The fourth Liverpool Health Partners (LHP) Grand Round Webinar took place earlier this month to highlight the importance of building research capacity in Cheshire and Merseyside.

Chaired by Dr Cecil Kullu, Associate Medical Director for Research, Development and Innovation at Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust, the session was opened by Prof Gillian Hutcheon, Head of Education and Research Capacity Building for LHP.

Prof Hutcheon told the 50 participants about the plans for the co-creation of an LHP Research Capacity Building (RCB) framework to improve research capability, capacity, inclusivity and culture across the different health and social care disciplines and sectors. She also encouraged others who are interested in building research capability and capacity to contact her with regards to joining the LHP RCB development group.

She was followed by Dr Emily Clarke, consultant genitourinary medicine and HIV and clinical lead for HIV at the Royal Liverpool University Hospitals and a member of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) Herpes Special Interest Group. Dr Clarke gave a personal overview of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Scholars Programme and the success it has since brought her.

Dr George Georgiou, Research Capacity Delivery Manager, presented to participants on the NWC ARC internship opportunities and his colleague Kathyrn Berzins gave an overview of the new NWC ARC mental health capacity building project.

Finally, Dr Karen Matin, of the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences at the University of Liverpool, shared her experiences of Hugh Greenwood funding and how it helped her build research capacity.

The Hugh Greenwood Legacy for Children’s Health Research supports outstanding children’s health research that will directly improve the lives of children looked after by Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Prof Hutcheon said: “I would like to extend my thanks to all the speakers at the event and to those who attended.

“I hope that anyone starting out on their research career, or might be considering research, was inspired by the speakers and their experiences.

“We hope this will be the first of many events that will bring people together in this way and ultimately help increase the number of active researchers improving their skills and working collaboratively to ultimately benefit patients in our region.”

The LHP Grand Round is a series of online events designed to inspire and inform.

At just an hour long, the webinars are a Friday lunch and learn opportunity and open to everyone with an interest in research and innovation in our region and beyond.

Follow LHP on social media or check in on our website to find out details of our next event.

You can watch a recording of the event below.

Find out more about LHP’s Research Capacity Building here or contact Prof Hutcheon Gillian.Hutcheon@LHCH.nhs.uk