Overcrowding in hospital emergency departments generates headlines and a perception that there is a “crisis” in services. It has a negative impact on staff and patients in the immediate environment and risks compromising the safety of care. There are also knock-on effects such as the widespread cancellation of elective (planned) surgery and has even led […]

A new short film celebrates the impact of involving patients and the public in our work! Some of our valued public contributors, alongside senior and early career CLAHRC researchers reflect on being part of the CLAHRC and look ahead to NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North Thames. #getinvolved #todaysresearchtomorrowscare Reflections from contributors  and researchers below […]

We are accepting applications to our 2019 PhD studentships  Work with world-class researchers, leading universities, the NHS, local authorities, UCLPartners, industry & patients & the public.     We are funded to conduct high quality applied health research, focused on the needs of patients and the public to produce a direct impact on health and the […]

New research published by CLAHRC researchers based at the Queen Mary University of London highlights the value of family and friends being involved in the care of mental health inpatients. The paper, published in BMC Psychiatry details how feasible it was to implement carer involvement in four inpatient wards across East London, and explores the […]

Focus on social care research The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit programme (RfPB) has funded £2.5 million of new research into social care, bolstering NIHR’s commitment to improving social care through high-quality evidence and building capacity for research in this field. Following last year’s successful funding call, the NIHR will be investing in future social care research […]

Are you an NHS lead with an interest in technological innovation? Stay up-to-date with the latest news, products and services, events and opportunities from the innovation team at UCLPartners via a newly launched newsletter. UCLPartners is an academic health science work with partners across research, education and the NHS working to speed up the pathway […]

CLAHRC researcher Professor Gill Livingston among authors of research highlighting benefits of social contact Regular contact with a friend at an older age can stave off dementia New research published in PLOS One has shown the health benefits of being “socially active”. Using data from the WHITEHALL II study, Professor Livingston was among the authors […]

Professor Deborah Swinglehurst is supported by CLAHRC North Thames to investigate polypharmacy – a patient taking two or more medications – which can often mean drugs are prescribed that are not or no longer needed. Professor Swinglehurst’s research investigates how professionals and patients organise polypharmacy, in particular, the use of multi-compartment compliance aids (MCAs or […]

NEON (Nurture Early for Optimal Nutrition) is a participatory female health volunteer-led intervention to promote healthy nutrition in children of Bangladeshi origin in East London, who have a  higher risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease in later life than the average child in the UK. Childhood nutrition can impact adult health status and the […]

CLAHRC researcher Dr Elena Pizzo is featured in a new podcast hosted by the International Journal of Stroke. Dr Pizzo (below) a health economist discusses her work to improve the treatment of stroke patients in the crucial first 24 hours after the condition strikes with Managing Editor of the Journal Carmen Lahiff-Jenkin Ischaemic stroke is […]

New CLAHRC research shows the impact of the “Streams-AKI” app Detection of one of the biggest killers in the NHS – Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) –  has been cut from hours to minutes thanks to the introduction of a new mobile app. Working in partnership with Deepmind and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, […]

Are you tasked with carrying out or commissioning an evaluation, but would appreciate guidance on what questions to ask, what outcomes to look for, or how to plan for an evaluation? This one day, hands-on workshop, run by the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy, addresses these challenges. It is aimed at staff from NHS Trusts, […]

Are you a nurse, allied health professional, public health or local government member of staff who is interested in research or who has had some exposure to research?  Our workshop is suitable for staff from NHS Trusts, CCGs, and Local Authorities who are keen to become involved in research. Engaging in research is a great […]

Do you need to demonstrate the economic impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to assess the outcomes and sustainability of a new service? Are you tasked with carrying out an economic evaluation, but don’t know where to start? This one day, hands-on workshop aims to provide an introduction to addressing these challenges. […]

Over the past five years NIHR CLAHRC North Thames unique partnership of leading universities the NHS and Local Authorities, patients and industry has had a shared commitment to improving health and care and to reducing inequalities. During the course of our work, we have identified the problems that most concern everyone across our patch ranging […]

Government announces £135 million investment in applied health research to equip NHS, public health and social care for the future The funding will tackle the biggest challenges the health and care system faces over the next five years Baroness Nicola Blackwood, Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, visits ARC […]

Clinical leaders across the UK and our region share their priorities It is important that research and innovation focuses on the most important questions and challenges if it is to have the best impact on patients, the health and social care workforce and the NHS. Different areas of the country have different population profiles and […]

What is preventing research with children and young people (CYP) with life-limiting conditions and life-threatening illnesses (LLC/LTI)? Barriers to Research Access: Voices, Experiences and Solutions, or BRAVES is a programme of research aiming to explore the barriers to conducting research and some possible solutions The team recently presented two posters at the 17th World Congress […]

Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programme? Are you tasked with carrying out an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? This one day, hands-on workshop, run by the NIHR CLAHRC NorthThames Academy, addresses these challenges.  It is […]

The life chances and wellbeing of young people are shaped by factors well beyond their immediate home and family life. The communities and neighbourhoods we grow up in play a big part in our development and health, and the quality of life we enjoy – or endure.   ActEarly is a major study launched this […]

New CLAHRC research offers the NHS a great opportunity to better support patients with mental health issues arriving at Emergency Departments. CLAHRC researcher Dr Helen Barratt and colleagues have used NHS data to describe the population of patients who attend Emergency Departments in England, including their sociodemographic characteristics. As part of the first national study […]

Psychological therapies (sometimes referred to as ‘talking therapies’) offer a chance for patients to explore difficulties in a safe and confidential setting. The therapy is delivered by a qualified professional, working in partnership with a patient to help them better understand feelings that arise from their past experiences, and attitudes towards them. Evidence suggests these […]

