The Research Room

This week is a 2-4-1 special! We're joined by Fi Rose and Gareth Roberts to tell us all about not one, but TWO pivotal surgical trials. RAPSODI investigates the definitive choice between Reverse and Anatomical Total Shoulder Replacement for patients with painful osteoarthritis. DIDACT compares the clinical and cost-effectiveness of immediate surgery fixation versus simple sling immobilisation for...

Does a bad night's sleep really fuel anxiety? And should we really be banning smartphones in schools? This week we’ve ventured across campus to the Department of Psychology to talk to Emma Sullivan all about the complex science of sleep, screens, and stress. Join us as Emma walks us through two bold projects. The first plunges participants into an unnerving virtual environment to reveal how a slee...

How can we design research that actually benefits people and the planet? This week we welcome back Karen Glerum-Brooks to the Research Room, and this time she's brought along her colleague Andrew Mott to talk about the Valuing Voices project. Listen as Karen and Andrew share lessons learnt from clinical trials, the small design choices that can massively reduce research waste, and the qualitative...

What's the best way to heal an open surgical wound? This week we're chatting with the SWHSI-II team, Catherine Arundel, Sam Swan and Sabeen Zahra, all about the SWHSI-2 trial, the award winning study which compared Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with traditional standard dressings to answer this question. We go behind-the-scenes to hear about the trial’s highs and hurdles: blinded photo assessmen...

It’s not every day you get to hear from a mother and daughter who are shaping clinical research together! This week we had the privilege of speaking with a Emma and Toni Wakefield who both took on the crucial role of chairing Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panels for the BAY trial. We learn how their input led to practical changes in the study, from making materials more inclusive to ensurin...

Can we change the future for young people at risk of bipolar disorder? We're joined by Dr. Rebekah Carney and Prof. Sophie Parker to discuss the Bipolar At-Risk Trial (BART 2). The research aims to spot early signs of bipolar risk in 16–25 year olds and to evaluate a tailored Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based support that could change the course of young lives. Plus, we find out what the s...

It's time for part 2 of the DISC trial, and the big reveal of the results! We're back with Charlie Welch and Dr Puvan Tharmanathan to talk about the Dupuytren's Interventions: Surgery vs Collagenase Trial (DISC), PLUS Chief Investigator Professor Joseph Dias joins us to discuss the results and what they mean.   How do clinicians and patients choose the right path for treating Dupuytren's contractu...

This week in the Research Room, we kick off a special two-part episode! We're joined by Charlie Welch and Dr Puvan Tharmanathan who walk us through the Dupuytren's Interventions: Surgery vs Collagenase Trial (DISC). Dupuytren’s contracture is the fourth most common problem affecting the hand in the UK, but the most suitable course of treatment is often unclear. Join us to learn all about how the D...

Welcome back to the Research Room for a super special bonus episode! Today, we're thrilled to introduce Dr. Jihong Zhu from the Institute for Safe Autonomy here at the University of York. Ever wondered how robotics can get involved with assisted living? Dr. Zhu's work on robotic arms is not just science fiction; it's happening right now and it's fascinating! We chat about his incredible Robot-Assi...

This week in the Research Room we're exploring the world of Forest Schools with Dr. Hannah Armitt and Dr. Rachel Bottomley-Wise. Discover how their project Forest school INterventions for Children’s Health (FINCH) is supporting children's mental health and well-being. Discover how getting kids back to nature isn't just about fun and games, it's a powerful tool for boosting mental health and well-b...

Welcome back to The Research Room! Today we are focusing on The MEASURE Project, which is investigating a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing NHS waiting lists for routine, non-emergency operations. We are joined  by Professor Joy Adamson and Karen Glerum-Brooks to explain their "Mixed Methods Evaluation of high-volume, low-complexity surgical hUbs pRogrammE".  If you are curious about how...

This week in the Research Room we are thrilled to have Dr. Kerry Bell and Dr. Jane Blackwell from the ASSIST 2 project! Their trial, completed in 2022, explored whether Social Stories™ could be an effective way to support autistic children at school. We discuss the ins and outs of the trial, the challenges they faced, especially when COVID threw a curveball their way and, excitingly, they even hav...

This week in The Research Room, Lucy and Janine are joined by Professor David Allsup and Lydia Flett to discuss the BioDrive AFS study. We learn how the trial is tackling the tricky issue of fungal infections in blood cancer patients and exploring how biomarker-driven approaches coud revolutionise treatment. Plus, stick around to hear what awesome superpowers Professor Allsup and Lydia would pick!...

Join Janine and Lucy in The Research Room with the Implement SWATS team - Dr Adwoa Parker, Camila Piccolo-Lawrance and Gloria Mongelli. We explore the complex world of recruiting participants for randomised controlled trials, and whether we can (or should) use money to encourage people to join trials and stay in them.   Resources & Links from This Episode: Find out more about IMPLEMENT SWATs h...

Join us in The Research Room for our VERY FIRST episode! Lucy and Janine sit down with researchers Emma Standley and Alexandrea Wusu to find out all about the BAY Project. The groundbreaking study aims to support young people with depression using Behavioral Activation within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs), reducing waiting times and supporting families in crisis. We find out...