Clinical Research Today - Winter (RBCH Research Newsletter)

Rheumatology
research in
Christchurch
Patient
interview with
Shirley
International
clinical trials day
MSc in Clinical
Research
Promising trials
at RBCH
Your feedback is invited
Please send any comments
about this newsletter to
Neal Beamish at
neal.beamish@rbch.nhs.uk

Welcome to the first issue of Clinical Research Today from the
Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital
We aim to inform patients, public and staff about research in the hospital.
Research into new medicines and healthcare practices is vital in the discovery of
treatments for diseases such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes.
Clinical research is growing in RBCH and we now have more than 50 staff
dedicated to research, attending to over 300 research studies. In fact over 10,000
patients have joined a research study at the hospital since 2008, and each of these
patients is showing that they care about the development of new medicines and
practices in the fight against disease.
We hope this newsletter that reaches out to as many people as possible. Dr
Jonathan Marks, Consultant Rheumatologist, writes about some of the Rheumatoid
Arthritis research at Christchurch Hospital and the future for rheumatology
research in the NHS. The spotlight on staff describes the important new role of
Clinical trials assistant at the hospital through the eyes of Christine Clarke. There
is a focus on patients with Shirley talking about what it is like to be on a clinical
trial. There is news about significant new research studies in various therapeutic
areas in the hospital. We develop close relationships with our partners, and Lisa
Gale-Andrews reviews the activities of Bournemouth University Clinical Research
Unit. International Clinical Trials day was held on the 20 th May, and Lucy Thomas,
Data manager, keeps us up to date with the feedback from this publicity event.
There are also reflections from some of our new staff. Education is very important
to us in research and Hannah Dewhurst, Gastroenterology research nurse, speaks
about her Masters in Clinical Research at Southampton University.
So, if you’ve been given a copy of this newsletter, or simply picked one up in a
clinic waiting room, please browse through the articles because there is a strong
chance you’ll find something interesting and relevant.
Please read on.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Rheumatology research in
Christchurch Hospital………,...,...3/4
Spotlight on staff: the role
of the CTA………………………….…....4
Patient interview……..............…..5/6
Promising trials at RBCH …….…..7/8
BU Clinical Research Unit………..….9
Achievements in cancer trials…....10
International Clinical Trials
day……………………….........…….....10
Trials monitor physical exercise
and surgery …………………….….....11
Data Office workshop……….…......12
New staff………..……….……….......13
Education in Focus: the MSc in
Clinical Research………………........14
Latest events and courses……..….15
Research word search….……....….15
ON THE COVER
Ian Leadbitter, Research nurse, takes
measurements from an orthopaedic
patient.
Sally Sawyer, Senior research nurse, attends to
one of her patients at Christchurch Hospital
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 2

New Approaches to Old Problems: Using
Clinical Research Tools to Improve NHS Care
By Dr Jonathan Marks, Consultant Rheumatologist, RBCH.
The management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory disease of the
joints, has undergone a transformational change over the last decade with
more than a dozen new drug agents available to treat what was historically a
progressive disabling condition. Even with highly effective medications now
available, there are still many unanswered questions: When should we use
them? For how long? What are the long-term consequences? And why do
treatments help some symptoms but not others?
At Christchurch Hospital, the rheumatology department are engaging in a
number of non-commercial research studies to try and fill in the missing
pieces of this treatment puzzle. These studies sit comfortably alongside a
research trials portfolio that also includes phase III and IV clinical drug trials
that aim to establish the effectiveness and long-term safety of new
treatments prior to them becoming available in the NHS. We also work closely
with our research colleagues at Poole hospital, enabling us to provide a
balanced research programme for patients across the region.
“At Christchurch
Hospital the
rheumatology
department are
engaging in a number
of research studies to
try and fill in the
missing pieces of this
treatment puzzle.”
Dr Jonathan Marks
Some of the current Rheumatoid Arthritis trials at Christchurch Hospital
TITRATE (Treatment Intensities and Targets in Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy)
This treatment study for patients with established RA and aims to answer a
number of key questions:
How should patients with established moderately active disease be
managed?
Will they benefit from receiving more intensive treatment or will it
increase the side effects they experience?
Can self-management improvement outcomes and how can patients be
supported in this?
The findings from this study have the potential to dramatically change the
way we treat and engage with patients in the NHS.
FeeTURA (Foot and Ankle Ultrasound studies in Rheumatoid Arthritis)
This imaging study is helping researchers to understand how the foot is
affected in patients with RA and why foot symptoms often occur despite other
joints improving dramatically with treatment. This information will help
researchers assess foot disease more accurately and tailor future trials to
address this area of unmet need.
RAMS (Rheumatoid Arthritis Medications Study)
This observational study is helping researchers to identify why some patients
respond well to commonly used RA treatments whilst others do not improve
or develop side effects.
BSRBR (British Society of Rheumatology Biologics Registry)
This is a long-term national research project that Christchurch have been
contributing to for more than a decade aimed at identifying long-term
outcomes with newer ‘biologic’ medications used in RA. This project has
already produced several important pieces of research that have helped
doctors and patients better understand the risk and benefits associated with
biologic therapies.
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 3

