NIHR Blackpool CRDC

26/09/2025

Celebrating Emma Ward: AHP Research Leader of the Future

We are thrilled to announce that Emma Ward, Research and Development Operating Department Practitioner, has been successfully selected for the NIHR Developing Research Leaders Programme for Allied Health Professionals 2025!

This prestigious three-year programme, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is designed to empower Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to become influential research leaders within their organisations. Emma’s selection is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and passion for embedding research into clinical practice.

What the Programme Involves:

• Funded protected time (0.4 FTE, equivalent to 2 days/week) at Agenda for Change Band 8a to lead research initiatives.

• Opportunities to develop and lead projects that improve health and care services through research.

• Support to mentor and inspire other AHPs to engage in research.

• Access to a collaborative community of developing research leaders.

• Participation in quarterly events, leadership development sessions, bespoke learning resources, and mentorship.

• A focus on inclusive and equitable research practices, ensuring diverse voices shape the future of health and care research.

Emma will be joining a national cohort of motivated AHPs who are committed to building research capacity and fostering a positive research culture across health and social care settings, whilst also working part time in her current role in Research and Development at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.

'I am pleased to have been selected for the NIHR DRL Programme, it's a fantastic opportunity not only for myself, but for the trust and our AHP workforce. My aim is to promote a positive and inclusive research culture across the organisation. This is the first year AHP's have been eligible to apply for the programme, which demonstrates the need for more AHP research engagement nationally'.

Her success reflects not only her personal excellence but also the growing recognition of the vital role Operating Department Practitioners play in advancing evidence-based practice.

Please join us in congratulating Emma on this outstanding achievement. We look forward to seeing the impact of her leadership over the coming years!

🔗 Learn more about the NIHR Developing Research Leaders Programme:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/research-leaders-courses-and-support/developing-research-leaders-programme-allied-health-professionals

25/09/2025

🎉 World Pharmacists Day | Celebrating Research in Action at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 💊🔬

Yesterday, we marked a fantastic Research Champions training session led by Andrew Potter, Lead Pharmacist, titled:

“Using Trial Drugs in Clinical Care – The Need to Know.”

This session gave staff across the Trust a deeper understanding of:

✅ Pharmacy’s essential role in clinical trials
✅ How blinded and unblinded trial drugs are safely managed
✅ Who to contact for medication queries – Pharmacy, R&D or Trial Sponsors

Pharmacy is at the heart of safe, effective research delivery — ensuring investigation drugs are stored, dispensed, and monitored with precision and care.

💡 Want to be part of the research journey?

Become a Research Champion and help bring research closer to everyday care at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.

📩 for Blackpool Teaching Hospital staff to get involved, contact the R&D team at: bfwh.researchchampions@nhs.net or fill in the form below to express your interest:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO4x1Nng35-udLhU5OpvjY54VUMUNOU04wNzFLU0ZIVTU4VVIzNThVVzMwUy4u

25/09/2025

🎉 Happy World Pharmacists Day 2025! 🎉

Today we celebrate the dedication, expertise, and compassion of our incredible pharmacy teams at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

💊 Pharmacists are more than medication experts — they are key partners in research and innovation, helping to shape the future of healthcare. From supporting clinical trials to ensuring the safe and effective use of new treatments, their work is essential to advancing patient care.

🔬 At Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, our pharmacists play a crucial role in:

Clinical Research Delivery – ensuring medicines are handled safely and ethically.

Patient Safety & Support – providing expert advice and personalised care.

Innovation in Practice – collaborating across departments to improve outcomes and reduce harm.

👏 Thank you to all our pharmacists for your tireless commitment to improving lives through science, care, and compassion.

11/09/2025

🩸 September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month 🩸

At Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, we proudly stand with patients, families, and researchers in raising awareness and advancing care for blood cancers. Our incredible Haematology team works tirelessly to provide the best possible support and treatment to those affected across the Fylde Coast.

Through ongoing research and clinical trials, we’re committed to improving outcomes and offering hope for a future where blood cancer is treatable, manageable—and one day, curable.

Let’s shine a light on blood cancer this September and support the vital work being done every day.

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08/09/2025

🌍 Happy International Physiotherapy Day! 🌍

Today, we celebrate the incredible impact of physiotherapists and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in patient care and research.

Meet Ellis Porter, a Band 6 Physiotherapist at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, who is breaking new ground by joining the NIHR Associate PI Scheme. Ellis is contributing to the Freecycle D Study, exploring whether early in-bed cycling for critically ill patients can reduce delirium and speed recovery.

His work shows how AHPs are not just delivering care—they’re driving innovation, shaping evidence-based practice, and improving outcomes for patients across the NHS.
👏 Let’s celebrate Ellis and all AHPs who are bridging the gap between front line care and cutting-edge research!

02/09/2025

🧬 Join the IBHO BioResource Study – Help Shape the Future of Black Health 🧬

We're proud to be running the Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource study at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and we’re inviting YOU—our staff, patients, and wider community—to take part!

This vital research is helping us understand the social and biological causes of health conditions that disproportionately affect Black communities in the UK, including:

✅ Diabetes and complications during pregnancy/childbirth
✅ Sickle cell disease
✅ Anxiety, depression, and skin conditions

By joining, you’ll be contributing to:
🔍 Better understanding of why these conditions occur
🩺 Improved diagnosis and assessments tailored to Black communities
💊 Development of more effective, inclusive treatments
📞 Interested?
Call (01253 9)51514 and ask for the Biochemical Research Centre (BRC) Nurse at our Research and Development reception.

