Introduction

Summary of connecting to communities through research

What this plan is for

This is a plan to enable more people to:

  • Take part in research in Nottingham
  • Benefit from the new treatments, therapies and technology that are developed becauseof the research we do in Nottingham
  • Have trust in the research we do in Nottingham

Why we need this plan

Research is one of the most important ways that we can improve your health, your NHS services and save more lives.

Research can help to find the answers, but only if more of us agree to take part. More people taking part means more information, better answers.

Our hospitals, GP surgeries and clinics are treating thousands of patients every day, but only about 1% of those people take part in research. We need to connect to more of the 99% so our research can work with their information.

We know from talking to patients and to people who aren’t receiving any care at all, that we have to do better to make our research something that you can trust, that you can take part in and that will solve the health problems that are most important to you.

How this plan will change things

Over the next five years (this plan started in the year 2022/23) we are going to make things better for you by doing these things:

•    Build our own skills and knowledge to understand our communities better

•    Work with young people

•    Involve you in doing research

•    Do more research closer to you

•    Work with other organisations who also do research.

Who we are

This plan has been developed though the Research & Innovation Department of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH). It talks about the clinical research that takes place in our hospitals and also about the centres of research excellence hosted by NUH and which are funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR):

  • NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) which translates new scientific discoveries into new medicines, therapies and technology for use in the NHS. It is a partnership between NUH and the University of Nottingham, supported by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and our wider NHS, academic and industry partners.
  • NIHR Nottingham Clinical Research Facility (CRF) which supports the delivery and development of experimental medicine research. It's the first step to developing new treatments for use in the NHS
  • NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Rehabilitation, bringing together expertise from the NHS, universities, industry, patients and the public to develop new medical technology solutions for people of all ages affected by the impact of trauma, surgery and serious illness