As well RA-related research, we also have interventional trials running in more common conditions such as
osteoporosis including the ‘PROVE’ study which is assessing the role of physiotherapy in the management of
osteoporotic fractures.
What does the future hold for rheumatology research? New drug development and a greater understanding of
the causes of disease will enable healthcare providers to move towards an era of stratified medicine: targeting
the right drug for right patient at the right time. But in conjunction with drug development, trials such as
TITRATE and FeeTURA in RA and PROVE in osteoporosis will be vital to helping address the unanswered
questions that still exist. The information these studies provide will help medical teams to manage patients in a
holistic manner and consider how best to treat specific symptoms which may not respond to medications.
For us in Christchurch, the aim is not only to offer every NHS patient the opportunity to be involved in
research, but additionally to help translate the findings of that research back into our everyday clinical practice
for the benefit of all patients.
Spotlight on staff: What is the role of CTA in clinical research?
By Christine Clarke, Clinical trials assistant, RBCH
CTA stands for ‘Clinical Trials Assistant’ and we have been part of the research team since 2013 when the first
CTA was appointed. Indeed, that appointment was so successful there are now five CTAs working in research
in RBCH.
Clinical trials involve a lot of administration and co-ordination, and the role of the CTA is to take some of this
workload off the research nurses to allow them to spend more time with their patients.
Our typical day starts in the morning clinic. One of our roles in the clinics is receiving ‘consent’ from the new
patients: I’ll explain what this means. Before patients are asked if they wish to join a research study their
medical records are looked at to see if they meet the strict criteria for inclusion on a study. If the patient is
eligible to join a research study it is the CTA’s job to help the patient decide if they want to join the trial, and
we do this by introducing information and answering any questions they have about the trial. We call this
process ‘consent’ and we are trained very thoroughly to take on this important role.
At other times in the morning clinic we see patients
who have already joined a research study and are
attending for assessment of their progress. After these
clinics we often take the first steps in the analysis of
patient samples such as blood. This means either
freezing the blood plasma samples in the laboratory for
later collection, or separating the components of the
sample by ‘spinning’ in a machine called a centrifuge.
You can see that the role of a CTA takes us from the
clinic to the laboratory.
We take the chance of some quiet time in the
afternoon to work on our ‘observational’ research
studies. As their name suggests, ‘observational’ studies
require the collection and inputting of patient data and,
like much of our role, we do this task to help with the
workload of the research nurses.
Christine Clarke,
Clinical trials assistant
All of this work – the research clinic, the laboratory
duties and the computer work – is vital to the research
studies as it helps to build the bigger picture of what is happening to the patients. We enjoy our work,
especially the contact with the patients, and fulfil an important role in advancing research studies and
improving patient care in the NHS.
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 4