How does an intervention developed and tested by researchers make its way to the front-line of health care? This is the topic of a new blog by Dr Natalia Lewis, a Research Fellow at Centre for Academic Primary Care in the University of Bristol. Natalia is part of the research team investigating the impact of […]

Professor Chris Griffiths featured on BBC’s the One Show last night talking about the impact of pollution on young lungs. The topical affairs programme ran a feature on the impact of poor air quality on children and young peoples (CYP) development. Professor Griffiths is leading research into the impact of the Capitals’ upcoming Ultra Low […]

Are you a nurse, allied health professional, public health or local government member of staff who is interested in research or who has had some exposure to research?  Our workshop is suitable for staff from NHS Trusts, CCGs, and Local Authorities who are keen to become involved in research. Engaging in research is a great […]

NIHR CLAHRC North Thames is now recruiting to its 2019 PhD studentships. NIHR CLAHRC North Thames is funded to conduct high quality applied health research, focused on the needs of patients and the public to produce a direct impact on health and the way health care and public health is organised and delivered. Led by Professor […]

CLAHRC researchers demonstrate the value of intervention beyond the current recommended 6 hours Ischaemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, occurring when a blood clot blocks an artery cutting blood flow to part of the brain. Stroke can lead to coma, severe disability and eventually death if not treated promptly.  Mechanical clot retrieval […]

Rethinking Cancer UCL Cancer Domain Symposium Monday 13 May 2019 UCL Institute of Education Registration for the inaugural UCL Cancer Domain Symposium is open Cancer remains one of the major causes of morbidity and premature death worldwide; one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer […]

Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programmes? Are you tasked with carrying out an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? Consider enrolling in our four-week online course run by the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy to address […]

We’re delighted to announce our latest research partnership – with the the Bart’s Research Centre for Women’s Health (BARC) . BARC was launched in June 2017 and is led by Professors Shakila Thangaratinam and Khalid Khan. The Centre is funded by Barts Charity and based within Queen Mary University of London at the Whitechapel campus. The centre […]

New CLAHRC research looks at how comorbidities – multiple conditions experienced by patients –  influence referrals to, and outcomes of hip and knee replacement surgery. Taking a 360-degree view of the referral and treatment process our researchers, led by Bélène Podmore, investigated current evidence in this area for patients with multiple conditions undergoing surgery. We examined; […]

CLAHRC research investigating the impact of low emission zones on children’s physical activity and health has been featured on the BBC News CLAHRC North Thames, in collaboration with three other CLAHRCs and a number of other research bodies, is evaluating the effects of London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on children’s physical health and activity. […]

#NHSLongTermPlan  https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/ The NHS Long-term plan published on Monday, January 7th includes extensive commitments to research. The Plan sets out how the £20.5bn annual budget increase promised by prime minister Theresa May will be spent, and sets out priorities and targets for the service for the next ten years. A big focus will be on prevention […]

A new BMJ Quality and Safety editorial by Dr Roman Kislov, Senior Research Fellow at the Alliance Manchester Business School, has highlighted CLAHRC work as an example of successful engagement with management theory by researchers. Dr Kislov’s research focus is the processes and practices of knowledge mobilisation, and his editorial highlights our recent paper on how different NHS […]

The work of CLAHRC researcher Dr Bélène Podmore has been highlighted as “high quality” by the National Institute for Health Research. Bélène’s work, recently published in BMJ Open investigated how having a long-term condition impacts access to and benefit from hip and knee surgery. The research was promoted by NIHR via their “Signals” service. NIHR Signals summarise […]

CLAHRC researchers highlight potential to use patient-reported outcomes for emergency admissions. Patient-reported outcome measures or PROMs are a well-established method of capturing the views of NHS patients, allowing the service to assess the quality of care delivered, from the patient perspective. PROMs use pre- and post-operative surveys completed by patients to calculate their health gains […]

Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programme? Are you tasked with carrying out an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? This one day, hands-on workshop, run by the NIHR CLAHRC NorthThames Academy, addresses these challenges.  It is […]

Women who experience domestic violence and abuse (DVA) are more than twice as likely to seek emergency contraception as other women, according to a study by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded researchers at the University of Bristol and Queen Mary University of London, suggesting that requests for emergency contraception could be an important sign […]

Dr Werner Leber, an East London GP with a passion for driving earlier identification and diagnosis of HIV, has seen his work recognised by the European agency responsible for the continent’s defences against infectious disease – the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Dr Leber (above) is a practising GP in Tower Hamlets as […]

Healthcare systems around the world are becoming more concerned with strengthening board level governance of quality. In England, national healthcare regulators are developing approaches, resources and interventions aimed at supporting senior hospital leaders in their role in the governance of quality. New CLAHRC research investigates the organisational response to an improvement intervention in six hospital […]

Within the UK, 32 out of every 10,000 children are living with a life-limiting condition or life-threatening illness (LLC/ LTI). Research, from genetic studies to drug trials is vital to improving care for these children and their families, but the inclusion of this vulnerable population into research studies has been difficult. Barriers to Research Access: Voices, […]

Local research bodies join forces with patient partners to deliver an introduction to research We ran our Becoming Research Active course on November 14th offering our partners in front-line care a primer in research and the research process. CLAHRC North Thames Academy collaborated with other NIHR funded research organisations in the region – the Clinical Research Network and […]

Young Commissioners residential training for Dudley Council Integrated Commissioning hub, 2-4 November 2019 The “Young Commissioner” model – which sees children and young people work with funders and planners of local services to ensure they meet the needs of those in their age group  – is gaining traction among local authorities and the NHS. CLAHRC North Thames […]

