in Initiating and Delivering Clinical Research
NHS providers are required to publish the information on recruitment to clinical trials and recruitment to time and target for commercial contract clinical trials in an accessible part of their website. You can access the information for NCH&C performance via the NIHR Clinical Trials Performance website.