Focus on Patients:
Shirley tells us how she became a patient in a clinical research trial
and what is was like to take part
Shirley, an active retired lady from Poole, was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and subsequently received
treatment in a clinical trial at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. In this interview Shirley describes how she came to join a
clinical trial and her feelings about what it was like to be on a trial.
How did you hear about taking part in research?
I was playing tennis, representing Great Britain in Croatia. In the evening – we had to dress up one evening – I was
trying to fix a necklace and I couldn’t get the clasp to fix so I looked in the mirror. I saw a bulge on my shoulder and I
looked at the other shoulder and thought it was probably a muscle from tennis or something like that, but I thought I
would tell the doctor when I got home. So I went to the doctor and he sent me off for tests and they came back with the
result that I had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. This was completely new to me… and almost within days he sent me to
Poole Hospital …and they said they were going to watch this situation for a while. (During my visits) I peered towards
the computer and I saw these graphs. After some months I noted that the graph had gone up looking like Mount Everest
and the doctor said, “We’re going to start treatment today, Shirley.”
A few days prior to that a magazine (Hartley News) came through the post
from Southampton University, addressed to my daughter who was there 25
years ago. I looked at the cover and it said “Personalising cancer treatment:
more control over cancer for millions of patients.” I thought, well I’ll open
this… I read the article and I took this magazine to the consultant at Poole
Hospital and said, “I do apologise but this has come through the door - am I
any use on this trial? Am I appropriate?” The consultant said, “You go
upstairs and have a blood test and I’ll ring up the hospital.” So I went upstairs
and I remember that that day they filled 17 little vials with my blood which
seemed an awful lot to me but anyway I went downstairs again and he said,
“You fulfil all the criteria for coming on this trial, one of which is that we
should not have started any treatment.” That was going to start that very
afternoon – that was a narrow squeak wasn’t it! So he said, “I’m going to
transfer you over to Bournemouth Hospital because of this treatment”
What made you decide to take part?
Shirley reads the magazine
from Southampton University
which led her to ask
her doctor about
clinical trials
I could only think that I would benefit from it and perhaps other people
would. There was never any doubt once I was given the opportunity. I didn’t
waiver. Go for it girl because there’s nothing else!
Did you feel you had sufficient information about the study to decide to take part?
Without any question it’s there. I thought look I’m going to leave all the
administration and the clinical details to them, I’ll just get on with my life. I’m
never going to be able to absorb all their (information) in half an hour. It’s all
there but it’s double-dutch to me…just sign up and go for it. Yes there was plenty
of information.
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 5

What was it like to take part?
It gave me confidence that there was a future. I was itching to get on with some treatment because I thought, “look this isn’t
good”. I saw this chart which had got a sort of a ginger bread biscuit man and it had 29 little black blobs on it and I thought it
was about time we were moving. It was a terrific relief because I knew something was going to be done.
What made it such a good experience for you?
The care. The help with so much heart, you know. Cared for like a new born baby really I was. Everything was answered…
time was spent explaining things, doing things, keeping me informed and particular attention to detail. I mean every little
thing has to be worked out and it was the confidence that they inspired in me…I got on with my life and took the pills. All I’m
doing is taking 3 of these funny little pills a day. That’s all I have to do. I’m not the hero, they are the ones, the scientists,
the doctors and the people doing the research - they are doing all the hard work.
I do my gardening, I play tennis sometimes four, sometimes five times a week. I’ve got local grandchildren and I just get on
with my life…I’ve just come back from Costa Rica with the Scientific Exploration Society.
Did you manage to fit your clinic visits around your normal routine?
Absolutely, because I was asked, “What would be convenient?” So I said I’d come to the hospital earlier on Tuesdays because
I was not playing tennis that day.
What would you say to other patients who might be considering taking part in a study?
I would say keep a very optimistic attitude. I would say you can depend on the team to give you advice. You won’t be a
specialist overnight, so really, if they recommend something to you and they say that you are eligible and fulfil the criteria, go
for it!
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I feel really in wonderfully good health, touch wood, but I feel wonderfully well and full of energy…What else could I possibly
say? Bournemouth hospital from top to bottom is full of incredible people and you see other people with worries – it puts you
on your back foot when you see what other people go through and the worries that they have. The care from the moment
you walk in…the Pathology department gets through 300 people a day! I cannot speak too highly of this place.
Shirley would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at the hospital, including the ‘unseen’ research
teams, for the care she has received. “You are wonderful.”
How to join a clinical trial
To find out if there is research you
can participate in ask your hospital
doctor / consultant or your GP
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 6

SPICE III Trial: encouraging signs for ‘light’
sedation in critical care
Sally Pitts, Research nurse in Critical Care, is managing an exciting new
international clinical trial at Royal Bournemouth Hospital called the Sedation
Practice in Intensive Care Evaluation trial (or ‘SPICE III’). The use of sedative
(calming) drugs in intensive care is widespread. Currently, there is no
agreement among doctors around the world about the best choice of drugs
or the best way to manage sedation. The purpose of the SPICE III trial is to
understand whether early ‘light’ sedation, where a patient is kept comfortable
but responsive, might shorten the time on the ventilator (breathing machine),
shorten the intensive care stay and result in less side effects. Sally Pitts says
that the findings of this trial could have widespread influence on medical
practice.
Sally Pitts,
Research nurse
A phase IV Renal study in patients with
‘treatment naïve’ HIV-1 has 150% recruitment
Currently, there is no
agreement among
doctors around the
world about the best
choice of drugs or the
best way to manage
sedation.
SPICE III Trial
The Department of Sexual Health at Royal Bournemouth Hospital are involved
in a clinical research study that looks at kidney function in HIV-1 patients
treated with antiretroviral medication. The original target for recruitment was
3 patients, however Joss Ablorde, Research nurse, has recruited 5 patients to
the study. The trial is being undertaken at 30 sites across Europe including
Spain, Belgium and Ireland. Specifically the study is looking into the effects
of six antiretroviral medications in HIV-1 patients who have not previously
received this type of treatment. Previous medications have been known to
have a potentially detrimental effect to kidney function and the medications
which these patients are receiving in this trial might not be so detrimental.
Joss Ablorde says that it is too early in the study to discuss results, however
the trial could enable clinicians to decide which medications to use in the
future.
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 7

TOPAZ – 1 Trial: promising early signs in a clinical trial for
Hepatitis C viral infection
Emma Gunter, Research nurse at Bournemouth, is overseeing the running of an exciting new trial which aims to
give one of the latest treatments to patients with Hepatitis C viral infection. The trial is being undertaken in 21
countries.
Infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to a debilitating condition which can cause liver inflammation leading
to fibrosis and then cirrhosis and eventually liver failure and/or liver cancer. This disease process can take time
and patients can live with the infection for many years. Until recently treatments which sought to eliminate the
virus showed varying efficacy and came with side effects which were difficult to tolerate. Emma and the liver
nursing team took their expertise onto the streets of Bournemouth earlier in the year, where their suspicions
about attitudes toward current HCV treatment were confirmed: they met people infected with HCV who believed
that treatment could be ineffective and hard to tolerate.
Emma Gunter,
Research nurse
The TOPAZ-1 trial is treating HCV patients with the latest ‘direct
acting antiviral’ (DAA) medication and the early signs are very
promising. The trial at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital has enrolled
its target of 7 patients and they are receiving the DAA treatment for
12 weeks, with a five year follow up. By week 12 of the treatment
regimen the virus had been ‘undetected’ in all of our patients.
Obviously it remains to be seen if this response is maintained and
the efficacy of the drugs will only be known after the full five year
follow-up period. Although the trial treatment is accompanied with
side effects such as anaemia and fatigue, these are thought to be
better tolerated that those caused by previous treatments, and good
communication with patients can lead to open dialogue and support
from nursing staff.
According to Emma the early signs for the success of the new drug
regimen for HCV infection are very promising, and it looks like there is a ‘seed change’ coming in terms of the
treatment options of infected people. Staff at the Trust are particularly pleased with the results of the TOPAZ-1
study, not least because the success of the trial and the energy and competency of the staff has been noted by
Abbvie, the sponsor company, and they are hoping this will lead to similar trial opportunities in the hospital.
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 8