February 27, 2019 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Do you need to demonstrate the economic impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to assess the outcomes and sustainability of a new service? Are you tasked with carrying out an economic evaluation, but don’t know where to start? This one day, hands-on workshop aims to […]

A new publication highlights our work in evaluating a new patient pathway with the potential to provide clinicians with real-time data on inpatients at risk of Acute Kidney Injury. AKI is common (affecting up to 20% of UK acute hospital admissions);  associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and expensive – excess costs to the NHS […]

We’ve been working with young people to transform how local health diabetes services are designed and delivered for their age group. CLAHRC researchers based at the University of East London worked with local young people to understand the options and barriers they face when given a diagnosis of diabetes and using NHS services. We recruited […]

Most of us have experienced the benefits of having strong and positive social relationships. We also know that a lack of these can lead to social isolation and loneliness – which are connected to illness and early death. We know less about how social connections can influence our use of preventive health care services, such as screening, […]

Patient Research Ambassadors needed to promote health research from a patient point of view We have teamed up with colleagues at the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) to support their Patient Research Ambassador (PRA) initiative. The Network is looking for patients, carers, and members of the public who have taken part in research and who are […]

CLAHRC researcher Professor Jonathan Grigg is among leading doctors, public health professionals and organizations launching a new global advocacy group to mobilize clinicians and public health professionals to advocate for clean air policies. Inspire: Health Advocates for Clean Air (www.inspirecleanair.org) was launched in The Hague last week Professor of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine at […]

A major new paper in the Lancet highlights rates of premature mortality that are two times higher in the most deprived areas of England (Blackpool) compared to most affluent (Wokingham). Dr Harry Rutter, Clinical Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was among the prominent experts in the field who authored […]

Black elders dismiss the warning signs of dementia until the condition becomes too severe to ignore or a crisis strikes. They are also less likely to receive a diagnosis of their condition, resulting in delayed treatment andless time to plan for the future. Our latest BITE – a summary of published CLAHRC research provides an […]

The concept of knowledge co-production is used in health services research to describe partnerships (which can involve researchers, practitioners, managers, commissioners or service users) with the purpose of creating, sharing and negotiating different knowledge types used tomake improvements in health services. The CLAHRC has researchers “embedded” in a number of our partner organisations in the […]

One to one nursing, or specialling is a way of caring for patients by providing continuous observation (by “sitters”) for an individual for a period of time during acute physical or mental illness. Some patients need more than a general level of observation on a ward, often with the primary aim of reducing risk and […]

Preventer inhalers (inhaled corticosteroids) are a common medication for asthma, and people get the full benefit of the medication by taking their prescribed doses correctly. We know many patients struggle to take enough doses effectvely, which impacts their ability to manage the condition. Could pharmacists hold the key to helping patients take medicines effectively and […]

We joined forces with the other two London CLAHRCs to deliver a career development conference for researchers on October 4th. Read the blog below reflecting on a successful event….  

New knowledge generated by our research impacts commissioning and funding decisions on welfare advice Our work to investigate the impact of locating welfare advisers in GP surgeries is bearing fruit as the new knowledge and evidence we have generated is influencing commissioning decisions for these services across London and beyond. We know that a significant […]

CLAHRC researchers enjoyed success at the recent Public Health England Annual Conference in Warwick. They were among the authors of an award winning poster representing our partnership work with Islington Council. We are working with the borough as it seeks to link NHS data with its own datasets to build a clearer picture of  local […]

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has launched a programme to improve the self-management of asthma by school children in the Capital. My Asthma in School was developed by CLAHRC researchers based at the Blizard Institute within Queen Mary University of London. The programme uses educational workshops and theatre performance to improve asthma control and […]

Background A common surgical treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is called Endovascular Aneurysm Repair, or “EVAR”. EVAR uses wires and catheters to insert a stent graft inside the aorta to divert blood away from the aneurysm. EVAR has good short term outcomes, including low complication rates during surgery and shortly after. However, there is […]

Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programme? Are you tasked with carrying out an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? This one day, hands-on workshop, run by the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy, addresses these challenges.  It […]

Our partners at the NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) are offering a series of free workshops for researchers who want to develop skills in patient and public involvement (PPI) in research. The workshops, supported by the Wellcome Trust and open to researchers working in UCLPartners partnership organisations, are practical and the aim […]

Developing your career in applied health and care research – challenges and opportunities Thursday 4 October 2018 from 09.00 to 17.00 Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HUhttp://www.profbriefings.co.uk/nihrclahrc2018/index.html Early career researchers (ECRs) face many challenges as they set out on their journey into health and social care research, and must prepare […]

Are you a nurse, allied health professional, public health or local government member of staff who is interested in research or who has had some exposure to research? Our workshop is suitable for staff from NHS Trusts, NHS CCGs, and Local Authorities who are keen to become involved in research. Engaging in research is a […]

Are you a nurse, allied health professional, public health or local government member of staff who is interested in research or who has had some exposure to research?  Our workshop is suitable for staff from NHS Trusts, NHS CCGs, and Local Authorities who are keen to become involved in research. Engaging in research is a […]

Congratulations were in order for CLAHRC researcher Meredith Hawking after her poster won a prize at the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Academic Primary Care at the Barbican Centre, London. The prestigious SAPC event brings together researchers and educators from the primary care community in the UK and around the world to showcase their […]

