About us and our partners

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any research related questions and queries – we’d love to hear from you!

Dr John Devapriam: Chief Medical Officer

“Clinical research…is what makes the development of new medicines, new procedures and new therapies possible. Without clinical research, we would not be able to decide if new interventions are better than our current interventions. It is how healthcare professionals find the most effective methods of care for our patients.”

Dr John Devapriam is the Medical Director and Executive lead for research at HWHCT which is part of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System (ICS). He is a consultant psychiatrist and has been a clinician researcher all his career. His portfolio consists of several peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and national Reports. He was Committee member for the NICE guideline (NG 93) Learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges service design and delivery (2018).

Professor Peter Langdon: Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Honorary Director of Research

“Research is vital to improving healthcare, reducing disability, and improving the quality of our lives. This is everyone’s business, and those who participate in clinical research make an incredibly valuable and important contribution to our shared society.”

Professor Peter Langdon is the Honorary Associate Director of Research and is responsible for helping to implement our clear plan for the further inclusion of research across all aspects of healthcare to improve the quality of care provided to the residents of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. He is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and has led several national studies focused upon improving the lives of people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Sam Topping: Operational Lead for Research and Development

My role is to oversee clinical and health research in the Trust, and to encourage and support development of our own locally generated research ideas. The research process enables us to explore, identify and generate new knowledge and understanding of our world, which to me, is really exciting. I am particularly interested in the psychology of organisational culture, and the use of qualitative methodologies.

Angela Hoadley: Senior Clinical Research Practitioner

I think research is important to develop treatments and processes to benefit patients, staff and carers. My role includes completing feasibility documentation for potential portfolio and commercial studies within the Trust. Additionally, I identify and support Principal Investigators to be involved in research and assist participants through the research process. My background is in mental health and psychology and I would describe myself as a quantitative researcher.

Cath Thurlby: Research Nurse

I've worked within the NHS for more than 25 years, gaining experience across a wide range of clinical and support disciplines. Over the past decade, I have developed a strong passion for research, contributing to an extensive variety of studies and projects. I find real fulfilment in being part of research that helps shape future care, improve treatments, and ultimately make a lasting difference for generations to come. 

Maria Morelli: Clinical Research Practitioner

I’m a Clinical Research Practitioner passionate about improving lives through ethical, high-quality research. With a background in Psychology, Criminology, and an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, I support NIHR-approved studies, from protocols to participant recruitment and data management. Currently training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, I combine scientific curiosity with compassion, using quantitative and computational methods to bridge research and real-world care, always putting patients first.

Hazel Thoo: Clinical Research Practitioner

I work as a Clinical Research Practitioner. My role is to help clinical teams and patients get involved in the exciting research studies we run here at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care. I have worked in similar roles across the wider Midlands area for many years and really enjoy supporting patients along their research participation journey. 

Alice Madden: Research Project Support Officer

My role is to help grow healthcare professional and patient sign up to research studies through effective marketing as well as supporting specific research projects. I have a background in sales and marketing with a major retailer and national charity and it's great to be using these skills to help progress development in clinical & health research that directly improves patient care.

Harriet Davies:  Research Support Facilitator

I support the R&D team and HWHC staff in the delivery of NIHR portfolio adopted health and care research studies, non-portfolio and commercial health and care research studies. I am also involved in promoting research opportunities within the Trust. The best parts of my job are setting up research studies, making sure study targets are met and enabling colleagues and clinical staff to work on the study.

National Institute for Health and Care Research

‘The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research & provides the people, facilities, and technology that enable research to thrive.’ Credit: NIHR website

Also known as the research arm of the NHS, the NIHR’s mission is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We take part in a number of large scale national research studies. These studies are identified from the NIHR's nationally hosted portfolio of research studies. This means these studies are of a high quality, have received ethics approval etc and take place at a number of different sites nationally. They cover a whole range of physical and mental health specialities.

Here’s a snapshot of what the NIHR do and here is a more in-depth explanation of how research is organised and run in the UK.

Regional Research Networks (RRNs)

Within the NIHR there are 12 regional RRNs enabling research to happen at a local level. We sit in the West Midlands which is also the largest local network representing a population of 5.67 million.

Regional Research Network West Midlands (RRN WM)

Within RRN WM there are 28 NHS Trusts and 20 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). In RRN WM Trust-based research activity is managed and supported by local Research and Development (R&D) teams like us.

This network helps to increase the opportunities for patients to take part in research studies and ensure that studies are carried out efficiently.

Public and Patient Involvement (PPI)

The NHS has adopted the concept of PPI since the Health and Social Care Act 2001. This act stipulates the need to involve and consult patients and the public about NHS plans, services and resources. PPI in mental health research is now a requirement for gaining ethical permission and a requirement for funding support.

It is really important that PPI within mental health research is effective, meaningful and sustainable and not just a tick box exercise.

Good PPI means making people feel genuinely included, listening to what they say, and acting on their feedback. Researchers and clinicians are experts in their fields, but they don’t have the lived experience of people who actually have the condition. That personal experience is why public involvement is so important.

 

Universities, organisations & councils:

University of Worcester               

University of Birmingham  

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration

National Centre for Mental Health

Royal College of Nursing (RCN)

Council for Allied Health Professionals Research (Cahpr)

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Fellowship Programme

You may also be interested to learn more about…

Join Dementia Research

If you are interested in finding out more about research into dementia. Find out more here Join Dementia Research.

‘Join Dementia Research’ is a collaboration which provides a service enabling people to register their interest in participating in dementia research. They are then 'matched' to suitable studies by health professionals. People then choose which studies they'd like to take part in and give their consent on a study by study basis.

Alzheimer’s Research UK

Alzheimer’s Research UK is ‘the UK’s leading dementia research charity and have invested in over 1000 projects across all forms of dementia since 1998.’ Their mission 'is to bring about the first life-changing dementia treatment by 2025.' They provide free dementia information booklets, and answer questions about dementia and dementia research via the Dementia Research Infoline 0300 111 5111 or infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org To find out more and how to get involved please visit: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/

Credit: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/