Research Events

21 May 2026, 08:15-16:00 – Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Conference, Energus, Lillyhall

This full-day conference will bring together nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from across NCIC and partner organisations to explore how NMAHP roles can thrive in a changing health and care landscape.

The programme will focus on innovation in practice, professional identity and wellbeing, with contributions from NHS England, the University of Cumbria, the Q Community and local clinical teams. The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine Research Hub plans to host a display table at the event, sharing information on research funding opportunities, support and routes into research.

14th May 2026 – Ascent Cumbria 2026, Carlisle Racecourse

The Ascent Cumbria Research and Innovation Symposium returns in 2026, bringing together academics, clinicians, health system leaders and innovators to showcase and explore research and innovation shaping health and care in Cumbria and beyond.

Building on the success of the 2025 event, the symposium will highlight cutting-edge research, real-world impact, and collaborative approaches to improving population health, healthcare delivery and clinical practice across the region.

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine Research Hub plans to have a presence at the event, sharing information about its research funding schemes, capacity-building activity and upcoming opportunities, and providing space for attendees to ask questions and connect with the Research Hub team.

Further programme details will be confirmed in due course.

March 2025 – CATO Masterclass on How Everyone Can Support Women in Clinical Academia

Keep an eye on the CATO website for more information on their upcoming masterclass in March 2026.

5 February 2026 – Online Q&A for 2026 Health Research Projects Funding Call

An online Q&A session for the Health Research Projects Funding Call will be held from 13:00-15:00 and 18:00-20:00 on 5 February 2026 to field questions regarding the 2026 Health Research Projects funding. Attendees can join the calls via Teams:

• Online Q&A Sessions: Thursday, 5^th February 2026, 1pm (Teams Link) & 6pm (Teams Link)

23 January 2026 – Visit from the NIHR Chief Executive Officer

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will visit Carlisle on Friday 23 January 2026.

The visit will focus on understanding the local value and impact of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine Research Hub. The Research Hub Co-Director, alongside some of our fellows and project leads, will present their work and discuss future plans for health research and development in the region.

22 January 2026, 12:30-13:30 – CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series, Webinar 6: Health Inequalities

The CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series showcases leading health researchers working in and with Cumbria. Each session features two expert speakers, followed by a Q&A. Open to staff, patients, relatives, and the public, the series explores how local research is shaping the future of care. The sixth webinar of the series is on the theme of Health Inequalities, with speakers Prof Judith Rankin OBE and Prof Joy Duxbury OBE exploring “NIHR Maternal Health Inequalities Research Programme” and “Thinking Mental Health Inequalities”. For more information and how to register, click here.

13 January 2026, 13:00-14.15 – CATO Masterclass: How research can benefit millions – academic endeavours evolving into health policy

CATO are offering a free online masterclass:

As clinical academics, your work is driven by discovery and by improving patient and population health. But research impact does not stop at publication. To truly make a difference, you also need to influence policy, funders and wider society. This special CATO masterclass is relevant at every career stage and across all clinical disciplines. CATO’s expert panellists will share how they have successfully shaped policy and how you can ensure your research has real-world influence beyond the clinic and the lab.

For more information and to register, click here.

13 January 2026 – Online Q&A for 2026 Health Research Projects Funding Call

An online Q&A session for the Health Research Projects Funding Call will be held from 13:00-15:00 and 18:00-20:00 on 13 January 2026 to field questions regarding the 2026 Health Research Projects funding. Attendees can join the calls via Teams:

• Online Q&A Sessions: Tuesday, 13^th January 2026, 1pm (Teams Link) & 6pm (Teams Link)

27 November 2025, 12:00-13:00 – CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series, Webinar 5: Innovations for Wellbeing

The CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series showcases leading health researchers working in and with Cumbria. Each session features two expert speakers, followed by a Q&A. Open to staff, patients, relatives, and the public, the series explores how local research is shaping the future of care. The fifth webinar of the series was on the theme of Innovations for Wellbeing, with speakers Prof David J. Nutt and a duo of Prof Amanda Taylor-Beswick & Georgia Denham exploring “Psychedelics for Depression” and “Young People as Co-Researchers”. For more information and to view the video recording, click here.

27 November 2025 – NIHR Research Support Service Sessions with PCSM-RH Projects

On 27 Nov 2025, colleagues from the NIHR Research Support Service visited Carlisle Infirmary and the University of Cumbria Fusehill Street Campus to meet with PCSM Research Hub Health Research Project awardees. RSS’s Gareth O’Brien, Elaine Kingwell and Myrto Kakoulidou provided methodological guidance and early project planning advice, responding to questions from project teams.

The project co-leads found the sessions highly informative and productive, highlighting the value of the NIHR Research Support Service. We and the projects are grateful to Gareth, Elaine and Myrto for their time and expertise.

18 November 2025 – Cumberland HDRC Connect 2025

Cumberland HDRC, in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council, invited colleagues to the Cumberland HDRC Annual Event at the North Lakes Hotel and Spa.

