Research Fellowships

Five members of staff from the University of Cumbria and North Cumbria Integrated Care have been awarded MRes Fellowships. Each Fellow is seconded part time from their current role to undertake a structured MRes programme at the University of Cumbria over two years. They develop research skills in the first year which they apply in a supervised project during the second year, focused on improving outcomes for NHS patients in Cumbria. The 5 MRes students and their areas of interest are listed below:

Claire Allison, Deputy Head Occupational Therapy, North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC)

Area of Interest: Frailty Screening and Allied Health Decision-Making

Amy Foster, Programme Leader MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, Institute of Health, University of Cumbria (UoC)

Area of Interest: Clinician Perspectives on Emergency Triage Targets

Jason Lawlor, Health Science Lecturer, Centre of Excellence in Paramedic Practice, Institute of Health, UoC

Area of Interest: Health Promotion in Paramedic Practice

Melissa Blackburn, Lecturer in Biomedical Science, Institute of Science, UoC

Area of Interest: Point-of-Care Testing in Primary Care

Sarah Ward, Senior Lecturer, Nursing, Institute of Health, UoC

Area of Interest: Support for Children and Young People with ARFID

Two healthcare professionals have been awarded PCSM Research Hub Pre-Doctoral Fellowships. These Fellowships provide protected time for staff who are preparing applications for doctoral study, supported by one or more mentors. The two Pre-Doctoral Fellows are listed below:

Marianne Ralph, University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust, seconded to Institute of Health, UoC as Senior Lecturer in Palliative and End of Life Care

Mentor: Amanda Taylor-BeswickArea of Interest: End-of-Life Communication and Education for Healthcare Professionals

Jo Augustus, Principal Lecturer, Centre of Excellence in Paramedic Practice, Institute of Health, UoC

Mentor: Joy DuxburyArea of Interest: Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care Pathways and Paramedic Referral Outcomes

Two PhD Fellowships have been awarded through the PCSM Research Hub. These Fellowships provide structured doctoral training and protected research time for healthcare professionals who are developing advanced research expertise. Each Fellow undertakes a substantive programme of original research that addresses priorities for NHS patients in Cumbria. The two PhD Studentships are listed below:

Rebecca Robinson, Hon Consultant, Surgery and Cancer, NCIC

Supervisors: Mr Christopher Rao (NCIC), Prof Ross Armstrong (UoC)
Project Title: Can Exercise-Based Prehabilitation Interventions Improve Health and Wellbeing Outcomes for Colorectal Cancer Patients in Cumbria?

Sophie Ray, Principal Lecturer Midwifery, Lead Midwife for Education, Institute of Health, UoC

Supervisors: Professor Joy Duxsbury (UoC), Dr Edward Mullins (Imperial College London)
Project Title: Midwives’ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Smoking Cessation Interventions.

These fellowships are supported by NIHR Imperial BRC.