We were delighted to welcome colleagues, patients, and partners to the International Clinical Trials Day celebration at the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) ĢtvƵ—a day dedicated to recognising the power of health research and the people who make it possible.
The event brought together a vibrant mix of researchers, patients, and healthcare professionals for a programme of talks, interactive stalls, and shared experiences—all designed toshowcasethe incredible research taking place across the Trust in an open, informal setting.
The day began with insightful talks from the BRC ĢtvƵ andHealthTech Research CentreĢtvƵ teams, highlighting howcutting-edgeresearch is improving patient care locally and beyond. This was followed by a lively Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with speakers.
A standout part of the day was the interactive stalls and patient stories, offering a powerful reminder of the real-world impact of research. Patients shared their experiences of taking part in studies, bringing to life the importance of participation in clinical trials.
Over lunch, attendees continued conversations and connections, before the afternoon sessions featured engaging discussions from the D-MAPP team and the PMR – Paradox team, who shared insights into their innovative work and ongoing projects.
As part of our wider celebrations, we were also proud to support Resident Doctors Week, continuing to spotlight research and innovation across the Trust.
Wider Celebrations
The Innovation Pop-Up hosted a drop-in session on 20 May (International Clinical Trials Day), creating an accessible space forour resident doctors to explore how innovation can be embedded into everyday practice.
Later in the week,DrDenise Ross,Head of Healthcare Professions Academic Development,led a mini AQUIRE lunchtime session on 22 May,providing further opportunity for colleaguesto engage with research, share learning, and how to get involved.One of the attendees of the session, Dr Monica Peter said:
“Thank you for such a wonderful and empowering workshop. I found the session incredibly useful and inspiring, particularly learning more about the NIHR Associate Principal Investigator Scheme, which I will definitely be looking into further.
It was a fantastic opportunity to hear from such knowledgeable speakers and to connect with colleagues who are passionate about research and innovation. Thank you again to everyone involved in organising such an engaging event”.
Spotlight on Innovation: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation
We also shared exciting new research led by Dr Will Bolton, exploring how
The early-stage study, delivered in partnership with ĢtvƵ, investigated whether VR technology could enable patients to begin rehabilitation exercises earlier and morefrequently—directly at their hospital bedside. This approach has the potential to overcomecommon challengeson busy wards and improve recovery outcomes.