As part of a series of blogs from prominent members of the research community CLAHRC Director Professor Rosalind Raine pays tribute to Michael Marmot, who has consistently and eloquently pointed out the unequal distribution of the social determinants of health. Professor Raine’s piece in the British Medical Journal, the last of a series of”research legends” […]

What is the role of evidence in decisions about introducing or spreading innovations in health care? Faced with a myriad range of innovations – in technology, medicine, ways of working and in organising services what do those who plan and commission services have to call on?  We know that a range of evidence informs healthcare […]

Current debates on the NHS workforce include discussions on the best balance between specialists – with highly specialised skills who are brilliant at doing a small number of things extremely well and generalists –  who can do a wider range of things in less depth Rising multimorbidity, an ageing population, and the increasing specialisation of medical […]

Do you need to demonstrate the economic impact of projects in your organisations? Do you want to assess the outcomes and sustainability of a new service? Are you tasked with carrying out an economic evaluation, but don’t know where to start?   This one day, hands-on workshop aims to provide an introduction to addressing these […]

New CLAHRC research highlights a simple intervention that could improve detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) – a potentially dangerous heart condition affecting a million people in the UK and associated with 1 in 8 strokes (1 in 3 strokes among those aged over 80 years). East London GP and CLAHRC researcher Dr John Robson led an […]

As we reflect on five years of CLAHRC research, and look forward to the transition to their successor – Applied Research Collaborations (or ARCs) – we welcomed staff and patient and public contributors from CLAHRC South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC) – for a learning exchange visit on July 4th. The meeting was a follow up to our […]

What triggers asthma symptoms? Can you identify celebrities who live with the condition? How much lung capacity do you have? These were just some of the questions we asked visitors to our stall at the 2018 Barts and Queen Mary Science Festival held at Queen Mary University of London’s Mile End campus on 20 June. The […]

The CLAHRC was represented at the annual University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) research open day held on July 5th at the hospital. The 2018 edition of the event had special significance in the year we celebrate the NHS’ 70th birthday. We were one of over 30 stalls at the event, which celebrates […]

Does your organisation encounter problems with patient flow? Are you interested in forecasting demand or capacity planning but don’t know where to start? Do you want to learn some common pitfalls, principles and rules of thumb that might help you?   This one day, hands-on workshop is an introduction to demand, capacity and flow aimed […]

GPs are often faced with patients seeking help and advice on non-clinical issues such as debt, unemployment and housing. Though these issues undoubtedly impact patients’ health and wellbeing, health professionals are not always the best qualified people to tackle them. We investigated the impact of putting welfare advice, and welfare advisers in GP surgeries on […]

We recently collaborated with colleagues at Peninsula CLAHRC to deliver a successful ‘Beyond Searching’ course. Members of the PenCLAHRC Evidence Synthesis Team (EST) travelled to London to work with CLAHRC North Thames’ Dr Antonio Rojas–Garcia in delivering the workshop to 19 librarians from the NHS and various universities. Beyond Searching was devised 5 years ago by members of the EST […]

After 70 years, does the NHS have a future?       Never a week goes by without claims of another ‘crisis’ engulfing the NHS: insufficient resources, dispirited staff, poor safety, waiting times, inadequate social care and more. To mark the 70th birthday of the NHS, our colleagues at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical […]

New CLAHRC research has highlighted a lack of guidance for health and social professionals who encounter children exposed to domestic violence. Around one in five children in the UK have been exposed to domestic violence or abuse between their parents or caregivers. Children can be directly impacted – leading to emotional and behavioural problems and […]

Shutterstock Natalia Lewis, University of Bristol Around one in five children in the UK have been exposed to domestic violence or abuse between their parents or caregivers. When adults are involved in an abusive relationship, their children bear the consequences. The effects of domestic violence on a child can range from emotional and behavioural problems […]

Part of the CLAHRC’s mission is to raise awareness of new research evidence, and get it to the front-line where it can used by NHS staff. We are working with our host Trust NHS Bart’s Health to translate the new knowledge we generate into everyday practice among NHS professionals. Bart’s Education Academy has developed an eCPD […]

CLAHRC researcher Dr Jean Ledger is being honoured for an outstanding research paper on how health care organisations use management knowledge. Dr Ledger is one of the authors of ‘The Silent Politics of Temporal Work: A Case Study of a Management Consultancy Project to Redesign Public Health Care’ which has won the 2017 Urwick Prize, […]

“Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) can often be something bolted on to research in a way that fits with the existing research plan. This makes research much easier to press ahead with, as the conflicting and changing opinions of the public do not need to change the planned course of progression.  Unusual then, that PPI was considered […]

Using patient information How will this be operated? Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) is a national programme designed to improve care for patients within the NHS, by reducing unwarranted variations. Our evaluation of the NHS Getting it Right First Time programme could not happen without access to patients’ data and this will play a […]

The inaugural London-wide Brian Turley Patient and Carer Involvement Awards took place at the NIHR CLAHRC North West London Spring Collaborative Learning Event on the 26th April 2018. The awards, presented by Simon Denegri (below centre), National Director for Patients and Public in Health Research, celebrate and promote patient and carer involvement in healthcare research […]

CLAHRC researchers based at Queen Mary University working to positively transform the health of young people have launched the My health in school initiative and website. ‘My Health in School’ aims to support young people’s health via school-based projects. The My health in school team (below) also includes researchers and communications experts from Queen Mary University […]

The misuse of and addiction to opioids, including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, has been labelled “a serious national crisis” in the US affecting public health as well as social and economic welfare. The US opioid epidemic has yet to cross the Atlantic to the United Kingdom. But why has opioid […]

