[T]he University of Cumbria is to play a part in a new project aimed at boosting health and social care research in the north of England.
The university, along with colleagues from Newcastle, Durham, Teesside, Northumbria universities, will work with South Tees Hospitals and Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trusts and Newcastle City Council as part of the Research Design Service (RDS).
Funded for five years from October by the National Institute for Health Research, the inclusion of Cumbria means the group will now be known as the NIHR Research Design Service North East and North Cumbria.
“I am delighted that the University of Cumbria is a partner in the new contract awarded for the Research Design Service (RDS) North East,” Professor Diane Cox, director of research at the University of Cumbria, said. ”The RDS are funded through National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and provide support to health and social care researchers across England on all aspects of developing a grant application including, research design, research methods, identifying funding sources and involving patients and the public.”
The university is one of the leading providers of health courses in the north of England and will be home to an advisor as part of the project. Their role will be to join academics in acting as a first point of contact for researchers and health staff interested in learning more about research collaborations.
“As a university we will be hosting an advisor at our Fusehill Street campus which means researchers and practitioners across North Cumbria in the NHS and Social Services will have access to the advisor and, support from our academics with expertise in allied health, mental health, and social care research,” Prof Cox said.