Bournemouth University Clinical Research Unit
Bournemouth University Clinical Research Unit (BUCRU) is a model for supporting and
conducting health related research in Dorset. It supports researchers in improving the quality,
quantity and efficiency of research across local National Health Service (NHS) Trusts and
Bournemouth University (BU). It does this by:
helping researchers from the NHS and BU develop high quality applications for external
research funding (including small grants) free of charge
ongoing involvement in funded research projects
a “pay-as-you-go” research consultation service for other projects
developing its own research programme
BUCRU can provide help with:
Developing research questions and study design
Quantitative and qualitative research methods
Statistics, data management and data analysis
Patient and public involvement in research
Trial management
Ethics, governance and other regulatory issues
Linking University and NHS researchers
BUCRU focuses on health research that has relevance to the NHS.
The Unit is available to people working locally in the NHS and there
are no restrictions on topic area or professional background of the
researcher. BUCRU is partly funded by the National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) and incorporates the Dorset office of the
NIHR Research Design Service South West (http://www.rdssw.nihr.ac.uk/).
BUCRU includes researchers, clinicians, psychologists,
methodologists, epidemiologists and statisticians, administrators and
facilitators. BUCRU has a track record of collaborating with Royal
Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation trust,
including on a project using an Arts for Health intervention to
improve psychological well-being and confidence following a stroke.
If you have an idea for a research project, or would like support
please contact us to discuss further.
Professor Peter
Thomas, Director
Professor Tamas
Hickish, Director
Contact us on:
Email: BUCRU@bournemouth.ac.uk
Twitter: @BU_CRU
Tel: 01202 961939
Website: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/bucru
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 9

Achievements in clinical trials in cancer at RBCH
Staff at the Oncology department at RBCH have been working very hard to advance the standing of their
cancer trials, and two trials are especially worthy of mention.
Bournemouth was the first UK site to recruit a patient to the Xilonix trial. This trial seeks to assess how
effective Xilonix is in the treatment of patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer. Xilonix can be
effective in blocking a substance that helps tumours grow and spread, and can also improve symptoms of
muscle loss, fatigue, appetite loss and pain in patients with colorectal cancer. Preliminary evidence
suggests that Xilonix treatment can improve the quality of life of patients, to the point that some patients
have managed a return to a working life.
Bournemouth was also the first site in the UK to recruit a patient to the AB12005 trial which seeks to
evaluate the effectiveness and safety of an experimental drug, Masitinib, in advanced/metastatic
pancreatic cancer. Masitinib is a new experimental drug which is currently under clinical development to
treat patients with various conditions. In certain diseases, such as metastatic pancreatic cancer,
particular enzymes do not function correctly. Masitinib is one of a type of drugs which can block the
malfunctioning of these enzymes and can therefore help in treating such diseases.
International Clinical Trials Day 20th May at the
Royal Bournemouth Hospital
By Lucy Thomas Data Manager, RBCH
On the 20 th May we celebrated International Clinical Trials Day. The day served as an excellent
opportunity for us to tell the public and staff about all the wonderful things happening in research. We
had the backing of the National Institute of Health Research ‘Ok to Ask’ campaign and managed to get
Trust director involvement on the day. Bournemouth ECHO covered IT Director Peter Gill’s efforts on
the CPEX bike, helping to raise awareness of the opportunities research offers.
Throughout the day we had lots of people stopping, asking questions and participating in our mini
sweet trial and smell test. We were really interested in attaining feedback and undertook a small voting
survey on the day to find out how people rated both the importance of research and their
understanding of research. “It
was heart-warming to see how
keen people are to support
research.”
The staff members that got
involved also found the
experience useful. Steven
Williams, Project co-ordinator
for division 6 said about the
day, “It was wonderful to see
everyone from across research
come together to put on such
a diverse and informative
display” and described the day
itself as, “an excellent
opportunity to meet new
people and showcase the work
going on behind the scenes”.
Lucy Thomas, Data manager, celebrates
International Clinical Trials Day
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 10

Trials aim to show that physical exercise before surgery can aid
recovery and rehabilitation
Doctors are aware that surgery can place considerable stress on the body. In the past, patients undergoing
surgery were referred to post-operative physiotherapy programmes to aid with their recovery and rehabilitation.
However, three trails at the hospital are introducing tailored exercise programmes before the patients undergo
surgery. The idea is that raising physical fitness levels in these patients can reduce the stress of surgery and
improve rehabilitation.
One of these trials, called ‘Empower’, is being managed at the hospital by Andy Bates, Senior research nurse. It
is usual, before having major rectal surgery for cancer, to have a course of chemo-radiotherapy to reduce the
tumour size and make it easier for the surgeon to remove it during the operation. This study aims to find out if a
tailored exercise training programme after chemo-radiotherapy can improve physical fitness before undergoing
major rectal surgery and, moreover, improve the quality of life and outcome after surgery.
Patients who volunteer for this study, and are also selected for the exercise intervention group, undergo a Cardio
Pulmonary Exercise test (CPET) to assess fitness before and after having chemo-radiotherapy. After this
treatment, but before surgery, the CPET test results are used to design a carefully monitored programme of
exercise using an exercise cycle in the hospital facilities. The subsequent training sessions aim to raise fitness
levels prior to surgery.
Andy Bates, Senior research nurse, says of the Empower study, “It is looking at the link between lifestyle and
health, investigating the degree of control which people have over their medical outcome.” Empower, along with
related studies in the hospital such as ‘Embrace’ and EDICT, opens up a long standing argument on the benefits
of patient health and fitness and, broadly speaking, shows the importance that a ‘cultural’ change could have on
public health.
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 11

