NIHR ARC OxTV Showcase event and Equity in Research toolkit launch

The event was attended by a wide range of guests, from patients and the public to CEOs of hospital trusts and research and healthcare organisations.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR, delivered the plenary speech in the morning session. In her talk she highlighted the importance of Applied Research and the ARCs and how they are helping the NIHR meet its wider objectives of improving the health of the nation.

The NIHR ARC OxTV, which is based within the Department of Primary Care at the University of Oxford, is a collaboration of health and social care focused organisations (including universities, local NHS trusts, councils and charities) working together in the Oxford and Thames Valley region to carry out “applied” health and social care research – research intended to solve practical problems – as opposed to more curiosity driven “basic research”.

As well as showcasing the work being supported and carried out by the ARC’s partners in the University of Oxford and beyond, the event was also an opportunity for people planning new research to present their ideas, and to get the input of colleagues and, importantly, insights from patient sand the public and leaders in the region’s health and social care, and public health organisations – to hear what they needed and what would work for them.

ARC supported DPhil students from across the University, also presented posters on their projects and work, which will also be available to view on the website shortly.

The event also featured presentations from Dr Habib Naqvi, of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, on 'the current landscape focus on health Inequalities), and Professor Mahendra Patel, on building on the learning and successes of the inclusivity and equity in research work of the PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC trials, as well as announcing that we are also, in collaboration with the Nuffield Department of Primary Care, University of Oxford,  working to establish a new 'Centre for Research Equity – through Pharmacy, Communities and Healthcare).

Professor Patel also launched the 'Equity in Research' toolkit, hosted here on the ARC OxTV website. The toolkit is an evolving tool, currently in its earliest version, and we are looking for feedback from colleagues and partners to refine it. You can find the toolkit by clicking here.

Professor Stavros Petrou, deputy director of the ARC OxTV, summed up the event so far, thanked all of the presenters and attendees, awarded the prizes for posters, and announced the launch of two new ARC OxTV funding schemes:

1. Bursaries for Individuals and organisations in the Oxford and Thames Valley area who work or want to develop in the field of applied health research. Individuals can apply for up to £500, while organisations or groups can apply for up to £2,000.
2. Funding for Projects. Up to £10,000 can be applied for and anyone can submit a project proposal and be the project lead, irrespective of their career stage. You will require clear support from the ARC Theme Lead under which the project will mainly fall. The ARC team can help in introducing you to the lead.

You can download a copy of the programme / brochure, which contains links to ARC OxTV resources and case studies, by clicking here (.pdf).

Links to view the presentations and posters can be found here.