Research & Development Co-ordinating Centre Weekly EBulletin
17 March 2008
RCN Research Society
1. RCN Research Society: Research Headlines biannual newsletter
contribution deadline reminder
Research Headlines newsletter is your opportunity to network with other Research
Society members and contributions are welcome. As a member of the Research
Society, you will automatically receive a printed version of Research Headlines
newsletter. In addition, an electronic version of the printed newsletter is
published on-line. If you would like to contribute to the Research Society
newsletter please see the website for our guidelines.
Deadline for receipt of submissions: 10 April 2008
Submissions to: Julie Taylor
Email: j.z.taylor@dundee.ac.uk
Website:
http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/researchanddevelopment/rs/biannual_newsl
etter
Career Development Opportunities
2. Griffith University Senior Research Fellow: Social Policy & Care
Service Improvement
Salary Range: 83,119 - 95,843AUD per annum
The School of Nursing and Midwifery and Spiritus are offering a jointly funded
Senior Research Fellowship in the field of Social Policy and Care Service
Improvement. This full-time, 3 year, research only position is suitable for a high
calibre researcher.
Contact: Griffith University, Ref. NRS17018/08
Website: http://www.griffith.edu.au/hrm/employment/
Deadline for applications: 26 March 2008
3. University Of Technology, Sydney and the Northern Hospitals
Network Professor of Nursing Research and Practice Development
Salary: 130,299AUD p.a.
Website: http://www.hru.uts.edu.au/jobs/index.html Ref: R370108
Deadline for applications: 18 April 2008
4. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
Committees and Working Groups
NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance
on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health. Details of
committees seeking health and other professionals include:
i) NICE invites applications for the Chair of the new Implementation Strategy
Group (Closes 4 April 2008)
ii) NICE seeks educationalists and medical statisticians to become new members
of its Public Health Interventions Advisory Committee (Closes 10 April 2008)
iii) Member of the public health consideration panel to recommend topics for
guidance (Closes 9 April 2008)
iv) Member of the orthopaedic subgroup of the venous thromboembolism
guideline development group (Closes 25 March 2008)
v) NICE seeks new members for its independent advisory committees on the use
of health technologies (Closes 31 March 2008)
Website: http://snipurl.com/21xv2
Research Funding
5. Mair Scholarship
This bursary is available for first and second level nurses currently engaged in
occupational health nursing in Scotland. The scholarship may be used to
undertake a study tour in an EU country, assist with the cost of research, attend
a course of study, or undertake an evaluation of an OH practice. Deadline for
application: 25 April 2008.
Contact: Jan Gorman, RCN Institute Scotland
Email: jan.gorman@rcn.org.uk
Website: www.rcn.org.uk/aboutus/scholarshipsawards/
Current Research Commissions
6. Medical Research Council (MRC) - NHS National Institute for Health Research
(NIHR) Hubs for trials methodology research (HTMR)
As part of the developing MRC - National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) strategy for health
research, the MRC plans to increase support for the national methodological platform in clinical
trials research. The MRC is therefore inviting proposals for Hubs in trials methodology research.
Successful Hubs will provide UK-wide coverage and be networked together.
Contact: Lelia O’Connell, MRC Headoffice
Email: lelia.o'connell@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Website:
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/ApplyingforaGrant/CallsForProposals/ResearchHubs/Callspecification/index.
htm
Deadline to register application: 2 April 2008
7. NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology
Assessment (HTA) programme funding opportunity.
The NIHR HTA programme provides an assessment of the costs, effectiveness and broader impact
of any method used by health professionals to promote health; prevent, diagnose or treat
disease; or improve rehabilitation and long-term care. Research proposals are sought on the
following topics:
Primary Research (Outline proposals)
08/15 Improving children's health through school programmes to prevent aggressive behaviour
08/17 Duration of protection of BCG vaccine - new primary research
08/19 Brief interventions to prevent depression in older people
08/20 An intervention to reduce teenage pregnancy in young women who are 'looked after'
08/22 Birthing positions in women receiving epidural analgesia
08/23 Body Dysmorphic Disorder in young people
08/24 Stapled versus conventional surgery for haemorrhoids
08/26 Management of obsessive-compulsive disorder
08/27 Inotropes in preterm infants with low systemic blood flow
08/28 The microbiological diagnosis of infection due to a diabetic foot ulcer
08/29 The use of FDG-PET or PET/CT in the diagnosis of pancreatic malignancy
Evidence Synthesis (Full proposals)
08/16 Duration of protection of BCG vaccine - updated systematic review and meta-analysis
08/25 Bone anchored hearing aids
08/30 The risk of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms
Contact: HTA commissioning team
Email: htacmsng@soton.ac.uk
Website: http://www.hta.ac.uk/funding/standardcalls/
Deadline for receipt of proposals: 23 April 2008
Research Networks
8. Health Services Research Network
The Health Services Research Network (HSRN) aims to connect all universities,
commercial and professional organisations, charities and NHS bodies with an
interest in HSR. It defines health services research as all research that underpins
improvements in the way health services are financed, organised, planned and
delivered, and includes health technology assessments and health policy
research. The HSRN is supported by the National Institute of Health Research, the
Health Foundation and the Nuffield Trust.
