OUH and Brookes collaborate on boosting NMAHP research
12/04/2022
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Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust and the Oxford Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research (OxINMAHR) at Oxford Brookes University have agreed funding for four new posts that will develop research capability and capacity and provide research education and training across the two organisations.
A grant worth over £750,000 from OUH will support recruitment to four new clinical academic posts, which will be the research focal points for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) in each of OUH's four clinical Divisions.
The new roles will support the further development of an evidence-based workforce, help to establish and implement a clinical academic pathway and embed research capability within the OUH workforce.
The new recruits will also deliver research educational programmes, lead internship and fellowship applications, submit collaborative grant bids, and supervise research students.
Prof Helen Walthall, OUH Director of Nursing and Midwifery Research and Innovation, said: "There are strong links between OUH and Oxford Brookes, especially OxINMAHR, and we have been striving to foster a collaborative research environment.
"This grant is a major step forward in our efforts to embed NMAHP research into both organisations. This, in turn, will promote the delivery of evidence-based care, which will lead to better outcomes for our patients. It will also create a dynamic environment where colleagues want to learn and grow."
Prof Paul Carding, Director of OxINMAHR, said: "This grant provides a very exciting opportunity for our partnership to build a sustainable, high-quality healthcare research environment. Our core goal is to produce world-class translational research that will impact upon health and social care delivery and clinical practice."
The four new Divisional research leads, who will split they time between Brookes and OUH, are part of a wider planned expansion of the NMAHP research infrastructure, with the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre providing funding for a Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery Research post.
This is in addition to a senior nurse role to lead research delivery involving NIHR and commercial research nurses across the Trust.
OUH Chief Nursing Officer Sam Foster said: "I'm delighted that we have taken some decisive steps towards strengthening our research infrastructure that will embed leadership in NMAHP research and research delivery within the Trust and OxINMAHR.
"We are determined that nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, who have so much face-to-face contact with patients, are given the support they need to get involved in and lead research that will result in better clinical care."
Image: Oxford Brookes University website