Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Week 4
This week I was busy with clinical service cover on Monday, Tuesday on Friday.
However, it reminded me of a really good article in the Pharmaceutical Journal (link: here). It's probably useful for any profession, but the points are really good if you are like me and being outspoken does not come naturally. I have certainly found the point about getting there early before large groups form to be really helpful. When I was more junior, I went to my first 3 pharmacy conferences by myself and it does take a bit of getting used to.
Anyway, back to the conference. It was amazing that I got to see my clinical supervisor Dr Kathryn Johnson present the preliminary results of a multicentre UK RCT called Elfin to the conference. The trial looked at whether a lactoferrin supplement would reduce the morbidity and mortality compared to placebo. Unfortunately there was no positive outcome and lactoferrin was not superior to placebo. Disappointing, but Dr Johnson did a great job presenting the results in an easy to understand way. This also showed how important it is to design the protocol well as if you get an unexpected result, at least you can show you thought of all eventualities and that no further work is needed.
I also got to see the posters on display. There was only two medication related projects; one on vancomycin and one on parenteral nutrition. I definitely think I can think of something to get submitted for next year. Hopefully on my preliminary work for my CDRF application.
British Association for Perinatal Medicine Conference
However, on Thursday I got to attend the annual BAPM conference which was held in Leeds this year (very convenient!). It was an interesting experience as it was my first experience of a conference which wasn't pharmacy related. Thankfully there was a lot of fellow colleagues from Leeds there, and so a few familiar faces to keep my company.However, it reminded me of a really good article in the Pharmaceutical Journal (link: here). It's probably useful for any profession, but the points are really good if you are like me and being outspoken does not come naturally. I have certainly found the point about getting there early before large groups form to be really helpful. When I was more junior, I went to my first 3 pharmacy conferences by myself and it does take a bit of getting used to.
Anyway, back to the conference. It was amazing that I got to see my clinical supervisor Dr Kathryn Johnson present the preliminary results of a multicentre UK RCT called Elfin to the conference. The trial looked at whether a lactoferrin supplement would reduce the morbidity and mortality compared to placebo. Unfortunately there was no positive outcome and lactoferrin was not superior to placebo. Disappointing, but Dr Johnson did a great job presenting the results in an easy to understand way. This also showed how important it is to design the protocol well as if you get an unexpected result, at least you can show you thought of all eventualities and that no further work is needed.
I also got to see the posters on display. There was only two medication related projects; one on vancomycin and one on parenteral nutrition. I definitely think I can think of something to get submitted for next year. Hopefully on my preliminary work for my CDRF application.
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| Dr Johnson presenting at BAPM Conference 2018 |
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Week 3
It has been a busy "research" week for me this week, I have done virtually no clinical hours except for attending a Medicines Formulary Group meeting on Monday. A summary of the key events:
University of Leeds - PG Cert in Health Research - Introduction to Health Research module
The course started on Tuesday this week and has been a thought provoking window into what lies ahead. We have touched upon several themes that I will be learning much more about over the coming months; including, types of research, trial design, research ethics, formulating research questions, how to publish and many other areas.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals - How to be a non-medical clinician who researches event
Another fortunate/convenient event for me to attend, hosted by our own hospital trust here in Leeds. LTH has it's own research strategy for non-medical professionals to develop research careers, and this event was to showcase some of the existing LTH clinicians on research career pathways. It was a great insight into what lies ahead. I made some useful contacts for things I need to do over the next few months; such as attending an ethics committee.
University of Leeds - Medicines optimisation research meeting (morCAKE)
A short appearance at the monthly meeting between colleagues working in the pharmacy unit in the School of Healthcare at the university. Prof D Alldred was talking about the next 5 year plan for the team and what factors are going to be influencing what we do. The inclusive culture that I have experience so far from everyone has really helped ease any anxieties I had initially and I am starting to think about what I need to do next and how that will fit in with everything else going on.Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Monday, September 24, 2018
Pre-amble
Welcome to my research blog!
First of all, I'm going to time travel back to 2011....which feels like a long time ago in 2018. This is where my research career began.
My interest in research started when I was working on the Children's Heart Unit in Newcastle in 2011. I saw research as a fantastic opportunity to expand the evidence base and share good practice, which would allow us to improve patient care both locally and nationally. This lead to my first conference abstract on prasugrel use in paediatric Berlin Heart patients in 2012. The conference was organised by the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacist Group (NPPG) which has become a vital network for me to learn about and disseminate new research. This was followed by further abstracts on safe prescribing in PICU, stability of infusions on PICU and also a published case report on daptomycin use in a child with renal failure.
First of all, I'm going to time travel back to 2011....which feels like a long time ago in 2018. This is where my research career began.
My interest in research started when I was working on the Children's Heart Unit in Newcastle in 2011. I saw research as a fantastic opportunity to expand the evidence base and share good practice, which would allow us to improve patient care both locally and nationally. This lead to my first conference abstract on prasugrel use in paediatric Berlin Heart patients in 2012. The conference was organised by the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacist Group (NPPG) which has become a vital network for me to learn about and disseminate new research. This was followed by further abstracts on safe prescribing in PICU, stability of infusions on PICU and also a published case report on daptomycin use in a child with renal failure.
The paediatric cardiothoracic transplant team at Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust (2013)
As my clinical career progressed and I moved to Manchester, I continued my interest in research and published another abstract on the role of medicines review for patients on ketogenic therapy. My career then brought me to Leeds, and for the last 18 months I have been working on the neonatal units at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. I have become involved with the family integrated care (FIC) project which is recognised nationally as helping to establish FIC in the UK. I published another conference abstract which I was invited to present at the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacist conference in 2017 on the role of pharmacy in FIC.
After my successful application for the NIHR ICA PCAF, I hope to utilise the fellowship to build on my previous experience, undertake the university modules for health research, develop some of my ideas into research proposals and integrate myself further with the research teams at the university and hospital. This is so ultimately I can conduct higher quality research with bigger impact.
Presenting at NPPG Conference 2017
Teaching at NPPG Conference 2014
My posters at BPNA Conference 2015 (top left), NPPG Conference 2012 (top right) and 2014 (bottom)
That is a brief summary of my research career so far. It has mainly been extra-curricula in nature and done in my own time on top of a clinical career. I am pleased to have to opportunity now to explore my potential as a dedicated academic, with the added bonus of being able to keep my clinical career and ensure we keep striving to improve patient care for the future.
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