The impact of delayed discharge—defined as ‘the period of continued hospital stay after a patient is deemed medically fit to leave hospital but is unable to do so for non-medical reasons’— is an important problem for health-care providers internationally. Costs to the National Health Service (NHS) in England associated with delayed discharge are approximately £100m […]

Two National Institute for Health Research funded PhD studentships available The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames and the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR) based at UCL invite applications for two jointly-funded 3-year PhD studentships at UCL to begin September 2018. […]

The votes are cast and the results are in – the winners of the inaugural London wide Brian Turley Patient and Carer Involvement Awards have been selected! The Awards were created in memory of Brian Turley (pictured below) , a dedicated and committed patient advocate and disability rights campaigner who worked closely with our colleagues […]

The future of the NHS is a massive issue and always at the top of the public agenda. While the Service is the topic of fierce debate at election times, and is often used as a political football to criticise or discredit opponents, the need for a longer-term more considered view is vital to help […]

There are big variations in care for people receiving orthopedic services in the NHS –  orthopedics covers conditions involving the musculoskeletal system including hip and knee replacement surgery. We are evaluating the Getting it Right First Time programme – or GIRFT – which aims to improve services and make sure people get more consistent care […]

Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programmes? Are you tasked with carrying out an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? Consider enrolling in our four-week online course run by the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy to address […]

The findings of the joint CLAHRC West and CLAHRC North Thames study of the IRIS ADViSE pilot, which aimed to improve sexual health professionals’ response to women who have experienced domestic violence, are now available as a CLAHRC BITE. Women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse (DVA) are three times more likely to have […]

Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programmes? Are you tasked with carrying out an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? This one day, hands-on workshop, run by the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy, addresses these challenges. It […]

Are you a nurse, allied health professional, public health or local government member of staff who is interested in research or who has had some exposure to research*? Our new workshop is suitable for staff from NHS Trusts, NHS CCGs, and Local Authorities who are keen to become involved in research. Engaging in research is […]

Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programmes? Are you tasked with carrying out an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? Consider enrolling in our four-week online course run by the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy to address […]

There are big variations in care for people receiving orthopedic services in the NHS –  orthopedics covers conditions involving the musculoskeletal system including hip and knee replacement surgery. We are evaluating the Getting it Right First Time programme – or GIRFT – which aims to improve services and make sure people get more consistent care […]

CLAHRC North Thames has joined forces with colleagues at PenCLAHRC to bring their successful ‘Searching and Beyond’ workshop developed by information professionals for information professionals to London. Systematic reviews are an essential component of evidence based health care and the number being undertaken is increasing. PenCLAHRC’s  popular workshop has been redesigned with an exciting new online […]

We’re delighted to announce our latest research partnership – with the the Bart’s Research Centre for Women’s Health (BARC) . BARC was launched in June 2017 and is led by Professors Shakila Thangaratinam and Khalid Khan. The Centre is funded by Barts Charity and based within Queen Mary University of London at the Whitechapel campus. The centre […]

Islington Council, Islington Clinical Commissioning Group, North East London Commissioning Support Unit, and the CLAHRC,  have been granted an award for a project which aims to create a linked data-set between NHS and a local government data for households across Islington. Local authorities hold data on their residents in terms of social care, housing, early […]

CLAHRC North Thames PhD Marissa Mes enjoyed success at the prestigious Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research (AUK CAR). Marissa won best poster presentation when she showcased her work to delegates during the conference (below)  – her research focus is assessing whether pharmacists are a suitable delivery channel for an […]

A new piece in Open Access Government highlights the scale and scope of the work of our funder the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) In its role as the “research arm of the NHS” the NIHR’s mission is to improve both the health and wealth of the UK by means of research. A piece by Jonathan […]

CLAHRC researcher Dr Victoria Wood is among those presenting at an upcoming conference on “nurse specialing” – the continuous presence of a member of the nursing team for a single patient. Registration is now open for the event on Friday February 9th, hosted by our partners at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Some patients admitted […]

The end of any year sees a number of “best of” charts published and research is no exception! We’re delighted to report that a paper produced by the CLAHRC’s Dr Werner Leber and Professor Chris Griffiths and others is 2017’s most downloaded in The Lancet HIV. Dr Werner ‘s groundbreaking work represents the first time a model […]

Our friends and colleagues at Barts Health NHS Trust are hosting some great new free training for researchers interested in involving patients and the public in their work. New dates for 2018 have been added to this annual series of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) workshops for researchers, funded by the Wellcome Trust, supported by […]

CLAHRC Director Professor Rosalind Raine has been invited to be part of a major new independent inquiry considering the future of the NHS. Professor Raine joins the Future of the NHS Commission which launched on November 30th and is organised by the London School of Economics and The Lancet. It will investigate and report on options […]

CLAHRC behaviour change researchers and PhDs Caroline Katzer and Marissa Mes were a big hit at the recent in ESPACOMP conference in Budapest Hungary. Caroline and Marissa presented to an audience of clinicians and allied health professionals interested in adherence ESPACOMP (European Society for Patient Adherence, COMpliance and Persistence) promotes science concerned with the assessment of […]

Three CLAHRC researchers were among those presenting their work at the Lancet’s prestigious event Public Health Science: A National Conference Dedicated to New Research in UK Public Health held in London on November 24th. Each of the CLAHRC’s researchers presented a poster about their work, and the topics highlight the breadth of our research. Their abstracts are […]

A new Government green paper offers good news for those calling for joined up care between schools and local mental health services for children and young people. For the first time the Government is formally recognising, and backing the role of schools as a platform for mental health services, encouraging education and the NHS to […]

