Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals takes seriously its role of ensuring staff are well supported, trained and, if appropriate, supervised in their research endeavours. We offer a variety of research training sessions, research funding opportunities as well as the chance for research staff to meet and share best practice and research experiences.
We also work closely with the Imperial College Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) to provide training and and support across our partner institutions.
Click on the links below to find out more.
The research office runs a regular research induction programme to assist new researchers in getting started in their research activities. It is recommended induction is delivered within your first four to six weeks at the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals and will include:
- Research office staff and support - what we do and who to contact
- Research review and approval processes
- Key research policies in Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals
- An opportunity to ask questions and get feedback on your research idea.
If you are interested in attending an induction session please contact the research development manager for further details.
The Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) is a single system for applying for permissions and approvals for health and social/community care research in the UK.
The online guide is available on the IRAS website.
The aim of this online guide is to provide clear instructions on the use of IRAS. This guide is designed to help those who apply for approvals, as well as those who review and/or authorise projects to familiarise themselves with IRAS and get the best out of it.
Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals holds licenses under the Human Tissue Act 2004 to store relevant material for use for a scheduled purpose, including research.
If you would like to attend research tissue governance training please contact the tissue governance manager.
Before any Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals researchers can engage in a research project they must complete GCP training. Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals also expects all researchers working on clinical trials to undergo a refresher course every two years.
The research office runs taught GCP introduction and refresher courses approximately every two months. GCP training is accredited by NIHR. The research office will be advertising course dates along with details of how to book a place via hospital-wide emails or on notice boards.
NIHR also runs on-line introduction and refresher GCP courses. To access the NIHR CRN GCP e-learning course you will first need to register for an account on NIHR learning management system. If you have not already registered, you can register here.
Please contact the research governance manager in the research office to obtain any further information about the above courses.
We have also put together a helpful guide on how to create a CRN Learn account (doc, 17.3KB).
The research office runs an annual short course in medical statistics at both Royal Brompton hospital and Harefield hospital. The course is open to clinicians, nurses, physiotherapists and any staff member engaged in research. The aim of the course is for participants to understand concepts of study design, the right statistical test to use in data analysis and the interpretation of results.
For more information please contact the statistician.
This forum is for all professions that play a pivotal role in the delivery of research the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals (nurses, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, study coordinators).
The aim of the forum is to develop well motivated, competent and proficient research staff who collaborate actively with one another.
Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals now requires all staff working in a supporting role in clinical research to attend research quarterly meetings as often as possible. Attendance will be reviewed. The forum encourages staff to become active participants in the meeting.
To get involved and be informed of the agenda at the next meeting, please contact the RQF Steering Group.
A peer support group for non-medics exists for those either carrying out their own research, or wanting to start research, to help support funding applications, aid networking, and help researchers find contacts and mentors within Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. We hold cross site meetings and work closely with the research office to access support and help shape future directions of nurse/AHP/HCS research.
Please contact Sam Irving (Royal Brompton hospital) or Claire Nolan (Harefield hospital) for further details.
There is also support for staff through the Imperial AHSC mentorship programme.
CATO is the Imperial College Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) post-graduate academic training hub offering information on academic careers, recruitment, training and funding. It provides a range of opportunities and resources for doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals and healthcare scientists interested in pursuing a clinical academic career. Read more.
A seminar series run by the Imperial College Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) to promote the work of the AHSC and bring to life examples of where our research is impacting clinical practice and improving patient outcomes. The seminars are open to all staff, patients and the public.
This course provides an introductory level understanding of research skills. It aims to enable the non-medical workforce to develop research skills and understand the steps needed to embark on a research career and develop the confidence to get started. It is intended for AHSC clinical staff from any of the Healthcare Professions and provides the best possible introduction to getting started in research. Find out more.
An Imperial College AHSC developed Clinical Research Training Framework to help define and develop the skills that an academic clinician of any professional background requires in order to support clinical research.
Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals is committed to supporting the training and development of staff at our hospitals so that they can carry out pioneering and world-class research into heart and lung diseases.
As part of this commitment the Research Office, in partnership with the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity, offer Charity-funded Fellowships for non-medical health professionals. The award allows staff to undertake up to 12 months of research in order to develop their research skills and produce data to win further funding.