NIHR director praises UHNM research facilities during Royal Stoke visit

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been praised for its facilities, clinical teams and growing research activity following a visit from a senior national leader.

Kate Jones, director of research delivery at the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) Coordinating Centre, visited Royal Stoke to see research delivery in action across UHNM. 

She was given a tour of the Clinical Education Centre (CEC) and Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), meeting teams delivering a range of commercial and non-commercial studies.

Kate (second left) was welcomed by UHNM’s Research and Innovation (R&I) leadership team, and also met clinicians and researchers including Professor Christine Roffe, consultant stroke physician (left), to discuss current activity and opportunities for future collaboration.

Kate praised the standard of work at UHNM, highlighting the quality of facilities and the levels of research activity across the Trust.

She said: "I was immensely impressed by both the high standard of work currently underway and the exceptional new facilities.

"I am particularly enthusiastic about the strategic potential to collaborate with the local site management organisation and UHNM’s new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), and these initiatives clearly present significant opportunities for the local community. It was also incredibly encouraging to witness the strong commitment and appetite for expanding nursing and midwifery research and education across the Trust.

"I left with admiration and a strong sense of optimism regarding UHNM's future research impact and the opportunities that lie ahead."