🔗 Learn more:
https://www.bioresource.nihr.ac.uk/using-our-bioresource/

Your voice matters. Your participation matters. Let’s work together to improve health outcomes for Black communities—locally and nationally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ3GcwKakfc

We've partnered with rapper, Sickle Cell patient advocate, and founder of Hidden Pain Society, A Star (Alidor Gaspar) to create this powerful video highlight...

02/09/2025

Are you a Research Champion or thinking of becoming one? Don’t miss these exciting upcoming training opportunities to boost your knowledge and confidence in clinical research:

📅 15/09/2025 – Adverse Events: What Clinical Teams Need to Know
📅 24/09/2025 – Using Trial Drugs in Clinical Care
📅 19/11/2025 – Principles of GCP – Bitesize
📅 TBC – Statistics, Data & Communications Made Easy

🔗 Book your place now: https://forms.office.com/e/Wt6nsRUVFD

💡 Interested in becoming at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust?
Submit your expression of interest here:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO4x1Nng35-udLhU5OpvjY54VUMUNOU04wNzFLU0ZIVTU4VVIzNThVVzMwUy4u

27/08/2025

🌟 Meet Our Research Champions! 🌟

Introducing Rodney Hall – Dietitian, Acute Adult Nutrition and Dietetics Team

Why did Rodney become a Research Champion?

“I wanted to learn more about research myself and encourage my team to do the same. I’m passionate about discovering new knowledge and enjoy problem-solving. Contributing to the evidence base in Dietetics and making a positive impact on patients is important to me. Leading innovation and improving decision-making can be incredibly rewarding.”

What research is Rodney involved in and how does it help patients?

Rodney is currently researching energy expenditure in critically ill patients, focusing on those with obesity and long hospital stays—an area with very little existing evidence. His work also explores novel ways to preserve muscle mass and function, which is vital for patients’ quality of life after critical care.

Using innovative nutrition support strategies that promote muscle synthesis, Rodney measures muscle circumference and strength (via hand-grip dynamometer) throughout the patient journey—even after discharge. This helps distinguish whether weight gain is from fat or muscle, allowing for tailored diet plans that truly support recovery.

If you work at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and would like to become a Research Champion, please complete the form below:

https://forms.office.com/e/BkE624tWXU

22/08/2025

🚨 Breaking science news🚨

A new chemotherapy-free treatment for leukaemia could lead to better outcomes for many people, according to a trial we helped fund.

Led by researchers in Leeds and conducted across 96 cancer centres, the FLAIR trial tested two targeted drugs for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common type of leukaemia in adults.

The results are striking. After five years, 94% of people who received both drugs were alive with no progression of the disease, proving the new drug combination is far more effective than standard chemotherapy treatment.

This discovery could pave the way for kinder, more personalised treatments and give people with CLL more precious time with their loved ones.

This is amazing news in the field of leukaemia 🌟

21/08/2025

🧬 Join the IBHO BioResource Study – Help Shape the Future of Black Health 🧬

We're proud to be running the Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource study at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, and we’re inviting YOU—our staff, patients, and wider community—to take part!

This vital research is helping us understand the social and biological causes of health conditions that disproportionately affect Black communities in the UK, including:

✅ Diabetes and complications during pregnancy/childbirth
✅ Sickle cell disease
✅ Anxiety, depression, and skin conditions

By joining, you’ll be contributing to:

🔍 Better understanding of why these conditions occur
🩺 Improved diagnosis and assessments tailored to Black communities
💊 Development of more effective, inclusive treatments

📞 Interested?
Call (01253 9)51514 and ask for the Biochemical Research Centre (BRC) Nurse at our Research and Development reception.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.bioresource.nihr.ac.uk/centres-programmes/improving-black-health-outcomes-ibho-bioresource/

Your voice matters. Your participation matters. Let’s work together to improve health outcomes for Black communities—locally and nationally.

This new research initiative is dedicated to studying health conditions that disproportionately affect people from Black communities in the UK. IBHO invites individuals from Black ethnic backgrounds to participate in research aimed at improving our understanding of how these conditions might develop...

11/08/2025

🎉 Fantastic News from Blackpool R&D! 🎉

A huge shoutout to Dr Meaden, Emma Ward and the brilliant team for randomising their 2nd participant into the Resveratrol arm of the COLO-PREVENT Trial — that’s 2 randomisations in just 30 days! 🚀👏

The COLO-PREVENT Trial, funded by Cancer Research UK, is exploring whether Resveratrol — a natural compound found in grapes, peanuts, and mulberries — can help prevent bowel polyps, which are known precursors to bowel cancer. This research is part of a wider effort to improve outcomes for patients identified through the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. 🧬🍇

Your continued dedication is helping push the boundaries of cancer prevention research. We’re incredibly proud of your work! 💙

Fore more information on the COLO-PREVENT Trial, please see the link below:

Our trial focuses on looking at whether taking aspirin, or aspirin combined with metformin is better at preventing bowel polyps.

08/08/2025

Job Alert!

Cardiology Research Nurse - Band 5

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

Closes : 13/08/2025

View the latest jobs at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals