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What have our students said about their placement on LCRF...

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What have our students said about their placement on LCRF...

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“I have found the sessions highly educational, even with a history in research. The sessions provide a comprehensive overview of medical research trials when combined with the clinical experiences available on the CRF. I would absolutely recommend that future students engage with these sessions to get the most out of their placement at Leeds clinical research facility.”

Feedback from a second year nursing student

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Placements can be a stressful and anxious time for students and trainees. Whilst on placement, students are at a high risk of burnout with a third of students not able to access health and well being support according to the results of the national training programme 2023 (Student experience | NHS Employers)

There is clearly a need to provide better support for students whilst on placement and to provide access to resources that support their health and wellbeing.

There are a number of ways you can receive further support during your placement on LCRF:

Talk to the health and wellbeing champions in the team

Have an open and honest discussion with your mentor

Talk to the clinical educator who is a trained mental health first aider

Look on the intranet for Staff Health & Wellbeing Support - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (leedsth.nhs.uk)

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The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan aims to ensure the NHS has the workforce it needs for the future. It highlights the need to grow the workforce by significantly expanding domestic education, training and recruitment.

1. Students are positive about the quality of training, supervision and the innovations introduced to support training post COVID-19. Overall experience of education has declined with nearly a quarter not recommending their placement.

2. Two thirds of trainees are at moderate or high risk of burnout and 35 per cent of students are considering leaving their course.

3. Data on micro-aggressions, bullying and harassment are worrying. A third of students are not able to access appropriate health and wellbeing support.

Providing a supportive environment while students are on placement enables them to thrive and want to continue their career in the NHS once qualified.

Feeling valued

When hosting a student, it is vital that they feel as valued and supported as any other member of the team. One of the reasons that apprenticeships are so successful in an organisation is that the apprentices develop a strong working relationship with their colleagues, creating a cohesive environment. Efforts should be made to ensure that students feel part of the team, despite their short time with the trust. Student feedback is generally more positive when they are treated as part of the team. The examples below explore some of the ways to ensure that students feel valued and supported.

Mentoring

A robust mentorship programme is essential for the development and integration of placement students. Mentorship programmes enhance students' confidence in new roles and helps them have a good experience, which can lead to future recruitment and increasing workforce supply.

Financial advice

It is important to help students understand available funding streams and to support their financial wellbeing.

In addition to the tuition fee loan and maintenance loan, further financial support may be available to pre-registration students from the NHS Business Service Authority, operating on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

To find out more about specific student finance available for those on placement access the  UK government website .

Good practice examples:

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provide free car parking for their students on placement.

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust ensure that students are included in all benefits that employees get in the trust.

Mental health support

Placements can be a challenging time for students, as they are exposed to new environments and situations that may be overwhelming. Providing adequate support for their mental health and wellbeing can help them overcome barriers and maximise their learning potential.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust provides a package for all students in the area including a freshers week animation . This highlights where to go to access services, including 24/7 urgent mental health phone lines, and the website gives information on walk-in centres around the city.

"Living in a new area or city is difficult enough, so we've made it easier for all our new students to know how to access our services during their stay in Merseyside." - Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Feeling secure in the workplace

Employers need to create a safe environment where students and staff can speak up without fear of being judged, criticised or ridiculed. It is important to put in place anti-bullying and anti-racist policies to help prevent any type of harassment or victimisation in the workplace. Below are some tools and examples of how to proactively create an inclusive culture and tackle discrimination in the workplace:

At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust the wellbeing lead makes a presentation about the support offered by the trust and signposts to the resources available for students. Individual support about wellbeing is also available on an ad hoc basis.

Pre-registration nurse attrition and transition portal

The NHS England workforce, education and training team created a resource for education institutes and employers, addressing the issues with pre-registration attrition in student nursing. It features practical resources such as workforce strategies, career support, funding and support guidance from across the country, from health and care experts, employers and universities.

The portal is hosted on the platform, an online collaboration space that welcomes everyone in health and care. It's a free space for secure collaboration across different organisations. If you have any questions, please email  attrition.support@hee.nhs.uk .

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Explore what employers can do to better support their students on placement.

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I just wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you so much for an excellent day. Tanya, (Research sister, LCRF) your enthusiasm to share what you do was extremely informative, insightful, and engaging, equally you and your team were so warm, welcoming, and inviting.

I'd highly recommend any student to try and spend a few days with you to experience the excellent work you do. This is somewhere I could certainly see myself working in, in my future career. Thank you.

Feedback from a nursing apprentice.

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Welcome to your placement at Leeds Clinical Research Facility (LCRF).

In this Padlet you will find copies of all the workbooks and documentation you will need during your placement, as well as links to useful information on the clinical research we support and different specialities you can work with.

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"Coming to the LCRF has been the best experience I’ve had in my studies. I requested the placement as I am interested in clinical research and everyday has been amazing. I have learned more than I thought possible during my two months on the unit and made some great friends along the way.

From my first day, I have felt welcomed by everyone from the head nurse to the CTA’s and CSW’s. My learning was always at the forefront of everyone’s mind and I was offered more opportunities to meet my learning goals than I can count. The opportunity to participate in learning opportunities away from the immediate placement area has been a first and greatly appreciated. I was fortunate enough to complete the Cancer Researchers Introduction to Cancer one day training, Good Clinical Practice and begin my Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment training. This is in addition to fulfilling many of my clinical proficiencies such as completing ECGs, venepuncture and cannulation, in an area where I could learn from real experts and feel supported to keep going when I felt things weren’t going right.

When I came into my training, I quickly established that I wanted to work in an environment where I could get to know my patients and their families and build relationships with them. I had considered ICU as the staff/ patient ratio appealed to me, however, the night shifts did not. Then I thought about working in the community but didn’t fancy lone working. I had never considered that being in a clinical research facility would offer me everything I wanted out of nursing. However, I discovered very quickly that actually the LCRF would do just that. The staff develop relationships with their patients and families and share the ups and downs of clinical research. They support patients to make decisions about their care holistically and advocate for them when necessary.

I was given the opportunity to work with nurses across research from orthopaedics at CAH to Cancer Research UK nurses, who recruit patients into clinical trials, design and implement protocols and so much more. This allowed me to develop an understanding of the spectrum of roles available in research for nurses and how much career progression there is if you want it.

This placement has brought me to the end of my second year of study, it has remined me why I wanted to be a nurse in the first place – which is often difficult to hold onto when all you hear about are strikes, people leaving the profession and financial strain – and given me the motivation to give my final year my all."

Feedback from a second year UoL student on a long term placement with LCRF.

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Hello, my name is Charlotte and I am the Clinical Educator for LCRF.

I graduated from the University of Leeds in 2008 and began my nursing career at Leeds General Infirmary working in Interventional Cardiology.

During this time I developed an interest in clinical research and how it can improve patient outcomes and investigate cutting edge device technology and pharmacology.

I soon began working with the Interventional Cardiology research team on a wide ranging portfolio covering interventional, early phase, CTIMP and observational studies.

During my 11 years working in clinical research I supported and delivered a large number of high profile clinical trials working collaboratively with international sponsors and representing Leeds as a top performer in complex clinical trial delivery.

One of my main strengths was supporting and teaching new members of staff on research processes and delivery.

This passion for education led me to my current role as LCRF Clinical Educator.

I joined the Research Academy in October 2022 and support the LCRF workforce with their training and development needs.

I am committed to providing training for all which educates and empowers our staff to deliver complex and innovative clinical trials across a wide range of disease specialities at LCRF.

Please contact me @ research.academylth@nhs.net

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During your placement Charlotte will provide weekly training sessions on various research topics to further your knowledge and understanding of research processes, governance and protecting study participants.
Topics include:
Introduction to Clinical Research
Protocols
Placebo control and blinding
Informed consent
SOP's
Medicines management
Safety reporting
Emergency response

These informal, interactive sessions will give you the opportunity to step away from the clinical area and strengthen your knowledge of research fundamentals. This will provide context to the practice you see in the CRF and highlight the legislation and historical influences on today's clinical trial management.

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‘From my first day at the CRF I felt at home, like I’d found my tribe’ | Nursing Times

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Rochelle Tattersall on her positive experiences of doing a placement in a clinical research facility.

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'I met up with the clinical educator, weekly. This was an excellent thing to implement, as we were able to discuss things such as what a protocol is, look at some protocols, what to do in an emergency situation within a trial setting. This made me feel really supported. I wish that this is something they would implement on all hub placements- as it gives students a better opportunity to voice any opinions or concerns about the placement, discuss aspects about the specialty and make links from theory to practice.

With these meetings and the structured lessons with the worksheets, students may feel they can contribute a lot more and feel a lot more prepared when qualifying.

So, I was very lucky in research because the staff are dying to teach you! They had time to dedicate to you and support you.

Feedback from a second year UoL student on a long term placement with LCRF.

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Our aim at LCRF is that you will:

Enjoy your time with us!

Learn about how we deliver life changing clinical trials

Understand why clinical research is so important

Realise how you can contribute to caring for participants in clinical trials

See how clinical research nursing is a cutting edge speciality

Achieve your placement objectives

Excel in your academic development and personal growth

Practice clinical skills

We can only achieve this through effective collaboration and teamworking. Your practice supervisors and assessors are committed to providing a diverse experience for you by providing exposure to a wide range of clinical trials and specialities.

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Did you know that 10% of the population are neurodivegent with this figure thought to be higher in healthcare organisations? (British Dyslexia Association 2021).

We want to support neurodivergent learners to get the most out of our training programmes.
Please speak to your PA/PS or Clinical Educator if you are neurodivergent to discuss how we can support your individual learning needs.

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Bexley CRF opened in 2020 and provides the following facilities:

6 bedded treatment suite

11 treatment chairs

1 procedure room

There are also dedicated research consulting rooms, alongside supportive clinical care space to deliver high-quality outpatient, day case and inpatient treatment and care.

The Bexley CRF staff support the delivery of early phase and high intensity clinical trials for various disease specialities.

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Chapel Allerton CRF is our newest facility, opening in 2022. The research supported here helps to evaluate new therapies to treat musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases as well as dermatological and dental clinical research.

The facility has a 4 bedded clinical treatment bay and is co located with the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)

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Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are the single most common cause of chronic disability, placing a huge burden on patients and society. Significant advances in the development of innovative treatments, including biologic therapies, have changed the opportunities available to patients. Our goal is to enable the right therapy to be delivered to the right patient at the right time, and thus improve patient outcomes further.

Clinical trials at our facility are helping to evaluate new therapies to treat MSK and autoimmune diseases more effectively, and - through collaboration with the Leeds MIC contributing to our ability to detect disease early so that, in the future, we can intervene with therapies to prevent progression as well.

The MSK trial programme at NIHR Leeds CRF builds on world-leading experimental translational research at the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine.

Research at NIHR Leeds BRC focuses on the identification and development of biomarkers through the accurate characterisation of disease using, in particular, strengths in novel imaging. NIHR Leeds BRC pioneered the use of joint ultrasound, enabling earlier diagnosis and confirmation of disease remission and uses magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) to understand the pathophysiology of disease and effectiveness of therapies. NIHR Leeds BRC are also developing the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT), as a first quantitative imaging skin biomarker in conditions such as scleroderma and psoriasis.

Our Facility draws on expertise within NIHR Leeds BRC, particularly the use of novel imaging techniques, to deliver early phase and complex later stage clinical trials across the full range of MSK and autoimmune conditions. This includes conditions which affect the joints, such as osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis), auto-immune multisystem conditions such as lupus, vasculitis, scleroderma and inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis and lupus.

We have developed strong links with the leading pharmaceutical companies, including Abbvie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer Ltd, Roche, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, working with them on early stage commercial and academic trials to test new drug treatments.

We also receive generous support from charities such as Versus Arthritis, Lupus UK and a local ACORN charity and are successful in gaining NIHR research funding.

Our research focus is early intervention and accurate phenotyping of disease, with significant emphasis on the development of clinical, imaging and blood/tissue cellular biomarkers in order to enable more effective prognostic and treatment decisions.

MSK and autoimmune diseases are also associated with increased cardiovascular health problems. We work closely with colleagues in cardiovascular medicine to understand this increased risk - conducting trials to, for example, understand how inflammation can also contribute to cardiovascular disease - and to assess what therapies might be most effective.

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Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are the single most common cause of chronic disability, placing a huge burden on patients and society. Significant advances in the development of innovative treatments, including biologic therapies, have changed the opportunities available to patients.

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The BRC provides access to:

A muscle laboratory/biopsy room

State-of-the-art motion gait analysis laboratory

3T MRI scanner

2 4D ultrasonography suites with image processing facilities.

The EULAR Centre of Excellence in Rheumatology

Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (iMBE; Class 2 ISO9001 accredited laboratory).

Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine (LIRMM): HTA licensed sample repository, sample preparation area and a tissue culture laboratory.

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The NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre opened in 2008, and is an international centre of excellence which exists to provide infrastructure to support translational research across: Musculoskeletal disease, cardiometabolic disease, surgical technologies, haematology, pathology and antimicrobial resistance.

The NIHR Leeds BRC is hosted at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust in partnership with the University of Leeds and the University of York.

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The Leeds NIHR Biomedical Research Centre is a leading centre of excellence in MSK research. It exists to provide infrastructure to support translational research across musculoskeletal disease.

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You will receive this document prior to starting your placement with us which answers:

What is a CRF?

What is the role of the research nurse?

What potential activities could I be involved with on placement?

What have other students said about their research placement?

There is also space for you to consider your individual learning objectives prior to starting your placement.

A copy of this document can be found on the LCRF Student Placement SharePoint

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Your mentor will share this document with you at beginning of placement which details

The Leeds Way values

Orientation to Bexley CRF, e.g where to find us, shift times, what we do

PA and PS information and expectations

Proficiencies and skills which could be achieved at Bexley CRF

Absence reporting details

Introduction to the team

Senior nurse structure in the Research and Innovation CSU

Practice learning facilitator information

Research academy structure and information

Health and safety- e.g what do do in the event of a fire, crash, documentation, dress code etc

A copy of this document can be found on the LCRF Student Placement SharePoint

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Your mentor will share this with you at beginning of your placement. This workbook is designed to provide some prompts for self directed learning to understand and delve deeper into 3 specific research topics and themes:

Gaining an awareness of embedding clinical research into patient care pathways within the NHS

Understanding how to link theory to practice by recognising research terminology and processes

Gaining an awareness of research governance and safety in clinical trials

It also contains information on:

Accessing and completing Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training

Research terminology glossary

A copy of this document can be found on the LCRF Student Placement SharePoint

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The LGI CRF was established in 2014 and supports the delivery of Cardiovascular and Neuroscience research with the following facilities:

4 bedded clinical treatment bay (4 treatment beds/chairs)

2 clinical consultation/examination rooms.

Sample preparation/storage laboratory.

Exercise physiology laboratory/respiratory gas analysis area Integrated Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPEX) exercise equipment used to assess the performance of the heart and lungs at rest and during exercise.

2 Upright Bicycles

1 Treadmill

1 Recumbent Bicycle

Cardiac Monitoring

4 Pacemaker Programmers

Ultrasound imaging rooms: 4D Echocardiograph (3), portable ultrasound machine (1)

Clinical physiology measurement room

Dynamometer

Microneurography Equipment

Haemodynamic Monitor

The CRF is located in the Yorkshire Heart Centre and works alongside:

Clinical Trials Pharmacy providing 24 hour access to pharmacy staff and the aseptic suite

ICU and HDU providing 24/7 specialist critical care outreach

Coronary Care Unit

Cardiothoracic/neurosurgical theatres.

Six Cardiac Catheter laboratories (2 with research facilities/software) for experimental medicine trials (STEMI/stem cell therapies, stenting, structural heart interventions).

Leeds Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Service : 3 state-of-the-art 1.5T/3T MRI scanners.

Advanced Imaging Centre (MRC National Centre for Hyperpolarised MRI): 1H/31P MR Spectroscopy, quantitative perfusion imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Parametric mapping and 4-dimensional flow capabilities.

Centre for Translational Cardiovascular Imaging (University of Leeds):  Part of the Leeds Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre (British Heart Foundation).

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Pathology Department: Clinical Genetics (including research),Microbiology, Cellular Pathology, Blood Transfusion Services, Blood Sciences, Digital Pathology, Genetics Lab, Specialist Laboratory Medicine (SLM), Solid Malignancy Diagnostic Service (SMDS).

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Cardiovascular trials at the NIHR Leeds CRF are aimed at finding new ways to diagnose, treat - and even prevent - coronary artery disease, heart disease and heart failure.

Between 30-40% of our trials are run in collaboration with pharmaceutical and medical device companies, both large and small. Recent partners include Boston Scientific, Medtronic and Abbott Vascular.