Health economics and economic evaluations of care are a key theme within our CLAHRC, and the subject of one of our successful Academy short course for front-line NHS and Public health professionals. CLAHRC researcher and health economist Dr Elena Pizzo gave a lecture at the Royal Society of Medicines September event – the ‘4th breast […]

Decision-makers in public health can be confronted with a huge volume of data, evidence, reviews and summaries – from local and national sources. There is also an acknowledged gap between evidence and policy in public health. In a recent blog on the EPPI centre website CLAHRC researchers Dylan Kneale and Antonio Rojas-García reflect on their work exploring […]

We have been reaching out to colleagues in local authorities and public health departments to highlight the value of research evidence in improving health and well being among local populations. The CLAHRC is forging useful links with our partners in local councils, bridging the gap between research and the front line. Local authorities are a […]

We recently went on a “learning exchange” visit to our friends and colleagues at NIHR CLAHRC South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC). It was a chance for researchers, staff and patient and public contributors from both CLAHRCs to meet each other. We also took advantage of the combined expertise and experience of the assembled group to look […]

CLAHRC North Thames has joined colleagues at CLAHRC North West London (NWL) and CLAHRC South London to present the Brian Turley Awards for Patient and Carer Involvement Winners have been announced! Click here to see who the winners and runners up were in each category The three London CLAHRCS are proud to present these awards, created to […]

CLAHRC researcher Dr Lorelei Jones has been invited to deliver a seminar on the role of clinical leaders on NHS boards in quality improvement (QI). The Health Services Research Centre is a leading authority on health care management and has invited Lorelei as part of their prestigious events series. The poster below gives an overview […]

Professor Jonathan Grigg, a practicing pediatrician who leads our Child Health theme has outlined the dangers of air pollution underground. Millions of the Capital’s tube users are unaware of the greatly increased density of air, and much higher levels of harmful pollutants on the subway system compared to what they breathe above ground. See Professor […]

On Tuesday September 26th CLAHRC North Thames’ public and patient partners took part in a learning exchange visit to Peninsula CLAHRC (PenCLAHRC). The trip to PenCLAHRC’s Exeter office was part of our wider efforts to make connections with other CLAHRCs, especially those serving different populations in settings different from ours. A delegation of CLAHRC North […]

Professor Monica Lakhanpaul, Principal Investigator on our NEON study has successfully applied for funding to develop a major research programme addressing the needs of women and children in India. Professor Lakhanpaul (pictured below) is leading an application in respond to a call supported by a number of organisations from the UK and India (see below) […]

In Control Based on findings from research previously conducted by the school-based asthma project, part of our Child and Adolescent Health Theme, the team have worked with Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre to develop a theatre production addressing asthma control. The theatre piece In Control has been performed in schools since June 2017, and […]

Still time to tell us your experience of how innovation is adopted in the NHS We need your views; complete the DECIDE Survey by September 30th Decisions in health Care to Introduce or Diffuse Innovations using Evidence (or DECIDE) – is a major study investigating the role of evidence in decisions to introduce innovation. We are seeking the views of […]

Pinkie Chambers, a senior pharmacist at UCLH and former CLAHRC HEE NCEL Fellow is celebrating success in securing a prestigious NIHR Fellowship award. After spending a year with the CLAHRC to hone her research skills, and against stiff competition, Pinkie secured a Doctoral Research Fellowship (DRF), which offers 3 years full-time funding (or 4 or […]

We need your views; complete the DECIDE Survey Decisions in health Care to Introduce or Diffuse Innovations using Evidence (or DECIDE) is a two year study funded by the Health Foundation to investigate the role of evidence in decisions to introduce innovation. This survey is asking for your views about different types of evidence that are used when […]

Our recently published research on the cost-effectiveness of screening for HIV in primary care has caused a great deal of interest and widespread media coverage. We have produced a BITE sized summary of the paper with the headline findings and links to further information of interest. The research, published in The Lancet HIV, represents the first time […]

Our Behind the Jump video is impacting young people with asthma. Our asthma schools study worked with Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre (GLYPT) to produce the short asthma awareness film shot at the LEAP Parkour Park in Westminster, London. A recent comment has high praise for the film “The timing of the release of this […]

CLAHRC PhD student Ryan Palmer enjoyed success at the recent prestigious Health Services Research UK conference in Nottingham. Ryan (pictured above) is a Health Foundation Improvement Science PhD Student working under the primary supervision of Professor Martin Utley. His research, part of our Methodological Innovation theme, focuses on patient flow between community and hospital services […]

New CLAHRC research published in The Lancet HIV has found that offering HIV testing to people on registration with a new GP in areas of high prevalence of the disease is cost-effective and will save lives. Researchers based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) carried […]

The Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme has completed a review of general surgery and stated that the NHS could see a significant reduction in the amount of people unnecessarily admitted for emergency general surgery if more acute hospitals introduced consultant-led surgical assessments at their ‘front door’. Analysis by the GIRFT team shows this […]

Sarah Robertson is a PhD student with funding from the NIHR Collaborations in Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care. Sarah is currently supervised by Professor Gill Livingston, Dr Claudia Cooper & Dr Juanita Hoe. The MARQUE project In 2012, the UK government announced that in the face of “one of the biggest health challenges […]

Media coverage of the use of statins to prevent cardiovascular disease, of Tamiflu to treat flu and of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer have opened up public debate about medical and scientific claims. CLAHRC researcher and leader of our behaviour change theme Professor Rob Horne (pictured below) has helped produce new resources for […]

Training clinicians to proactively ask patients about domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is feasible for sexual health clinics to implement and could increase referrals to specialist services, according to a joint CLAHRC North Thames/CLAHRC West study led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the University of Bristol involving over 4,300 women. […]

The NHS generates huge amounts of data but using it to track patient flow and pathways of care requires sophisticated mathematical modelling. CLAHRC PhD student, Ryan Palmer, is “embedded” within one of our partner organisations – North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) – where part of his work involves offering support and guidance to managers and staff interested in […]

Research Assistant Moïse Roche enjoyed success at the recent prestigious Health Services Research UK conference in Nottingham. A poster outlining Moise’s work, as part of our Improving care of people with memory problems in Black African and Caribbean groups study won the People’s Poster Prize at the event – as voted by attendees. Congratulations to Moïse!

The National Institute for Health Research are asking for comments and ideas on some draft standards for involving people in research. Help us improve draft national standards for public involvement in research Invitation to review and improve draft national standards for public involvement in research Consultation: draft national standards for public involvement in research During 2016/17, Health and […]

July 4th saw more than 100 policymakers, clinicians, researchers, representatives from charities, and patients and service users gathered at the House of Lords to celebrate the important applied health research being undertaken across London. All of the research showcased at the event took place within the three NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research […]

Palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and life-threatening illnesses is a relatively new discipline, and one where current practice in services has developed beyond the evidence base available. Barriers to conducting research in this area are numerous, and span the entire length of the research process. CLAHRC researchers from the BRAVES […]

A new report from healthcare think tank the King’s Fund sets out progress in delivering the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme deliver improvements in quality and reductions in the cost of orthopaedic care in England. Tackling variations in clinical care Assessing the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme gives an overview of the […]

The CLAHRC Academy held its latest installment of the popular Introduction to Evaluation workshop on Tuesday 13 June.   With 28 delegates from a wide range of NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and CCGs, there was in-depth discussion and engagement around all aspects of the evaluation process. Throughout the day, delegates applied what they had learnt to […]

CLAHRC PhD Sarah Robertson is focusing on the quality of life of people living with dementia. Part of Sarah’s work compares the perspective of paid and family carers in quality of life. In a blog published on the Economic and Social Research Council website Sarah discusses the views of care home staff and relatives.  

Our friends at the NIHR North Thames Clinical Research Network are organising an exciting free event on Saturday June 10th at St Thomas’s Hospital Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/R9kFVU1Y7o62 Its your chance to find out what research is going on in your area, and how you can get involved. You can also watch a film about involving patients and […]

Embedding innovation in the NHS: patient, practice and system perspectives 22nd June 2017, 12-4.30pm Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, Kings Cross, London WC1H 9HU   This half-day workshop will bring together a diverse audience for lively debate and discussion about current practice in the UK’s health care innovation landscape. The workshop is a response to […]

Congratulations go out to Jennifer Martin, who has had an image she took in India chosen to represent the UCL India Voices project in 2017. A PhD student with the Nurture Early for Optimal Nutrition (NEON) project, Jennifer took the picture while conducting research with women in Mumbai. After submitting it to a UCL photography […]

A new CLAHRC publication offers valuable insight into the types of evidence used by decision-makers working in public health. In 2013, responsibility for public health services and planning shifted from the “health” boundary to local authority control. These services can range from health checks to open access sexual health. CLAHRC researchers examined English local public […]

Each year, the International Clinical Trials Day is celebrated around the world on or near the 20th of May in order to celebrate the day that James Lind started his famous trial on the 20th of May 1747. On Wednesday 24 May this year, Barts Health NHS Trust (in association with Queen Mary University of […]

Proving that there is always value in involving patients and the public in research, however complex and technical the topic may be, the CLAHRC’s lay document reviewers have been acknowledged in a prestigious British Medical Journal paper. CLAHRC patient and public partners who make up our “virtual” panel of reviewers were involved in producing an academic […]

A project under our mental health theme focuses on improving the care of Black African and Caribbean people with memory problems, which can be an early warning sign for dementia. We know that Black African and Caribbean elders develop dementia earlier, and seek help later than their white peers. This delay can greatly impact access […]

School-based interventions to increase health and wellbeing The health and wellbeing of school children is a pressing concern in England, with a  growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in childhood. It is also widely recognised that a child’s emotional health and wellbeing influences their cognitive development and learning, as well as their physical and social health and […]

The London Evening Standard features CLAHRC research in a story on the impact of air pollution on the capital’s younger asthma sufferers. Our newly published research highlights poor asthma control and knowledge among London secondary school pupils and is referenced in the piece, which also includes contributions from CLAHRC researchers Professor Jonathan Grigg and Kate Harris. The […]

Newly published CLAHRC research has revealed that nearly half of secondary school pupils living with asthma have sub-optimal control of their condition and gaps in knowledge around symptoms, triggers and treatments. The findings, published in the Journal of Asthma,  emerged from the results of nearly 800 pupils from across London schools completing questionnaires incorporating the […]

On 22 March, the NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy held its first face-to-face course of 2017, with a workshop on Economic Evaluation held by Professor Stephen Morris, Dr Elena Pizzo, Dr Estela Capelas Barbosa, Nishma Patel and Nicholas Swart, all from UCL. The workshop was oversubscribed, and on the day, we had 28 participants with […]

The CLAHRC bought some patient and public perspective to a recent academic event on collaboration in research. We were invited to the prestigious UCL Qualitative Health Research Symposium which this year focused on effective partnerships in research under the title Engagement, Co-production, and Collaborative Meaning-Making: Collaboration in Qualitative Health Research. As well as cooperation between […]

  The NIHR CLAHRC North Thames Academy has just opened applications for its next short course – Introduction to Evaluation, to be held on June 13, 2017. Do you need to demonstrate the impact of projects in your organisation? Do you want to improve the design and implementation of your programmes? Are you tasked with […]

