What we do

Our Research Team deliver clinical research throughout Cornwall.

Research is a vital component of NHS care to determine the best treatments and services for improving the nation's mental and physical wellbeing. Our Trust is a research-active NHS Trust. This means that research and adding to the evidence base for healthcare form a key element of our services.

The Research Team places great value on embedding research into clinical practice. We are dedicated to promoting health research. Patients are at the centre of all we do. Our aim is for all patients to have the choice and opportunity to participate in quality research.

The team implements national and international research studies. They also support the development and delivery of studies, some of which may be recruiting nationally.

The team delivers research studies into a wide range of conditions and treatments provided by the Trust, including:

What is research?

This research definition table from Health Research Authority provides information on what research is.

About us

Our staff come from varied backgrounds including nursing, psychiatry, allied health professions, research assistants and administrative staff.

  • Director of Research and Innovation: Dr Richard Laugharne
  • Research Manager: Benjamin Hyams
  • Assistant Research Manager: Joanna Ledger

Become a research champion

The Research Team is developing a network of research champions across all services offered by the Trust. The role of research champions to help inform patients and colleagues on how they can get involved in research.

To express an interest in the role, email the Team or call us on 01209 204 020.

Be Part of Research

The Be Part of Research website can be used to find a study you may want to take part in. You can use the website to find a study that sounds right for you. You can also create a free account and choose the areas of health and care you are interested in. Information on studies that match your chosen interests will then be sent to you.

Clinical trials

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has information on clinical trials, including what to consider if you are interested in taking part in health research.

Dementia research

The National Institute of Health Research maintain a register of people interested in taking part in research studies about dementia.

Public involvement in research

There are opportunities for members of the public to get actively involved in research, such as identifying priorities for research, aiding development of clear information about research, interviewing research participants and carrying out some research activities.

Ethics and research

NHS Health Research Authority

The NHS Health Research Authority provides information on how the rights, safety, dignity and wellbeing of research participants are protected in NHS research.

Read information on the research approval process required by the Health Research Authority for all proposed NHS research in England and Wales.

National Institute of Health Research

The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) offer research and clinical staff a range of training courses to support good practice and the ethical delivery of research:

Research Design Service South West

Research Design Service South West provides researchers with support and guidance to help ensure that ethical standards are embedded in research design.

South West Clinical School

The South West Clinical School in Cornwall is a partnership between the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Plymouth. It exists to promote evidence-based practice, develop clinically focussed non-medical research programmes that enhances patient care. As well as growing and nurturing clinical academic pathway opportunities and careers.

UK policy framework for health and social care research

The UK policy framework for health and social care research sets out principles of good practice in the management and conduct of health and social care research in the UK.

How healthcare staff and academics can get involved in research

The Research Team is developing a network of research champions across all services offered by the Trust. The role of a research champion is to help inform patients and colleagues on how they can get involved in research.

To express an interest in the role, contact the team using the details at the top of this page.

Developing your research skills and experience

The National Institute for Health and Care Research offers advice and resources to NHS staff interested in getting more involved with research.

Good Clinical Practice

Good Clinical Practice is the agreed international standard for conducting clinical research. The UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research sets out principles of good practice in the management and conduct of health and social care research in the UK.

As a Trust, we also require a research CV. Complete our CV template (DOCX, 18 KB) if you are interested in supporting research at the Trust.

Research Ideas Group

The Research Ideas Group is a joint venture between the Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Research Design Service South West, Plymouth University Clinical School and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. Healthcare staff are invited to submit a research idea through the Cornwall Health Library website which will then be allocated to the most appropriate health research team for follow-up.

Improving performance of delivering research

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) sets targets for organisations developing and delivering NHS research to improve the efficiency of initiating and delivering research. 

The reports below provide the information as required by the NIHR about our Trust's performance in initiating and delivering research. 

2022-23

2021-22

2020-21

  • Quarter 4: Nil return for performance in delivery
  • Quarter 3 2020-21 (report not available)

Register your interest in research

Research Team register

Our Research Team maintains a register of people who are interested in health research. Signing up to the register does not mean that you are committed to participating in a research study but that you agree to be contacted and informed of research studies that may be of interest to you. Once you have heard of a study you will then be given time to decide if you would like to participate.

You can register by completing the online form below, or if you prefer to print out a form to sign and return to us by post.

Online research requester request form

I would like to provide my personal details so that I can be contacted about research studies that I may be eligible to take part in. It is then my decision to choose to take part in the research. I understand that the information I provide will be kept secure, and only be accessed by the Research Team.

Research Register

Note: Questions marked by * are mandatory












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Results from completed research

We aim for participants in any many research studies as possible to receive feedback from the study sponsors about the results of the trials to which they have contributed.

Below are links to a range of published articles about research studies which have now been completed.

Research into COVID-19

Research into mental health conditions and services

Research into epilepsy

Perampanel

Lacosamide

A review of interventions to reduce unnecessary attendance of people with epilepsy at emergency departments:

Research into learning disabilities (intellectual disabilities)

A review of the literature into factors influencing discharge from hospital or institutional care to enable successful community living for people with learning disabilities:

Studies currently recruiting

The summary of recruiting studies (PDF, 178 KB) provides a brief summary of studies currently recruiting in Cornwall, with contact details for each study. Some studies have very broad criteria and are open to a wide range of the population, whereas other studies have very specific criteria for who may be eligible.

We’re happy to consider studies in any areas, get in touch with the team for more information.