Research & Development

Introduction

The North West Wales NHS Trust, as part of its commitment to evidence based practice, is keen to encourage and support research and development (R&D).  A detailed R&D strategy has been developed to enable the Trust to continue to enhance its research profile, particularly in terms of its reputation as a clinical trials centre  All Clinicians are encouraged to become research active, and a number of initiatives have been introduced to facilitate this:

Project Planning

All research undertaken within the Trust must work to a well planned, specific protocol.  Advice is available on all aspects of project planning, including protocol, questionnaire, information sheet and consent form designs. An introductory information pack is available from the Quality and Clinical Assurance Directorate.

R&D Committee

The main purpose of the Committee is to stimulate and encourage medical and health related research activity in North West Wales and beyond. It does this mainly by funding local research at a modest level, but also by giving advice and assisting in the provision of facilities for researchers. The Committee presents an annual report to the Trust Board.

Grant Funding

Apart from projects requiring a modest level of funding – normally up to a few thousand pounds – the Committee also welcomes applications to fund pilot projects.  Staff with little or no research experience are encouraged to apply and will be given every assistance.

The Trust allocates funding to the Committee on an annual basis, to which is added monies from the commercial drug trial levy, as well as charitable donations.

Grant Applications

An application form and guidance notes are available from the Clinical Governance Officer (R&D). All members of the committee are willing to offer advice and support to applicants. Applicants are usually invited to a committee meeting to discuss their proposal. 

O.V. Jones Bursary

The £1,500 O.V. Jones Bursary is awarded annually by the R&D Committee  to enable a student from the University of Wales, Bangor to enable them to undertake a research project during the summer vacation. It was initiated to mark the College’s Centenary and is named after Mr O.V. Jones, a former Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and a Member of the Council of UCNW who did much to promote co-operation between the University and the Health Authority. Further details are available from the Clinical Governance Officer.

Ethics Approval

The Clinical Governance Officer (R&D) is responsible for co-ordinating the North West Wales Local Research Ethics Committee, and can advise on ethical principles and the procedure for obtaining ethics approval. Research using human subjects, NHS records or facilities should be subject to ethics review. An application proforma and detailed guidance notes are available.

Trust Approval

All research must obtain Trust as well as ethics approval before commencement. This can be obtained via the Internal Review Panel for Research & Development, details of which are available from the Quality and Clinical Assurance Directorate.

Statistical Advice

It is essential that expert advice is obtained at the earliest opportunity for any project which may involve statistical analysis. The Trust therefore has an arrangement with the North Wales R&D Support Service (NWRDSS), who can advise and assist researchers. Further details are available from the Clinical Governance Officer (R&D).

Co-operation With Other Bodies

The Trust collaborates on R&D matters with various organisations, in particular the Institute for Medical and Social Care and Research (IMSCaR), University of Wales, Bangor (UWB). Close links exists with the Wales office of R&D (WORD), the North Wales Research Committee and the North Wales Research and Development Support Service (NWRDSS). Further information on support services offered by NWRDSS can be obtained from the Clinical Governance Officer (R&D)