Physiotherapist and CLAHRC HEE NCEL Fellow Emma Dunphy has been successful in her application for a prestigious Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Emma’s proposed research will develop an E-Health intervention to improve rehabilitation for anterior cruciate ligament injuries. After spending a year with the CLAHRC on our fellowship scheme honing […]

The Doctors Against Diesel campaign that was launched in December 2016 and has already received widespread media coverage with ongoing interest from the health community, local government and media. The campaign is led by health professionals and is calling for the use of diesel fuels to be banned in urban areas and progressively phased out elsewhere. On February 22nd the CLAHRC’s […]

CLAHRC Researcher Professor Jonathan Grigg has been part of the ever largest study of the effects of a biomass-fuelled cookstove intervention on health outcomes. The intervention comprising two biomass-fuelled cookstoves, a solar charger, repair and maintenance service, and user training. Many people in low- and middle-income countries do not have access to reliable energy sources […]

Our Asthma Schools project is investigating asthma control among young people in schools and developing interventions to help them manage the condition better. The project worked with Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre (GLYPT) to produce a short film – Behind the Jump – about the importance of asthma awareness among young people. It carries […]

Children and young people are a key population for everyone working in the NHS and Public Health. Involving them in commissioning and designing services makes for more appropriate care that’s more likely to be taken up by those who need it Our ground-breaking diabetes project worked with young people impacted by the condition in east London – we trained young co-inquirers in research skills so they could […]

A recent conference gave our Patient and Public Involvement Officer Steven Towndrow, joined by one of patient/public contributors Sudhir the chance to spread the word about involving patients and the public in research. We were invited to deliver a workshop on Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPI/E) by the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research […]

Our innovative Nurture Early for Optimal Nutrition (NEON) project has made the headlines..in India!. The project is exploring whether a South Asian model proven to promote healthy nutrition in children can “travel” successfully to the UK and help children of Bangladeshi origin in East London.Professor Monica Lakhanpaul is leading the project and spoke to The Goan […]

Dr Golnar Aref-Adib has produced a fantastic video about health related internet use amongst people with experience of psychosis. The short film won joint first prize in the prestigious NIHR new media competition. Click on the image below to watch Lets go Digital

Helping NHS Trusts develop their quality strategies Quality and quality improvement are now recognised as imperative for all NHS organisations in England. A recent workshop brought together leaders of six NHS Trusts to develop their organisation-wide quality improvement strategies. QUASER (Quality and Safety in European Union Hospitals) is a research-based tool senior hospital leadership teams can […]

Wednesday, January 11th, 2017 How can training in research methods for front line NHS and public health staff be made more accessible and convenient? How do you translate a face-to-face course to an online learning resource? Dr Helen Barratt (Deputy Director of the CLAHRC Academy) shared her experience of taking a successful face-to-face course and transforming […]

November saw the CLAHRC hold its biggest engagement event so far with a major research showcase event at Hamilton House in central London. We invited our partners from across the NHS, local government and the voluntary sector, offering them the chance to meet researchers and find out more about what we do in a relaxed […]

Professor Lakhanpaul (pictured above third from left) is one of three international collaborations based at UCL to receive Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) awards, in recognition of research partnerships improving health in low and middle income countries. Professor Lakhanpaul is Deputy Lead for our Child Health research theme, and leads our NEON study – a […]

Wednesday, January 11th, 2017 How can training in research methods for front-line NHS and public health staff be made more accessible and convenient? How do you translate a face-to-face course to an online learning resource? Dr Helen Barratt (Deputy Director of the CLAHRC Academy) shared her experience of taking a successful face-to-face course and transforming it […]

Our school asthma project is working with parents teachers and pupils from schools across to improve the ways in which schools can support young people with asthma. The CLAHRC is working with young people to develop a suite of resources to encourage open discussion of the condition and improve understanding among peers. This includes a […]

CLAHRC researchers have heard first-hand perceptions and beliefs among Black adults that prevent them from approaching their GP when they have concerns about memory problems – an early indicator of dementia. Focus groups and interviews revealed five main beliefs and perceptions preventing people’s seeking help for dementia: • Forgetfulness is not indicative of dementia • Dementia is not an illness […]

NIHR CLAHRC North Thames welcomed over 40 leaders and board members from our partner organisations and beyond for a seminar focusing on the Role of Boards in Quality Improvement. We welcomed Tim Melville-Ross CBE, Chair, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust who chaired the event , drawing on his long experience on boards in both […]

This CLAHRC North Thames workshop held on 13th January 2015 at BMA House, brought together over 40 clinicians, commissioners, individuals from the voluntary sector and patient representatives to stimulate learning about delivering and evaluating quality improvement in primary care. Professor Elizabeth Murray, UCL Professor of e-health and Primary Care, presented evidence from a review on […]

A new case study details how young people played their part in improving diabetes services in East London. The document outlines the origins of a “Young Commissioner” scheme to help ensure diabetes serves for children and young people were redesigned to be more appropriate and acceptable to young people in the borough of Newham. It […]

As part of our engagement with the public Dr Linda Pomeroy presented the CLAHRC’s  iQUASER study at a recent Bart’s Health research evening. The event gave us a chance to showcase the project which is evaluating the impact of implementing QUASER – a Board-level intervention NHS Trust leaders can use to diagnoses the strengths and […]

A project under our Innovations in systems and models of health and health care theme is looking at the effectiveness of interventions in general practice to manage one of the UK’s biggest long-term conditions – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Innovations to improve pathway for people with COPD project is evaluating what works to […]