The rest of our work is primarily funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Medical Research Council (MRC) and through medical charities such as the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Our portfolio includes early phase trials of new drug treatments for cardiovascular disease, assessing safety and tolerable doses, but we do much more than that. Much of our work also involves looking at complex experimental procedures or techniques as part of later stage clinical trials.

Because of the nature of treatments for cardiovascular diseases, many of our trials involve surgical intervention. We trial new surgical techniques, such as the use of keyhole surgery in cardiovascular operations such as valve repair/replacement, or new devices, such as defibrillators, complex pacemakers or coronary stents.

We also look at the innovative use of new or known drugs within surgical procedures, such as injection directly into the artery during an operation or even during a heart attack, to identify if this can improve the outcome or reduce damage to the heart. Other trials include investigating the safety and efficacy of administering stem cells or new drugs directly into the heart, to aid repair or improve function.

Other areas of our work involve trialling new imaging techniques, such as the latest cardiac MRI techniques, for use in improving diagnosis and risk stratification. We also conduct trials of preventative medicines, to identify if certain drugs can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in certain sections of the population.

Our state-of-the-art imaging equipment, including MRI, CT and ultrasound, alongside our specialist physiology suite, enables us to accurately assess the impact of new treatments, devices or techniques, both in terms of heart function, exercise capacity and quality of life.

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Cardiovascular – NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility

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Cardiovascular trials at the NIHR Leeds CRF are aimed at finding new ways to diagnose, treat – and even prevent – coronary artery disease, heart disease and heart failure.

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The Leeds Children’s (LCH) CRF is a purpose-built, age-appropriate facility supporting the delivery of paediatric experimental medicine research from antenatal conditions through to adult variants of childhood diseases. The CRF has:

4 treatment beds

2 en-suite single rooms.

Sample preparation and sample storage laboratory

The CRF is co-located with the Leeds Paediatric Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) with easy access to:

Neonatal and Paediatric ICU and HDU: 24/7 specialist critical care outreach

Clinical Trials Pharmacy: 24 hour access/pharmacy staff/aseptic suite.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Pathology Department: Clinical Genetics (including research),Microbiology, Cellular Pathology, Blood Transfusion Services, Blood Sciences, Digital Pathology, Genetics Lab, Specialist Laboratory Medicine (SLM), Solid Malignancy Diagnostic Service (SMDS).

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Welcome to the Children's Clinical Research Team Research is a priority in the Leeds Children's Hospital, and we aim to allow families the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of quality research, contributing to local, national and international studies.

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Established in 2016, the Dental Translational and Clinical Research Unit (DenTCRU) CRF is a purpose built, self-contained, state-of-the-art dental CRF co-located on the LGI campus (as part of the University of Leeds Dental Hospital) with direct access to acute services and emergency care.  The CRF has:

6 high specification dental chairs with operating microscopes, intra oral cameras (for digital photography) and controlled lighting system for colour matching and tooth whitening studies

2 portable dental chairs with head and portable lights for community-based projects

Wet laboratory and specimen preparation laboratory

Class II Biological Safety Cabinet: Suitable for use with class I, II or III organisms with appropriate risk assessment, annually calibrated to national standards

Anaerobic Microbiology Workstation: processing, incubation and examination of samples without exposure to atmospheric oxygen

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Oral and dental health is the newest disease area within the CRF's research portfolio. Trials take place in a state-of-the-art dedicated dental research clinic within the £1.7 million Dental Translational and Clinical Research Unit (DenTCRU) co-funded by the Wellcome Trust and the University of Leeds.

We run a mix of commercially and government funded studies including funding from the National Institute for Health and care Research for clinical trials. Our research is also supported by a number of charities, including the Oral and Dental Research Trust and the Dunhill Medical Trust.

Our studies cover the full range of research within oral and dental health, testing drug treatments, medical devices, novel dental materials and surgical procedures. We are embracing innovations in digital dentistry, drawing on the latest scanning and digital techniques to create 3D digital dental archives for use in both diagnostics, treatment planning and restoring function. This includes 3D printing of high quality dental models for faster "dignity denture" production.