Website: www.nhsconfed.org/hsrn
Research in Progress
9. NHS Health Technology Assessment programme (HTA) recently
commissioned projects
The HTA programme is a national programme of research established and funded
by the Department of Health's Research and Development programme. The
programme actively seeks out the questions that meet the NHS's research needs,
commissions research to meet those needs, and communicates the findings to the
NHS and its users. The following projects have been recently commissioned:
i) 07/90/01 Venous thromboembolism - dabigatran
ii) 07/72/01 Bevacizumab, sorafenib tosylate and sunitinib for renal cell
carcinoma
iii) 07/62/01 Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) for stable angina or
heart failure
iv) 07/40/01 Non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
v) 07/16/01 Vitamin K to prevent fractures in older women|
vi) 07/15/01 Adefovir dipivoxil and pegylated interferon alfa-2a for the
treatment of chronic hepatitis B
vii) 07/03/01 Early high dose lipid-lowering therapy to prevent cardiac events
viii) 07/02/01 Systematic review of the clinical and cost-effectiveness, and
economic evaluation, of photodynamic diagnosis and urine biomarker tests in the
detection and follow-up of bladder cancer
ix) 06/92/01 Infrastructure for guideline development
x) 06/28/01 The clinical and cost effectiveness of testing for cytochrome P450
polymorphisms in patients treated with antipsychotics
xi) 06/02/01 Older People's Exercise intervention in Residential and nursing
Accommodation (OPERA)
Website: http://www.hta.ac.uk/
Completed Research & Development - Open Access
10. 2008/012 NICE guideline to improve the diagnosis, care and
management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National
Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Supportive Care have issued a guideline on
the diagnosis, care and treatment of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
IBS is a disorder that interferes with the normal functioning of the large bowel. It
is characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating and changes in bowel habit
(diarrhoea, constipation or both) and affects up to 1 in 10 people at some time in
their lives. Symptoms often become noticeable between the ages of 20 and 30.
Website: http://www.nice.org.uk/media/510/36/2008012IBSAPP.pdf (PDF, 36K)
11. Drennan, V. & Davis, K. (2008), "Trends over ten years in the
primary care and community nursing workforce in England"
This report gives a new analysis of the trends in the numbers, demographics and
turnover of nursing and support to nursing staff employed in primary care and
community nursing. The analysis provides new insights for commissioners and
providers of services and education at a time when government policy is focusing
on increased provision of health services outside of hospitals. The analysis adds
to current knowledge on the statistics published by the Department of Health
because it considers both professional qualified nurses and other groups such as
health care assistants.
Website: http://www.healthcare.ac.uk/content.asp?id_Content=664
12.NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme recently
published monographs
The HTA programme is a national programme of research established and funded
by the Department of Health's Research and Development programme. The HTA
programme actively seeks out the questions that meet the NHS's research needs;
commissions research to meet those needs; and communicates the findings to
the NHS and its users. The most recently published monographs include:
i) 03/43/04 A systematic review of the effectiveness of strategies for reducing
the fracture risk in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with additional data
on long-term risk of fracture and cost of disease management
ii) 99/34/07 Does befriending by trained lay workers improve psychological
well-being and quality of life for carers of people with dementia, and at what
cost? A randomised controlled trial
Website: http://www.hta.ac.uk/
Practice Development
13. Five day international practice development residential school,
"Fostering a culture of effectiveness through practice
development"
23 - 27 June 2008, Oxford, England
Fostering a Culture of Effectiveness through Practice Development addresses the
inter-relationship between practice development, effective health care practice,
evaluation, context, culture, leadership and skilled facilitation. The course will
help you to develop skills in facilitating, implementing and evaluating changes in
practice at clinical, unit, department or organisational level.
Contact: Shevaune Fox
Tel: +44 (0) 207 647 3835
Email: shevaune.fox@rcn.org.uk
Disseminating Your Research - Call for papers
14. Royal College of Nursing Intravenous Therapy Forum Conference
18 - 19 November 2008, RCN HQ, London, England, UK
Contact: Pat Anslow, Conference & Events Organiser, RCN Events
Tel: 029 2054 6492
Email: pat.anslow@rcn.org.uk
Website: http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/events
Abstract deadline: 28 March 2008
15.Horatio conference, "European Festival of Psychiatric Nursing.
