NHS staff across north-west London showcased their research work and projects at an event to celebrate their achievements.

The 2024 North West London Research Symposium took place earlier this month at the Royal Geographical Society. It is aimed at nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacy staff, psychologists and clinical research practitioners (NMAHPPs) who are engaged or interested in research. 

Now in its tenth year, the symposium provides a unique opportunity for NMAHPP clinicians to meet, network and learn from the collective research experience of colleagues working across north-west London.   

Co-chair Professor Mary Wells, Deputy Director of Nursing Research at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Professor of Practice in Cancer Nursing at Imperial College London and key member of the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), said: 

“Research is essential for improving patient care, experiences and outcomes. Nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacy staff, psychologists and clinical research practitioners (NMAHPPs) have a vital role to play in contributing to research and ensuring the care we give to patients is rooted in the best evidence. But it’s not always easy to get time away from clinical work for research, and many staff perceive that a research career isn’t for them. 

“Over the years we have worked hard to address some of these issues and support NMAHPPs who want to do research. Events like the North West London Research Symposium are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the diversity and quality of research carried out by NMAHPS across north-west London, as well as share knowledge and inspire others into research careers. 

“It was heartening to see so many delegates engaging with the presentations, workshops and posters of research work. I hope many left inspired to pursue their own research careers.”  

Research impact 

More than 130 delegates had the opportunity to listen to research presentations from colleagues.   

Dr Gemma Clunie, Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and an Imperial BRC supported Senior Clinical Academic for Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, talked about her research on establishing a set of outcomes that should be measured and reported in all clinical trials investigating laryngotracheal stenosis – an abnormal narrowing of the airway that can affect voice and swallowing.  

"It was heartening to see so many delegates engaging with the presentations, workshops and posters of research work. I hope many left inspired to pursue their own research careers." Professor Mary Wells Deputy Director of Nursing Research at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and a Professor of Practice in Cancer Nursing at Imperial College London

Calandra Feather, Research Postgraduate in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and Paediatric Nurse at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, talked about her work as part of a team to develop a clinical decision support tool – Touchdose - that provides dosage guidance for drugs to increase patient safety in paediatrics. 

Delegates also heard from Layla Bolton Saghdaoui, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellow, Research Postgraduate in the Department of Surgery and Cancer and Vascular Clinical Nurse Specialist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, on her research career journey so far.  

Layla explained her passion for improving care through research, the opportunities it’s given her and some of the challenges she’s faced, including grant rejections and imposter syndrome. Layla hopes to return to the NHS in a clinical academic or nurse consultant role, following her PhD.  

Prize winners 

“I’ve had the privilege of supervising, mentoring and supporting NMAHPPs into clinical and clinical academic careers, and to see the work carried out by them and many others at the event was inspiring." Professor Caroline Alexander Professor Caroline Alexander, Lead Clinical Academic for Allied Health Professionals at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Professor of Practice (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy) at Imperial College London

Delegates saw an exhibition of posters showcasing research studies and projects undertaken by NMAHPPs. These included a project on swallowing and nutritional outcomes in head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and a study to address underrepresentation in stroke research. 

Delegates voted for the best poster prize, which was awarded to Katie Webb, Clinical Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and a team of physiotherapists for their work to develop a more efficient way of managing non-complex pelvic floor conditions.  

The inclusivity prize was awarded to Juliet Albert, Specialist Midwife for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), NIHR Doctoral fellow and Honorary Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, for her work exploring specialist services for women with FGM – a procedure in which the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed when there’s no medical reason for doing so. 

Looking back 

The event’s keynote speaker was Professor Caroline Alexander, Lead Clinical Academic for Allied Health Professionals at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Professor of Practice (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy) at Imperial College London and  the Academic Career Lead for the Imperial BRC, who reflected on her clinical and research career over the last 37 years. 

Professor Alexander talked about how opportunities provided by the NIHR have allowed for a wider range of healthcare staff to pursue research careers, but more needs to be done to create job roles in the NHS that better utilise staff’s research expertise once they’ve completed their studies. Professor Alexander will retire from her roles at the end of the year. She said: 

“Throughout my career, research has helped me care for my patients with musculoskeletal problems such as hypermobility more effectively. It has also allowed me to develop and advance my own career.  

“I’ve had the privilege of supervising, mentoring and supporting NMAHPPs into clinical and clinical academic careers, and to see the work carried out by them and many others at the event was inspiring. 

“It was also great to see fantastic research presentations and posters, motivational career journey talks and thought-provoking workshops. This can only help the NHS deliver on its goal to provide the highest standards of evidence-based healthcare.” 

The symposium programme also included workshops on ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in research studies, communicating research for impact, grant application writing and use of placebo in clinical trials. 

The event was organised by the Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO), which delivers research training and education opportunities for clinical staff as part of the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC).