HDFT Research & Innovation

21/05/2026

The Research and Innovation Team took park in the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Open Days on 8th and 20th May.

The days were part of the Trust's 200th anniversary celebrations which mark the opening of Harrogate’s first hospital. Nearly 30 departments came together to showcase their services and the vital work they do for patients across Harrogate and the surrounding district.

The events gave us a great opportunity to engage with staff, governors, visitors and the wider public and tell them about the fantastic work we do.🩺💊🧬

Our stall was well received and we enjoyed showcasing our "Mini Randomised Trial: The Treat Edition", where visitors were allocated to receive a sweet or chocolate at random (using a die) and their satisfaction levels were measured afterwards! 🎲😋

Pictured are research staff Agness, Georgie and Manvi along with our colourful display.

12/05/2026

Today is International Nurses' Day – an opportunity to recognise the skill, compassion and dedication of nurses and the difference they make every day to patients, families and communities.

is celebrated annually on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and aims to shine a light on the vital role nurses play across health and care services.

Our Research Nurses contribute daily to the progression of ground-breaking research and the development of new innovations, treatments and services for our patients and communities.

Happy to all of our dedicated and hardworking nurses! 🎉

05/05/2026

Happy International Day of the Midwife to all of our fantastic midwives here at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

Our dedicated Research Midwives continue to work with our Midwifery team to recruit to the Generation Study - we now have just under 700 participants who have consented to take part! 🎉👶

If you are currently pregnant (or know someone who is) and may like to take part, please visit www.generationstudy.co.uk for more information and to register your interest at Harrogate Hospital.

"As midwives, we carry the women we have cared for, for the rest of our career. Each person we care for is so special, and we are so grateful for women who trust us to care for them. "

To celebrate International Day of the Midwife, Isy Williams, Community Midwife on the Generation Study, talks about the vital role that midwives play.

Read more in her blog: https://ow.ly/Qv2150YT6On

01/04/2026

We recently said a fond farewell to Caroline, our Research Optometrist, as she begins her well-earned retirement after 13 years of helping our Ophthalmology Research Team, and longer as part of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust's Optical Services Team.

Caroline was presented with a Making a Difference Award on her last day 🏆. She was nominated in recognition of her exceptional dedication and commitment. Caroline chose to delay her retirement to ensure the successful completion of the FOCUS study, demonstrating remarkable selflessness and professionalism.

Caroline consistently goes above and beyond, supporting patients not only in her role but also in her own time through the Vision Support Centre and “New to Sight Loss” sessions. Her compassion, expertise, and commitment to improving patients’ quality of life have made a lasting impact. Caroline’s willingness to put others first reflects the very best of the Trust’s values, and she will be greatly missed as a colleague, mentor and friend. 💙

09/03/2026

Our Introduction to Health Research event is taking place tomorrow! 🔬🧬💊

Registration is still open - please see below for further information and the registration link.

Health Research Volunteer Event – Get Involved with HDFT Research & Innovation

Are you interested in supporting the work of the HDFT Research & Innovation Department? We’re looking for volunteers to play an important role in shaping and supporting our research activity.

A range of opportunities are available, including:
• Contributing to the design of research studies
• Helping to promote research within our communities
• Ensuring research is accessible and inclusive
• Supporting patients throughout their research journey
• Sharing your own lived experience of a health condition

No previous research experience is needed—just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

We warmly invite you to our Introduction to Health Research Event at 6.15pm on Tuesday 10 March, held at our Innovation Hub in Knaresborough.

Please see the event poster for details on how to register. We look forward to welcoming you and exploring how you can help make a real difference to future research.

You can register your interest in attending and receive further information on the event at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO44APCWwTm3dNltVkJI1fcrFUQVZSTDJBTUxKRVZJTjJVV0NMQktVRVU4Si4u&route=shorturl

07/03/2026

Registration is still open for our Introduction to Health Research event on this coming Tuesday 🔬🧬💊

Please see below for further information and the registration link.

Health Research Volunteer Event – Get Involved with HDFT Research & Innovation

Are you interested in supporting the work of the HDFT Research & Innovation Department? We’re looking for volunteers to play an important role in shaping and supporting our research activity.

A range of opportunities are available, including:
• Contributing to the design of research studies
• Helping to promote research within our communities
• Ensuring research is accessible and inclusive
• Supporting patients throughout their research journey
• Sharing your own lived experience of a health condition

No previous research experience is needed—just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

We warmly invite you to our Introduction to Health Research Event at 6.15pm on Tuesday 10 March, held at our Innovation Hub in Knaresborough.

Please see the event poster for details on how to register. We look forward to welcoming you and exploring how you can help make a real difference to future research.

You can register your interest in attending and receive further information on the event at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO44APCWwTm3dNltVkJI1fcrFUQVZSTDJBTUxKRVZJTjJVV0NMQktVRVU4Si4u&route=shorturl

05/03/2026

We are looking for volunteers to help shape and support research across the Trust.

You can get involved by:

• Helping to shape the design of research studies
• Promoting research within the community
• Ensuring research is accessible and inclusive
• Supporting patients throughout their research journey
• Sharing lived experiences

No previous research experience is needed, just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

We are holding an Introduction to Health Research Event on Tuesday 10 March at 6:15pm at the Innovation Hub in Knaresborough. Please register here ⬇️ if you would like to attend - we look forward to seeing you!

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO44APCWwTm3dNltVkJI1fcrFUQVZSTDJBTUxKRVZJTjJVV0NMQktVRVU4Si4u&route=shorturl

Health Research Volunteer Event – Get Involved with HDFT Research & Innovation

Are you interested in supporting the work of the HDFT Research & Innovation Department? We’re looking for volunteers to play an important role in shaping and supporting our research activity.

A range of opportunities are available, including:
• Contributing to the design of research studies
• Helping to promote research within our communities
• Ensuring research is accessible and inclusive
• Supporting patients throughout their research journey
• Sharing your own lived experience of a health condition

No previous research experience is needed—just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

We warmly invite you to our Introduction to Health Research Event at 6.15pm on Tuesday 10 March, held at our Innovation Hub in Knaresborough.

Please see the event poster for details on how to register. We look forward to welcoming you and exploring how you can help make a real difference to future research.

You can register your interest in attending and receive further information on the event at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO44APCWwTm3dNltVkJI1fcrFUQVZSTDJBTUxKRVZJTjJVV0NMQktVRVU4Si4u&route=shorturl

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

A new pop-up Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has opened in a small section at the front of Farndale Ward at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, marking an exciting step forward for clinical research at HDFT.

A huge thank you goes to the entire Research & Innovation team, plus all our Principal Investigators, for their flexibility, enthusiasm and commitment in making this possible.

This pop-up facility represents an important milestone for HDFT. It allows us to see participants in a dedicated space and expand the types of trials we can deliver. This will strengthen our role as a research-active Trust and help to bring the latest innovations to the people we serve.

We’re ambitious about the future and this is just the beginning. As our research portfolio grows, so too will our capacity to offer cutting-edge treatments, improve care pathways and contribute to national and global evidence.

If you’re interested in getting involved in research, our team would love to hear from you and can be contacted at hdft.research@nhs.net. Let’s grow research together!