National Institute for Health and Care Research

12/11/2025

Are you considering a water birth? 💦

Research has shown that giving birth in water is as safe as giving birth out of water for both the mother and baby 🤰

These findings came from a UK-wide study of over 60,000 women without pregnancy complications.

💬 Roisin O’Cearnaigh, a midwife at Homerton Healthcare Foundation Trust, said: “This is a useful study and might promote more births in water on labour wards if it reassures practitioners that waterbirths do not increase risks.”

Find out more in the comment below 👇

11/11/2025

A shock diagnosis of type 1 diabetes motivated Jordan to get involved in research.

🏃‍♂️ Jordan has always followed a healthy lifestyle. Alongside eating well, he goes to the gym every day and is a qualified yoga instructor. So it was a surprise when he began to feel unwell.

🏥 He was immediately admitted to hospital and placed on an insulin drip. He remained there for a week whilst his health gradually improved and he began to come to terms with his diagnosis.

There, he found out about a trial for people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The trial investigated a new immunotherapy aimed at slowing the damage to insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

💬 Jordan said: “The research nurses were fantastic and really helped me learn how to manage my condition.

“Before the trial, I was struggling to make it around the supermarket. But with their guidance and expertise I was back at the gym and watching football again in a few weeks.”

Read Jordan's full story and find out how to get involved in research in the comment below! 👇

07/11/2025

Women with breast cancer can avoid radiotherapy treatment after breast removal, new research has found.

Many women with early-stage breast cancer treated by mastectomy (breast removal) and anti-cancer drugs receive chest wall radiotherapy.

This practice has long been standard to kill any remaining cancer cells and lower the risk of recurrence. But it is based on trials from the 1980s and some consider it outdated.

The SUPREMO trial involved 1,607 patients in 17 countries. It found that patients with early-stage breast cancer who underwent a mastectomy and were taking anti-cancer drugs had similar 10-year survival rates, whether or not they received radiotherapy.

The findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could allow patients to avoid unnecessary treatments.

Find out more in the comments below ⬇️

07/11/2025

Be Part of Research makes it easy for everyone to find and join suitable health studies 🔬

By taking part, you can ensure that future of research breakthroughs are built on data that reflects everyone.

Read this article in Men’s Health from Dr. Drews Adade, who reveals how gaps in research are leading to preventable deaths, particularly affecting Black men ⬇️

06/11/2025

05/11/2025

We’re proud to support Stockport County Community Trust as they launch a new project giving local people the chance to take part in health and care research at the club’s stadium. ⚽

Delivered in partnership with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, this initiative marks our second collaboration with an English Football League club — helping bring research opportunities even closer to local communities.

🔗 Click the link in the comments below to read more!

30/10/2025

Michelle was diagnosed with lupus 30 years ago. Back then, there weren't many effective treatments for lupus, and the side effects were sometimes worse than the symptoms themselves.

From witnessing the progression of treatments over the years, she wanted to take part in research to help improve treatments for the future. She was the first person in the UK to join a global trial looking at a new treatment for lupus.

Read Michelle's story in the comments below! ⬇️

27/10/2025

When 77-year-old Wendy Groves joined a research study at her GP practice in Devon, she saw it as a chance to help others — and look after her own health.

The study, supported by the NIHR Research Delivery Network, explored alternatives to statins and Wendy took part at Claremont Medical Practice, Exmouth Health Centre.

“Getting to know my GP through research has been one of the best things,” Wendy said. “Having research in local practices means more people like me can take part, and that’s good for everyone.”

For Wendy, taking part brought reassurance, trust and a real sense of giving back.

🔗 Read Wendy’s story and learn how you can get involved through Be Part of Research: https://rdn.nihr.ac.uk/stories/statins-research-wendys-journey-her-gp-practice

24/10/2025

Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. Her treatment plan of chemotherapy and mastectomy, a surgery to remove all of the breast, soon followed. Kim was then due to receive radiotherapy, to lower the risk of cancer coming back.

She was at increased risk of developing long term heart problems years after radiotherapy, due to a pre-existing heart condition.

She was the first person in the UK to take part in the PARABLE trial. The trial is looking at a type of proton beam therapy, which uses charged particles instead of x-rays to target tumours more precisely.

Researchers hope it will allow doctors to deliver the required dose of radiotherapy where it is needed and minimise the dose of radiation delivered to the heart.

💬 Kim said: “I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to take part in the trial and pleased with all the treatment that I’ve had to date. I’m looking forward to the future and I’m feeling pretty optimistic about everything.”

Read Kim's story in the comment below! ⬇️

23/10/2025

Nearly everyone experiences some form of acne in their lifetime.

It can range from a few spots on the face, neck, back or chest to a more severe problem with painful lumps under the skin.

Acne is most common in teenagers and younger adults, but 3% of adults will experience acne over the age of 35.

Research shows that acne, and acne scarring, can have a significant impact on mental health. Common treatments can also have side effects.

Click the link in the comment below to read a blog by Dr Beibei Du-Harpur, an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, on how research is helping to shatter some of the myths around acne, understand its causes and look for new treatments ⬇️

22/10/2025

A group of social care researchers in Darlington have developed a series of resources to help other practitioners to better support the people they care for. 💙

Called the Experts in Practice Project, the initiative supported professional development by giving staff dedicated research time and opportunities to co-produce training, tools, and resources for colleagues and partner agencies.

The project was nominated for the Social Worker of the Year Awards under the Practitioner-Led Research category. Here they are with their gold award!

💬 Amy Waterfield, Senior Practitioner at Darlington Borough Council , said: "We thought we were just going to be helping ourselves but actually we’ve ended up helping the wider community. Every single person involved in the project just put their heart and soul into developing research and then disseminating that to professionals who can then help the wider public.”

Congratulations to the team!

Find out more in the comments below ⬇️

21/10/2025

Logan, 12, from Norfolk, took part in a type 1 diabetes screening study.

The ELSA study is open to families across the UK for children aged 3 to 13. It is taking place in schools to make it easier for children to get involved. 🏫

Pupils whose parents and guardians agree to the study have a simple finger stick blood test. Tests on the blood then show if the children have any of 4 antibodies, which are markers found in the blood, for type 1 diabetes.

Where children are found to be at risk of developing type 1 diabetes, they can be monitored and supported. This will reduce the risk of them becoming seriously unwell.

💬 Logan said: “It was really easy taking part and the people were really nice to me. I'm really happy to take part in research, because in the future I can help people by having this test.”

Read Logan's story and about how children and young people are getting involved in research in the comment below ⬇️