"Research matters and saving lives makes it all worth it"
Ahead of International Clinical Trials Day 2019, three of our fab research managers from St Bartholomew's Hospital tell us why research is so important to them, what it means for patients and how it feels to be nominated for a Nursing Times Award.
Let's hear from Victoria Baker (Cardiac Senior Research Manager), Jessry Veerapen (Intervention Senior Research Manager) and Maudrian Burton (Barts BioResource Senior Research Manager).
What are your roles at Barts Health?
We are all Senior Research Nurse Managers.
Tell us about your recent nomination for a Nursing Times Award?
We were shortlisted in the Clinical Research Nursing category for our role in the cardiovascular merger between Barts Health and University College Hospitals, which created the largest cardiovascular centre in the UK at St Bartholomew's.
To ensure that clinical research was at the absolute heart of patient care, we worked to improve awareness and understanding of cardiovascular clinical research and the relationship between high-quality care and research outcomes. We also demonstrated that effective leadership and sharing best clinical research nursing practice can be a fantastic way to get more people involved in research.
One of the projects we're particularly proud of is our Barts BioResource. This is essentially a bank of Barts patient data. When patients come through Barts, they consent whether or not to be part of the Barts BioResource, and in what capacity (data, and/or bloods, and/or tissue). The data allows us to recruit suitable patients for new trials, as well as identify suitable patients for national trials. The blood analysis is for genome sequencing. The tissue analysis (from tissue which would otherwise be discarded during procedures) can be used rather than wasted for analysis and to further research.
Why was this particular project so important?
During the merger, patient safety and clinical care were understandably the top priorities. As clinical research nurses, we were determined to keep research alive during this challenging time.
We supported the Clinical Research Network (CRN) to become the top CRN for cardiovascular disease. Our participants took part in numerous trials:
- How to prevent artherothrombotic events in myocardial infarction.
- Reviewing the need for long term use of dual anti-platelets therapy in high risk cardiovascular patients.
- 15 years of stem cell project in Dilated Cardiomyopathy patients with promising results of translating this research into practice for chronic heart failure.
How does this impact on patients?
We have a world-leading centre of excellence for cardiovascular patients in our community. We have been able to start breaking down barriers and ensure research is at the very centre of care. Patients in our community have the opportunity to participate in research and access the best possible cardiovascular care through research.
All in all, our patients can live happier, healthier lives. Our pioneering research strives to find new, innovative ways to keep families together for longer
What do you think was the greatest research discovery of all time?
William Harvey (1578-1657) researched the circulation of the blood. He did most of his learning through the dissection and vivisection of various animals. King Charles I supported Harvey's research by providing him with deer from his royal parks. In 1628, Harvey published his work on the circulatory system under the title De Motu Cordis et Sanguinis. This publication brought Harvey both fame and criticism. Where would cardiovascular medicine be today without his discoveries?
What do you consider the biggest challenges for research? Our ethnically diverse North East London patient population provides an invaluable resource, however it comes with its own unique set of research challenges, such as language barriers.
We continue to work hard to break down these barriers and ensure research remains at the centre of care. We want every patient in our community, from primary to tertiary care, to have access to the best possible cardiovascular care through our research.
We know we still have a long way to go before all patients in our community have the opportunity to participate in research. Compared to the 40,000 patients seen at Barts Heart Centre, 36,280 patients with cardiovascular disease were seen at other sites across the Trust. Moving forward we want to also engage with this large group of patients to enable them to access our research offerings as well.
What is your favourite thing about research?
Someone can say "I've got an idea". Then the next thing you know, that idea has worked and can be used to help save lives.
What is your favourite thing about your job? It requires team work, thinking outside the box, pushing boundaries. It's also the best feeling in the world when a research project is successul and can help save lives or improve people's quality of life.
Don't forget! International Clinical Trials Day takes place on Monday 20 May. Various events are being held across the Trust to showcase Barts Health research and the impact it has on patients. Events include the Research Matters flagship event on 22 May in the Great Hall, and various other activities at St Bartholomew's. Find out more.