Research for nurses, midwives and AHPs

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 

The NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.

Its mission is to provide a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals working in world-class facilities, conducting leading-edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public.

The NIHR has developed a toolkit that includes resources and success stories for NHS staff to understand and promote research. The resources within the toolkit are divided into sections with guidance for healthcare professionals, academic researchers, NHS managers, and patients, carers and the public.

Learning for Involvement

Learning for Involvement (opens in a new tab) is part of, and funded by, the NIHR to support active public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research.

Learning for Involvement provides resources and guidance to researchers about patient and public involvement (PPI) with research.

Health Research Authority (HRA)

The HRA’s purpose is to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research.

Their website has information and resources for researchers, for example funding information, protocol templates and information about researchers’ responsibilities.

Cambridge Nurses in Research (CNiR)

CNiR is a group of research active nurses, midwives and allied health care professionals who are based in and around Cambridge.

The group works in a variety of areas within primary, secondary and tertiary care settings and academia.

Their goal is to improve patient care through research. They aim to support each other, share knowledge and establish a programme of research to improve nurses and allied health care professionals' experience of and involvement in research.

They are an inclusive group and welcome new members. Meetings are held every third Wednesday in the Herchel Smith Building on the Forvie Site.

Clinical Nursing Research Group (CNRG)

The CNRG is a rapidly expanding multi-disciplinary team of researchers at the Department of Primary Care and Public Health.

The CNRG's remit is to conduct research focusing on improving outcomes in people with long-term conditions, and to build research capacity and capability among nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in CUH and the School of Clinical Medicine.

Qualitative research forum

This is a monthly forum for sharing qualitative research findings and methods.

Cambridge Research Networks

These have been established by the University of Cambridge to bring together multidisciplinary communities of researchers to support new research and information sharing. There are seven research networks:

• Digital humanities
• Immunology
• Metabolism
• Public Health
• Sensors

Patient and Public Involvement Panel at CUH

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has its own Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panel of more than 80 volunteers.

The panel - which is run by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) - provides patient and lay input on research.

The panel can help researchers to:

• develop research priorities
• discuss research ideas
• review documents
• comment on research proposals

To find out more email the NIHR Cambridge BRC PPIE team or visit the PPI pages on their website.

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)

The NIHR Cambridge BRC is based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It combines research, patient care and drug discovery. It creates an environment that engages patients and the public, trains and nurtures the next generation of researchers, promotes equality and diversity, and encourages all staff working in the NHS to engage in research.

NIHR/Wellcome Trust Cambridge Clinical Research Facility (CRF)

The Cambridge CRF (opens in a new tab) is based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and comprises six research facilities across two buildings with access to Addenbrooke’s hospital.

CRFs are dedicated facilities where specialist clinical research and support staff from universities and NHS Trusts work together on patient-orientated studies.

NMAHPs can collaborate with the CRF for research, and access education and training.

Health Education England (HEE) 

HEE have created this careers resource for AHPs which identifies eight core areas (including research) for career development, whilst continuing clinical practice. It includes insight from AHPs working within the 8 areas, with voices from across all 14 allied health professions.

RCN Research and Innovation Fortnightly Bulletin

This fortnightly bulletin keeps you posted with the very latest developments in the world of nursing research and innovation.

NMAHP professional bodies support research within their profession and some have dedicated research groups.

Some examples are given below but this does not include all of the professional research groups so please ask yours how they can support you.

Council for Allied Health Professionals Research (CAHPR)

CAHPR's mission is to:

• develop AHP research
• strengthen evidence of the professions’ value and impact for enhancing service user and community care
• enable the professions to speak with one voice on research issues, thereby raising their profile and increasing their influence.

With excellent opportunities for learning, sharing, networking, collaborations and access to advice and support, CAHPR strengthens the professions’ research activities and outputs facilitating the translation of research findings into practice and education.

Cambridge is part of the East Anglia hub.

British Dietetic Association (BDA) Research

The BDA has information about where to look for the dietetic evidence-base, finding the best method to undertake robust service evaluations, securing some funding to give you time to analyse data you have collected, meeting people with similar research interests and getting a research qualification.

Physiotherapy Research Society (PRS)

The PRS promotes research in physiotherapy, so that a firm scientific knowledge base is developed, from which more effective physiotherapy practice may be delivered and patient services enhanced.

They encourage high quality research relevant to physiotherapy practice and education and help foster critical awareness throughout the profession.

The Society aims to disseminate the results of research both within the profession and beyond. Their main activity is hosting a research conference every Spring.

UK Occupational Therapy Research Foundation (UKOTRF)

UKOTRF is a division of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. It supports research that will build the evidence-base for occupational therapy and increase research capacity within the profession.

Royal College of Nurses (RCN) Research Society

The RCN Research Society provides research leadership and expertise, supports and meets the needs of the Society's members, and provides a network for sharing experiences, and learning and development opportunities.

Doctoral Midwifery Research Society (DMRS)

The main objective of the DMRS is to provide quality support and guidance to doctoral and post-doctoral midwife and childbirth (or related) researchers regionally, nationally and internationally.

A major commitment of the DMRS is to provide a platform for midwife and other researchers to undertake, present and disseminate research and implement the findings.

Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF)

The FNF focuses on improving health, clinical outcomes and patient experience, through building nursing and midwifery leadership capacity and capability.

The Foundation supports research scholarships, bespoke leadership programmes and travel scholarships.