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NIHR Moorfields BRC attend National NIHR UKCRF conference

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Staff and researchers from the Moorfields Clinical Research Facility and the Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre attended the first Joint NIHR BRC & UKCRF Network Conference, which was hosted by the UKCRF Network and NIHR Birmingham BRC.   
Image shows NIHR Moorfields BRC EDI associate Christina Adams, She is a white woman with grey and dark hair and is wearing a strpied shirt and yellow tee-shirt. Stadning infront of a presentation screen. On the screen are the words "Actions, Inclusion Webinars, Vacancy bulletins and edi newsletter, Recruitment process review, introduction of exit interviews." Logos for NIHR Moorfields CRF and BRC

The theme for this year’s conference was “Co-create to Translate – Achieving impact through collaboration”. The  talks focused on the work of the National Institute for Health and Care Research centres and had break-out sessions on a wide variety of themes including: setting up trials, collaborating in labs across centres, working with industry partners, press communication, Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement in practice and how we run studies.   

A key topic was impact, for every £1 invested in the NIHR network of health and care research reaps £13 return to the government. This is clarified in the NIHR annual report which was also released this week.  A key take home message for all BRC’s and CRF’s was the need to communicate our impact to the public and policy makers in a more meaningful way. 

From the Moorfields BRC we heard from 4 team members: 

  • Professor of Regulatory Science and Innovation, Alastair Denniston, who works with INSIGHT and across the Birmingham and Moorfields BRCs, gave a plenary talk entitled ‘Working together so that AI works for everyone’ about using AI in research and the need to set the right tone and parameters to make it safe and effective in health care.   
  • Paediatric Research Nurse Jacq Miller and PPIE lead at our centre Dr Helen Baker joined in a panel entitled ‘Research Transitions: Optimising End-of-Research Study Experiences’, where they delved into the needs and experiences of families and staff when they come to the end of a clinical trial. The looked at how a trial is set up and how to optimise the end of study experience, so all parties are satisfied. 
  • EDI Research Associate at the NIHR Moorfields BRC and CRF, Christina Adams was included in the panel on a session titled ‘Demographic Data Collection: Insights and Impact’. Her contribution was around work she has completed with staff members across the two organisations and how these data are used for improving inclusion and the work environment.   

Our BRC entered the poster competition in to the “Breaking down barriers” category.  Our poster highlighted our educational engagement activity “No One Left Behind”. Although we didn’t win our poster received positive feedback and was a great way to share this activity with others working in the same field.