DenTCRU CRF supports collection of materials for the Skeletal Tissues Research Bank that supports research to understand the mechanisms of tooth decay, erosion, wear; developing a source of stem cell for tissue regeneration and development of new dental materials that in turn will be evaluated in the DenTCRU CRF.

DenTCRU CRF successfully undertook the first-in-man trials on self-assembling peptides (SAP) based on Professor Jennifer Kirkham's research carried out at the University of Leeds. The product 'Curadont Repair', using this peptide technology, gained CE mark approval for clinical use and is now on the market for use in stimulating repair in teeth showing early signs of decay. We are also working on new atraumatic restorative therapy to assess a novel approach for the prevention of root caries in the elderly.

Next generation sequencing within our laboratory facilities allows us to run studies that involve complex analysis of the oral microbiome - the bacteria within the mouth and how these interact. We are developing trials looking at the use of improved stewardship of antimicrobials with a particular focus on addressing antimicrobial resistance.

We also work on studies which require genetic profiling of patients, such as identifying genetic markers for inherited enamel developmental disorders including Amelogenesis Imperfecta.

Changes in our oral health can provide early signs of systemic disorders, and we are collaborating with Musculoskeletal researchers within NIHR Leeds CRF to identify if gingivitis - inflammation of the gums - is an early marker for rheumatoid arthritis

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Oral and dental health is the newest disease area within the CRF's research portfolio. Trials take place in a state-of-the-art dedicated dental research clinic within the £1.7 million Dental Translational and Clinical Research Unit (DenTCRU) co-funded by the Wellcome Trust and the University of Leeds.

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Cancer Researchers Introductory Course- CRIC

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Cancer Researchers Introductory Course- CRIC

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The Cancer Researchers’ Introductory Course is an in house full day training course for all new staff working in the Cancer Division which you will be invited to attend.

The course covers:
- Key words and terminology routinely used in cancer research
- Understanding the biological basis of cancer and the link to the mechanism of action of treatments
- Exploring the common pathways for cancer patients from diagnosis and through the different treatment modalities
- Reviewing the current treatments and their adverse events
- Learning about the impact of a cancer diagnosis on a patient and their family and to consider survivorship.

Please contact your Clinical Educator to register your interest and receive the upcoming course dates.
charlotte.harland@nhs.net

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During your placement you will need to complete GCP training.
GCP (Good Clinical Practice) is the international standard for conducting clinical research and is a mandatory training requirement for staff involved with clinical trials.
The training is via e-Learning on the NIHR learn portal. Please follow this link to create an account.

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) | NIHR

If your placement is >6 weeks please complete the full introduction to GCP training, this will take around 3-4 hours.
If your placement is <6 weeks please complete the NIHR Research Practice in Clinical Settings training, or, if you prefer you may complete the full introduction to GCP instead.

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Follow the link to the Padlet for LCRF staff

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Check out the Research Academy Padlet to see what training is available to research delivery staff. Please discuss with your practice supervisor if you wish to access any additional training.

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“I am interested in the idea of a career in cancer research nursing and I have just completed a four week placement at Leeds Clinical Research Facility.

I sought out this placement because I was interested in the idea of one day becoming a research nurse. Being able to work within a specialist team has given me insight into the different nursing roles, some of which are clinical and involve working very closely with patients, while others are much more back office and focussed on designing and implementing trial protocols.
I know that I will want a clinically focussed role and now understand much better where and how I might be able to pursue this in future.

To undertake this placement, I was required to complete the National Institute for Health Research’s module in Good Clinical Practice (GCP). This sets out the legal and ethical framework for all health research and covers the protocols for collecting and maintaining the integrity of research findings. Being able to apply this learning in the Research Facility has helped me to embed this knowledge and see how it protects patients taking part in clinical studies as well as ensuring that the evidence collected is a robust basis for future decisions about new treatment protocols.

I’ve learned a huge amount about a specialism that I couldn’t have experienced locally and now have more confidence in the knowledge and skills that I’ve learned so far.

The team in Leeds really couldn’t have been more friendly and welcoming right from the first contact – my first email asking if they’d consider hosting a placement for me received a positive response within an hour! And they’ve been equally welcome in person from the minute I arrived.

I can’t wait to qualify and crack on with my future career – hopefully in research nursing!”

Shortened version of feedback written by a second year nursing student on placement with us from the University of Brighton.

