New Institute to bolster research among Leicester’s Health and Care professionals

A new institute has been launched to radically boost the number of research opportunities available to Leicester’s nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, health scientists and pharmacists. 

The Institute for Excellence in Healthcare (IEH) was launched on Monday (9 September) by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and the University of Leicester. 

The institute will pave the way towards a world-class development offer for the health and care workforce within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 

UHL is already one of the most research-active NHS Trusts in the country, with up to 1,000 active trials taking place at any one time. While there are long-standing routes for medical professionals such as doctors and surgeons to get involved in clinical research, the pathways for health and care professionals are less clear. 

The IEH aims to change this locally, fostering a strong research culture that will incorporate PhD opportunities, clinical fellowships, and the opportunity to embed research in day-to-day clinical practice. 

Hosted at UHL, the IEH is a multi-institutional model with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and a range of wider partners. 

Around 250 people attended a launch event at the University of Leicester’s Sir Bob Burgess Building on Monday, which featured keynote speeches from Joanne Cooper, Head of Nursing Research, NHS England, and Lisa Ledger, Assistant Director of Allied Health Professions at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Julie Hogg, Chief Nurse at the University of Leicester NHS Trust, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Leicester, said: “The launch of the IEH is a milestone moment. It will mean better quality care for patients, and a better experience for health and care colleagues looking to develop their careers in Leicester. 

The evidence is clear that research-active hospitals see improved patient outcomes. UHL is ambitious about growing as a centre of excellence in research, building on the great work that already takes place. Creating an institute for health and care professionals that can match the offer that exists for our medical colleagues is an important step in that journey. 

Patients will benefit from more evidence-based care, and the multi-institutional partnership model means that together we can create a long-lasting impact.” 

Professor of Health Services David Wright, and Head of the School of Healthcare at the University of Leicester, said: 

“The opening of the Institute represents a really exciting opportunity, not only for all staff within the trust who are interested in a research career and will now have a structure available to them to support this, but for the School of Healthcare at the University of Leicester, which is looking to build its research capacity and support this endeavour.

“I look forward to the staff within both the University and the School of Healthcare building effective working relationships around research, as these will ultimately improve how care is delivered and outcomes for patients.”

Director of the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Professor Melanie Davies MBE, said: 

"Allied Health Professionals have always been a valued part of the research workforce within the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, carrying out vital roles in all of the studies we carry out. Many of our Principal Investigators and rising stars are Allied Healthcare Professionals and Professor Sally Singh is the BRC's Training Lead.

"We welcome all initiatives that encourage colleagues to undertake some, or more research as part of their roles, and look forward to working with the new Institute of Excellence in Healthcare in Leicester."
For more information visit the Institute for Excellence in Healthcare website.