Oxford Health BRC Newsletter Issue 04

Welcome to the February 2024 issue of the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC) newsletter which summarises all recently published news and updates in one place.

To feature in future editions, email Oxford Health R&D Comms Sarah.Marr@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or Sophie.Ray@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Access to dementia research trials to be extended across the UK as Government announces nearly £50m of new funding

The Government announced £49.9 million of new funding into a coordinated network of dementia trials sites across the country recently. The funding is intended to ensure more people suffering with the disease have access to take part in research and help accelerate the development of new treatments.

Read the full story on the OH BRC website

Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre Pain Conference

You are invited to the 1st Oxford Health BRC Pain Conference: from Theory to Practice with expert presentations and conversations about cutting-edge pain research – and discussion on how the latest insights could be applied in clinical practice. Thursday 21 March - Friday 22 March

Full details including how to register on the OH BRC website.

Social Cognition and Functioning in Alzheimer’s Dementia study

This study aims to recruit 207 participants with the condition from 10 NHS sites across England. Amanda Colston, Senior Research Nurse and Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) Team Lead explains more about the study and shares her motivation for becoming a dementia research nurse.

OxInAHR Research Internship program – open for applications

This internship programme, aimed at Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals, provides an introduction to health research. For any queries including an application pack please email: Louise Stayt. Closing date 5 April.

More information on the OH BRC website.

New Study - CELIA at the Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF)

CELIA is a study that tests a new drug on people with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia. The study aims to find out if the drug can help to minimise tau protein builds ups and reduce the progression of the disease symptoms.

If you or someone else is interested in participating please contact dementia.research@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.

More information can be found on the CELIA study website.

The Origin project launch event

Trialling an online arts and culture intervention for young people, Origin launched at the Pitt Rivers Museum recently and was attended by researchers, young people and museum colleagues.

Watch more about the event on Twitter/X.

Ketamine and Related Compounds International Conference 2024

25 March - 27 March, Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford

The highly anticipated Ketamine 2024 event is a forum for top researchers and experienced and interested clinicians to learn from each other about the therapeutic use of ketamine and related compounds for affective disorders. Featuring an outstanding of international speakers, this is an in person event with an option to attend virtually.

Full details including how to register can be found on the OH BRC website.

OH BRC Brain Technologies Theme highlight

FSL Clinical hopes to provide value to radiologists and clinicians, to assist with brain image interpretation and reporting, by leveraging the 300+ pieces of brain MRI analysis software that already exist in FSL.

Working in collaboration with the Oxford Brain Health Clinic (BHC), they are developing a working prototype containing automated analysis software. The Oxford Academic Health and Sciences Network (AHSN) have been supporting this project, with early-stage market research with ten stakeholders across eight NHS Trusts.

Please contact Taylor Hanayik or Ludovica Griffanti for further information.

OHFT R&D Communications Team expands

Welcome to Sophie Ray who joins us as a senior communications and engagement officer in R&D in the Trust. Sophie brings experience and knowledge from her time spent with the NIHR CRN Thames Valley and we look forward to working with her.

Email Sophie here.

NIHR Ask the Expert webinar: Depression Research

ICYMI - you can watch the recent "Ask the Expert" webinar addressing questions from the public on the latest research into the treatment and management of depression answered by University of Oxford expert Prof Michael Browning and University of Exeter expert Prof Barney Dunn.

Watch here: You Tube

OH BRC Research coffee morning Drop In

If you have been involved in research or would like to find out about local research involvement opportunities, come along to the drop in research coffee morning on 28 February between 10am and 12pm at the POWIC Centre at the Warneford Hospital.

For further details please see the OH BRC website.