Research and innovation contact details

Kernow Building, Wilson Way, Pool, Redruth TR15 3QE

Call 01209 204 020 or email the research team

Like our research team Facebook page or follow our research team Twitter page

Research and innovation

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, meaning 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 and is dedicated to promoting health research across Cornwall. 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 research team implements national and international research studies in Cornwall. They also support the development and delivery of studies in Cornwall, 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:

  • mental health conditions in children and adults
  • dementia and Alzheimer's disease
  • intellectual disability (learning disability)
  • epilepsy
  • autism
  • Parkinson's disease
  • frailty

About us

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

  • Director of research and innovation, Dr Richard Laugharne
  • Deputy director of research and innovation, Dr Rohit Shankar
  • 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 research team or if you would like to discuss it further, please contact Joanna Ledger or Alan Beattie on 01209 204 020.

Ethics and research

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.

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 provides researchers with support and guidance to help ensure that ethical standards are embedded in research design.

Studies currently recruiting

The summary of recruiting studies (PDF, 153 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.

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.

What we do with your information

There are a range of regulatory authorities aiming to ensure that NHS organisations protect your privacy and comply with the law when delivering research. Read more about how patient information is used and stored in NHS research.

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