Data Office workshop at Bournemouth University Business Centre
The Data managers and Project co-ordinators make the Clinical Trials Data Office at the hospital a vibrant place of
work. The office is always very active which means that various research issues arise which need to be properly
monitored and addressed. So, periodically time is put aside for focussed discussions about work procedures and
processes, and one such workshop was held in October in the Bournemouth University Executive Business Centre
at Lansdowne.
It is important to identify roles and responsibilities within the research directorate as well as expectations of each
other, and this was how the meeting started. The next debate focussed on staff training and job description, not
least because newly recruited Data managers have a lot to learn about their roles, and expectations of research
can be different from the reality of the job. The team progressed to discuss research processes during the course
of a study. A stakeholder mapping exercise was undertaken which provided the opportunity to identify internal and
external stakeholders involved in successful collaborative research and the different pressures faced by those
parties. Communication strategies were discussed and the emphasis on idea generation re-enforced the culture of
innovation amongst the staff. Indeed, the nature of the talks demonstrated that the management centre was the
most appropriate building to hold the workshop!
Data managers and Project co-ordinators agreed that meetings like this are vital to their work. Rosey Bedford,
Data manager said, “It was refreshing to step outside the office for a day and get all divisions’ data staff together
as one big team. It’s a great opportunity to raise questions and share your thoughts.” Monica Serrano, Project coordinator
said of the day, “It was very good to get to know everyone’s opinion about the different processes in
research.”
Workshop participants
Front table from left: Monica Serrano, Emily Cross, Taslima Rabbi, Lucy Thomas, Rosey Bedford, Oliver Hopper
Standing: Laura Purandare
Rear table from left: Steve Williams, Tina Stoycheva, Gail Hann, Luke Vamplew, Alex Tealdi, Carla Dimitriu
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 12

Mary Smolen, Research nurse at the Parkin
Suite, Christchurch Hospital, talks about her new
appointment in Parkinson’s research
“Christchurch
Hospital is a very
friendly place to work
and although the
Research Team
is very small,
everyone is helpful.”
Mary Smolen
I was recruited to the research team for Parkinson’s Disease in July, after ten years
as an advisor in Occupational Health. It has been a very steep learning curve for
me, but I am enjoying the challenge and getting to understand so much about the
condition, and about research and clinical trials. Christchurch Hospital is a very
friendly place to work and although the Research Team is very small, everyone is
helpful.
I am currently trying to keep up with the caseload of trials already in place, and
planning for a new trial looking at the potential role of statins as a neuroprotective
agent for patients with Parkinson’s Disease. I also recently attended training at
Moorgreen Hospital to enable me to become a Rater for dementia research in the
future, which looks very interesting. I have also recently completed an online exam
with the Movement Disorders Society in the United States which was challenging but
really worth the effort.
I suspect it will take a few more months yet before I really feel I am on top of the
job. Emma Gunter has been an invaluable support in handing over and showing me
the ropes, so many thanks are due to her.
We welcome Katie Molloy, Research nurse in Critical
Care, Anaesthetics & Emergency Medicine at RBCH
I have had 8 years wonderful experience working in Intensive Care and was ready
for a new challenge. I have always loved research and found it to be at the heart of
everything we as nurses do. So to be part of the Research Team at the Royal
Bournemouth Hospital is a real honour, that we are making a real difference and
able to change practice so that patients and their relatives experience the very best,
most up to date health care.
As part of the Research Team for Critical Care, Emergency Medicine and
Anaesthetics, I am able to support and care for patients in a different and often
challenging environment, keeping them and their families at the centre of everything
we do. There is so much to learn in my new role, and have found the support from
other team members invaluable.
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 13