The age of dialogue."
5 - 9 November 2008, Malta
Contact: Horatio
Email: horatiofestival@gmail.com
Website: http://www.horatio-web.eu/festival-psychiatric-nursing.html
Abstract deadline: 31 March 2008
16. 4th annual international Mixed Methods conference
21 - 24 July 2008, Cambridge, England
Hosted by Anglia Ruskin University Faculty of Health and Social Care, abstracts
are invited from researchers utilising mixed and multi methods in creative ways,
particularly those working within the social sciences, health and education. The
following themes provide the framework for the conference: *Philosophical and
methodological issues; *Real world applications; *Mixing art and science.
Contact: Charlotte Bates
Email: charlotte.bates@anglia.ac.uk
Website: http://www.mixedmethods.org/Home08.html
Abstract deadline: 1 April 2008
17. University of Northampton School of Health international research
conference, "Patients and practitioners committed to excellence
in health care"
9 - 10 September 2008, Northampton, England
This Conference aims to showcase contemporary aspects from health research
and provide interactive opportunities for attendees to develop and engage in the
five focused conference themes: *Methods for Collaborative Research; *User and
Carer Inclusion in Research; *Public Health Research; *Emerging and
Contemporary Methodologies; *Politics and Ethics of Collaborative Research
Contact: Karen Haines
Tel: +44(0)1604 892373
Email: karen.haines@northampton.ac.uk
Website: http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/health/patientandpractitioners
Abstract deadline: 6 May 2008
18.14th international Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research
(NPNR) conference, "Connecting research...connecting people"
1 - 3 October 2008, Oxford, England
Abstracts are invited for concurrent and poster sessions and should fall into one
of the following themes: *Health technologies; *Physical health care; *Acute
care; *Public mental health; *International collaboration: *Doing research opportunities and pathways
Contact: Laura Benfield, RCN Events Co-ordinator
Tel: 020-7647 3591
Email: npnr@rcn.org.uk
Website: http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/events
Abstract deadline: 30 May 2008
Events
19. Royal Society of Medicine meeting, "Competing or
complementing? Changing nursing roles in primary care
19 March 2008, 6-9pm, London, England
Meeting of the General Practice with Primary Health Care Section in Association
with the Royal College of Nursing
Contact: Lauren Wynn, Academic Department, Royal Society of Medicine
Tel: (+44) (0) 20 7290 2987
Email: gp@rsm.ac.uk
Website: www.rsm.ac.uk/gp
20. Douglas Macmillan Hospice and Keele University palliative care
conference, "Cultural diversity in palliative care"
3 April 2008, Blurton, Staffordshire, England
Contact: Douglas MacMillan Hospice
Tel: 01782 344345
Email: education@dmhospice.org.uk
Website: http://www.dmhospice.org.uk/pages/conference.htm
21.NHS R&D Forum Annual Conference 2008
12-13 May 2008, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
The conference will be of benefit to anyone involved in or interested in planning
and managing R&D in the NHS from NHS organisations, industry, research
networks, research consortia, universities, and support units.
Contact: Janet Messer
Tel: 01570 421172
Email: janet.messer@rdforum.vispa.com
Website: http://www.rdforum.nhs.uk/forumevents/annualconference.htm
22. Breast Cancer research 2008 conference
13 May 2008, London, England
Breast Cancer Campaign's one-day conference will cover all aspects of breast
cancer research, from prevention to treatment and beyond. Registration is open
to all individuals with an interest in breast cancer research, not just those funded
by Campaign. Confirmed keynote presentations from: Dennis Slamon, UCLA,
USA, Professor Ashok Venkitaraman, University of Cambridge, Dr Penelope
Hopwood, Christie Hospital, Manchester
Contact: Central Conference Consultants Ltd
Tel: 0115-916 3104
Email: ccclimited@aol.com
Website: http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/whatwedo/researchconference/
23. Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (Edinburgh) courses and
seminars 2008
Seminars
15 May 2008 - "Science & the Media": How to communicate science effectively
with the media. Fiona Fox, Director, Science Media Centre
12 June 2008 - "Regulation of Therapeutic Research is Compromising the
Interests of Patients": Sir Iain Chalmers, James Lind Initiative, Oxford
Courses
16 April 2008 - Statistics for Clinical Researchers (1 day a week over 5 weeks)
17 April 2008 - How to fill out an ethics form - the Integrated Research
Application System
22 April 2008 - How Should I Manage My Research Data?
08 May 2008 - Good Laboratory Practice
22 May 2008 - How to Practice Evidence-Based Healthcare
Contact; Maria Moynihan
Tel: 0131 537 3355
Email: wtcrf.education@ed.ac.uk
Website: http://www.wtcrf.ed.ac.uk/education/