Welcome to the newest member of the LHP team, Professor Gillian Hutcheon.

Prof Hutcheon has been appointed as Head of Education and Research Capacity Building, where she will work to enhance the potential for the NHS workforce to engage with research and develop as researchers and research leaders.

She joins LHP from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) where she was Head of the Institute for Health Research, which involved working with academics to increase the quality and capacity for health research.

Prof Hutcheon, pictured below, said: “I am eager to use my experience as both an academic researcher and research leader to embed capacity building across the LHP programmes.

“I will also be retaining a 0.2 professorial post at LJMU to enable me to continue with my personal research in nanoparticle drug delivery and help maintain the strong connection that exists between LJMU and LHP.

“To build research capacity I will be working with staff across the NHS and HEI partners to assess partner needs, co-create a framework for workforce research development, and build upon the existing strong NHS/academic relationship to increase the opportunities for multi-professional clinical academics.

“We want to both build upon the existing excellent research undertaken across our partners and increase the research opportunities for new researchers and for our nurses, midwifes and allied health professionals such as pharmacists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, podiatrists to name only a few. In addition to enhanced clinical care, this will also enrich population health, community practice, and health promotion that is crucial to improve the wellbeing of our local communities.

“We already know the NHS trusts that undertake clinical research, leading to evidence-based practice, report improved patient care and health outcomes so driving an increase in research capability within our local NHS trusts will make a real difference by improving the health outcomes of our local population.

“I am a firm believer that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ so I personally strive to be a strong role model and I currently mentor women academics towards progression.

“I firmly believe that equality, diversity and inclusivity should be central to any programme of work and consideration of this and equity in research will be a fundamental part of any research capacity building activity.”