Education in Focus: My experience of a part-time Master’s degree
in Clinical Research
By Hannah Dewhurst, Gastroenterology research nurse, RBCH
Since I qualified as a nurse in 2007 I had an interest in clinical research, and this culminated in 2011 with my appointment
as a Gastroenterology research nurse. I now maintain responsibility for a range of clinical trials focussed on Inflammatory
Bowel Disease, a long-term condition that involves inflammation of the gut.
In 2013 I realised that the part time Masters course in Clinical Research at
Southampton University was applicable to my work and the design of the course
enabled me to continue with my clinical practice. So I registered to study!
The programme at Southampton contains a range of taught modules which have
taught me a variety of new research skills, such as the use of databases to review
quantitative (number) data, interview skills and the impact of research on the NHS.
However what has really caught my attention has been the dissertation which has
required me to undertake my own research study. So, for the last year I have been
researching how living with ulcerative colitis can affect personal relationships.
(Ulcerative colitis is a condition of inflammatory bowel disease). In order to get a
good understanding of how having Ulcerative colitis affects relationships, patients and
Hannah Dewhurst,
their partners that agree to
take part are being
Research nurse
interviewed separately on a
one to one basis. These
interviews are then analysed
to see if there are any common feelings or themes among the
participants. I am very enthusiastic about this study because
there is currently a lack of information we can provide patients
on this topic and hopefully I can address this situation. The
ultimate goal is to publish my findings.
Needless to say, I have found the course to be very worthwhile
and vital to the development of my research skills.
This newsletter has been produced by the Research and Innovation
Directorate, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital.
Any feedback about the contents of this newsletter would be welcome.
Please address your messages to Neal Beamish at
neal.beamish@rbch.nhs.uk
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 14

Latest events and courses
RBCH Research Forum.
The next Research Forum will be held in December 2015. Participants will be notified of the details in due course.
‘Improving Healthcare through Clinical Research’ – Free online course to be launched on 2 nd November 2015.
The course has been developed by NIHR Clinical Research Network in partnership with the University of Leeds. The
course is available to everyone. Further details are available at https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/clinical-research/1
PharmaTimes International Clinical Researcher Awards launched.
The awards are designed to recognise and reward the talent and passion of industry and academic researchers. Clinical
researchers at all levels of career can enter the competition. The awards include the NIHR-sponsored ‘NHS Clinical
Research Site’ category. Further details are available at https://www.pharmatimes.com/INTCR
HSJ Clinical Research Impact Award 2015 shortlist revealed.
The full list can be found at https://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/wessex/. The finalists will be invited to the HSJ offices in
London to give a short presentation to the judging panel in October, and the winner will be announced in November.
Forthcoming Good Clinical Practice training courses for the Wessex region.
For full information and details on how to join see: https//www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/Wessex/about/training/.
Date
Location
20 th October Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester
26 th October Southampton General Hospital, Southampton
17 th November Southampton General Hospital, Southampton
23 rd November Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke
26 th November Bournemouth University, Bournemouth
Research word search
F H X L S D B C C F I M N D B
E N P N O O R D F N A O U K W
A T R A X C D X D O I P J O Y
S K E U R P O E T T M X I R P
I R B L X T M T A Q D C K Z U
B O F A L N I S O T L K H K J
I S J N I Q I C B R D R Y Y F
L N R T T M Q F I V P X S H D
I O Y N O P E W O P K L J R E
T P Q D P U B L I C A T I O N
Y S N T L E W K R I J N W X Z
D A O H X I I A R S L V T D P
R A O Z I F A T U U U B S W C
N F W S Y M W V S E H I H N B
H C R A E S E R T A O R X R P
FEASIBILITY - INDEMNITY - PARTICIPANT - PROTOCOL - PUBLICATION
RANDOMISATION - RESEARCH - SPONSOR - TRIALS
@RBCH_Research www.DorsetResearch.org 15

@RBCH_Research
www.DorsetResearch.org
The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Research & Innovation Directorate
5 th Floor, R501, @RBCH_Research Royal London House, Christchurch Road, www.DorsetResearch.org Bournemouth, BH1 3LT 16