The National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) has announced the winner of the research awards run in partnership with the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA). These awards, for members of the RCoA, aim to recognise outstanding contributions of trainee doctors and trainee networks who are active in research.
Dr Charlotte Small, trainee anaesthetist and clinical research fellow, is the recipient of the Trainee Network award for her fantastic work in research and her efforts to get others involved.
Dr Small is a trainee anaesthetist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust as well as a clinical research fellow with the NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre.
Applicants were required to outline their contribution to the leadership of several NIHR CRN Portfolio studies, with particular weight being attached to:
- Demonstration of clinical leadership, enabling their organisation to increase its participation in clinical studies;
- How they engaged with patients to inform them of new opportunities to participate in clinical research;
- Individual contributions to the successful delivery of clinical research studies.
Since its inception in 2006, the NIHR has significantly increased the scale of clinical research in the NHS, particularly through NIHR CRN. The enthusiastic engagement of trainees and trainee networks is an essential condition for sustaining and building on this success, particularly given the many competing demands on clinician time and resources. These awards aim to recognise outstanding contributions of NHS clinicians to the conduct of NIHR CRN Portfolio research studies.
Professor Stephen Smye, NIHR CRN Specialty Cluster Lead said, “The NIHR CRN really values its strong partnership with the RCoA and the winners of the RCoA/NIHR CRN joint awards exemplify clinical research leadership at its finest; patient-centred, inclusive and with a wide and lasting impact.”
As part of the application process, the applicants had to set out how they would use the prize money to increase their contribution to NIHR CRN Portfolio studies in the future.
Professor Ravi Mahajan, Vice-President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, said: “These awards represent outstanding contributions by anaesthetists in training to the field of clinical research and quality improvement. Dr Small should be proud of everything she has accomplished this year, particularly at such an early stage of her careers. I congratulate her, and wish her continued success for her future research endeavours.”
