Researchers from the North and South Tees regions gathered today for the Tees Valley Research Alliance research conference at Hardwick Hall.
Over 150 members of staff from both North Tees and Hartlepool and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts attended the annual event to discuss ways to advance the number of clinical trials the region is involved in.
Guest speakers take to the stage
Attending the conference was joint chair of North Tees and Hartlepool and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts professor Derek Bell as keynote speaker.
Professor Paul Baker, director of research at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, associate director of the TVRA, Jane Greenaway, and Justin Carter, director of research at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust also attended, providing welcomes and introductions to the day’s proceedings.
COVID-19 research at the front of UK pandemic shield
Both North Tees and South Tees trusts have played vital roles in developing COVID-19 diagnostics and treatments over the pandemic period.
The conference provided research staff involved and those interested in research, the chance to learn more about the future plans the alliance has in striving to reach new advancements in clinical research.
Items on the agenda covered:
- An overview of the research alliance, its successes and future plans to support researchers.
- How to develop NMAHP researchers and showcase NMAHPs and Clinical Research Professionals (CRP) principal investigators
- Growing the alliance commercial portfolio
- Developing lead principal investigators and chief investigators
- Introduction to the chief investigator support service
- Collaborations with academia to grow research
Great engagement
Members of the alliance which attended got busy sharing their reactions and thoughts via the South Tees, North Tees and TVRA Twitter feeds.
Nicola Coverdale, research operations manager for CRN NENC said: “Fantastic presentation from Lauren Tough about what commercial companies are looking for when selecting sites to deliver their research.”