Expanded this year to include organisations from across Cumbria, this informal, practice-focused event brought people together to share approaches, ideas and challenges that support health and wellbeing. The day offered opportunities to exchange best practice, learn from real-world experience and connect with colleagues from across sectors.

Participants were invited to contribute through presentations or case studies, helping to showcase the diversity of work taking place across Cumbria. The PCSM Research Hub presented the Hub at the event, and brought some of their masters students to attend.

13 November 2025 – NCIC Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) Conference, Energus Conference Centre

The NMAHP Conference was planned to bring together nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to explore innovation, professional identity and wellbeing. The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine Research Hub planned to have a display table at the event, sharing information on research funding and support. The event was cancelled at short notice due to severe weather, and will return in mid-2026.

30 October 2025, 12:30-13:30 – CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series, Webinar 4: Obesity

The CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series showcases leading health researchers working in and with Cumbria. Each session features two expert speakers, followed by a Q&A. Open to staff, patients, relatives, and the public, the series explores how local research is shaping the future of care. The fourth webinar of the series was on the theme of Obesity, with speakers Prof Tricia Tan and Dr Ishara Ranathunga exploring “Action of GLP-1 Agonists on Appetite” and “Obesity Management: Tier 3 Weight Management Service”. For more information and to view the video recording, click here.

25 September 2025, 12:30-13:30 – CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series, Webinar 3: Respiratory Diseases

The CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series showcases leading health researchers working in and with Cumbria. Each session features two expert speakers, followed by a Q&A. Open to staff, patients, relatives, and the public, the series explores how local research is shaping the future of care. The third webinar of the series was on the theme of Respiratory Diseases, with speakers Prof Peter Openshaw and Dr Tim Gatheral exploring “Which Respiratory Viral Vaccines Should We Be Giving to Adults?” and “Morecambe Bay Respiratory Network: Enhancing COPD Care”. For more information and to view the video recording, click here.

24 July 2025, 12:30-13:30 – CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series, Webinar 2: Cardiology

The CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series showcases leading health researchers working in and with Cumbria. Each session features two expert speakers, followed by a Q&A. Open to staff, patients, relatives, and the public, the series explores how local research is shaping the future of care. The second webinar of the series was on the theme of Cardiology, with speakers Madhusudhan Varma and Fu Siong Ng exploring Cardiac Therapeutics and AI Mining of ECGs. For more information and to view the video recording, click here.

26 June 2025, 12:30-13:30 – CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series, Webinar 1: Prostate Cancer

The CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series showcases leading health researchers working in and with Cumbria. Each session features two expert speakers, followed by a Q&A. Open to staff, patients, relatives, and the public, the series explores how local research is shaping the future of care. The first webinar of the series was on the theme of Prostate Cancer, with speakers Kathie Wong and Hashim Ahmed exploring the treatment and diagnosis of the condition. For more information and to view the video recording, click here.

17 June 2025 – Online Q&A for Health Research Projects Funding Call

An online Q&A session for the Health Research Projects Funding Call was held from 18:00-20:00 on 17 June 2025 to field questions regarding the Health Research Projects funding. Attendees could join the call via Teams.

3 June 2025 – PCSM Research Hub Q&A Session for GP and Primary Care Staff

The PCSM Research Hub was pleased to invite GPs and other primary care staff to an introduction and Q&A session on the new Research Hub at the University of Cumbria medical school. The session took place on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 from 14:00-16:00, at the University of Cumbria Learning Gateway (Room LG102), Carlisle CA1 2HH, or attendees could join the session online via Teams.

Sophie Day and Mary Morrell introduced the PCSM Research Hub, which promotes, supports, and funds health research in partnership with the University of Cumbria, Imperial College London, and the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC).

2 June 2025 – Speed-Dating Session for Health Research Projects Funding Call

A speed-dating session was held at No 2, the Abbey (Carlisle CA3 8TZ), on Monday 2 June 2025 at 17:30. The event was an opportunity for researchers from University of Cumbria and NHS (NCIC) to meet and discuss potential collaborations for the Health Research Projects funding. Attendees were able to present their research ideas and meet potential collaborators. We also provided an introduction to the PCSM Research Hub.

15 May 2025 – PCSM Research Hub Stall and Talk at Ascent Cumbria

PCSM Research Hub gave a presentation and hosted a stall at the Ascent Cumbria event on 15 May 2025 where attendees were able to ask questions about the Health Research Projects funding and register for upcoming events.

Professor Jonathan Weber CBE, Co-Director of The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine’s Research Hub announced applications for funding of eight clinical research projects worth up to £50k each during the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) Ascent Cumbria research and innovation event yesterday at the University of Cumbria, Fusehill Campus.

This landmark event marked a pivotal moment in the region’s ambition to lead in cutting-edge medical research, health innovation, and clinical training. Themed around “Defining Research and Innovation at NCIC,” the event brought together leading academics, clinicians, and innovators to showcase groundbreaking work in medical research, artificial intelligence, real-world data, and healthcare delivery. With over 100 attendees, the symposium highlighted the crucial role the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (PCSM) and its partners will play in transforming health outcomes for Cumbria’s communities.