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There are 5 CRF's throughout LTHT collectively known as Leeds Clinical Research Facility- LCRF.

LCRF covers a wide range of disease specialities including oncology, haematology, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, oral and dental health and paediatrics.

The main CRF is located at St James's University Hospital with satellite units at Leeds General Infirmary- Adult and Paediatrics, Chapel Allerton Hospital and Leeds Dental Institute.

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The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leeds Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust in collaboration with the University of Leeds.

Leeds is England's third largest city with a local population of ~760,000; the wider Leeds city region (population 2.95M) is a microcosm of the country in terms of diversity, geography and multi-morbidities. Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust provides regional and supra-regional services for ~5.4M people and recruited 17,438 patients into NIHR portfolio clinical trials in 2019-20 (6th nationally). The University of Leeds is a top 10 UK university in terms of its research power (Research Excellence Framework, 2014), and a top 100 world-ranked university (QS world rankings). Over 80% of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust/University of Leeds collaborations are research rated "world leading" or "internationally excellent" (CWTS bibliometrics).

The NIHR Leeds CRF carries out high quality early stage and experimental clinical trials to help new treatments and tests reach patients more quickly. The NIHR Leeds CRF consists of the CRF Core (senior management and administrative staff) at the Research and Innovation Centre based at St James's Hospital and two CRF sites:

St James's Hospital CRF (SJUH CRF): Our largest facility delivering high quality experimental medicine research, including first-in-human trials in oncology, haematology and immunology.

Leeds General Infirmary CRF (LGI CRF): specialist focus on people with cardiovascular diseases, located within the Yorkshire Heart Centre.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust has two additional CRFs that collaborate with the NIHR LCRF Core but do not currently deliver trials as part of the wider NIHR LCRF. The Leeds Children's Hospital CRF (LCH CRF) is a purpose built, age-appropriate facility supporting delivery of paediatric experimental medicine research in a comprehensive range of illnesses, from antenatal conditions through to adult variants of childhood diseases. The Dental Translational and Clinical Research Unit (DenTCRU) CRF is a purpose built, self-contained, state-of-the-art dental CRF co-located on the LGI campus (as part of the University of Leeds Dental Hospital). Finally, theChapel Allerton CRF (CAH CRF) is under construction and will open in Spring 2022 to support clinical and translational research on the CAH site including musculoskeletal and dermatology research.

Core funding for the NIHR Leeds CRF supports trial delivery at the SJUH and LGI CRFs; we also work with industry, research councils and charities to run over 100 early stage, experimental or complex clinical trials at any one time.

We provide a welcoming, professional and safe environment for patients taking part in our trials, fully supported by clinical services within Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust including world class imaging, pathology, radiotherapy and informatics/artificial intelligence.

Patients and the wider public play a key role in our research, not only as participants, but also helping us in shaping the direction of our work and in the design of research initiated in Leeds. We have particular expertise and a strong track-record in the following areas:

Cardiovascular research: heart failure and coronary disease,
Musculoskeletal research: conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism,
Oncology research: cancers that involve solid tumour,
Haematology research: including cancers of the blood,
Oral & Dental: full range of research within oral and dental health, Paediatrics: treats a comprehensive range of illnesses including Cardiovascular disease.

Experimental medicine and translational research in Leeds includes a wide range of disease specialties, including research in paediatrics, neuroscience, diabetes and gastroenterology, with trials delivered either through the NIHR Leeds CRF sites or the other non-NIHR Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust CRFs. Wherever possible, trials are delivered on a CRF co-located with the relevant clinical services.

We conduct trials of

Novel drugs, medicines and vaccines

Cell based and viral therapies

Innovative technologies and devices

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Leeds is England's third largest city with a local population of ~760,000; the wider Leeds city region (population 2.95M) is a microcosm of the country in terms of diversity, geography and multi-morbidities. Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust provides regional and supra-regional services for ~5.4M people and recruited 17,438 patients into NIHR portfolio clinical trials in 2019-20 (6th nationally).

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Charlotte Harland (@LCRF_education) / Twitter

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I just wanted to email you to thank you again for arranging a spoke day with the renal research nurses. I really enjoyed my time with them and gained a lot of knowledge.

Research is something I’ve always been interested in (and) it is definitely something I would consider in the future!

Shortened feedback from a student on the nursing degree apprenticeship programme.