Use this link to enable the ReciteMe accessibility toolkit Enable ReciteMe accessibility tools
Use this link to enable the ReciteMe accessibility toolkit

Accessibility tools

Enable ReciteMe accessibility tools
Home > About Newcastle Hospitals > Research and development > How can I get involved in research?

How can I get involved in research?

Find out more about the ways you can get involved, from taking part in a study to joining one of our patient involvement groups.

Taking part in research if you receive care from us

If you’re in hospital, your clinical team might mention a clinical trial or study that you could be suitable for. You’ll be able to talk to doctors and the research team about details of the trial – the kind of treatment, possible side effects, and what extra tests might come as part of being involved.

It’s entirely up to you to decide if you want to take part. You can leave at any trial at any time and don’t have to give a reason, even if you’ve already started taking part.

Not taking part won’t impact on the care you’re currently receiving.

Taking part in research if you’re not currently receiving care from us

Research + Me

Newcastle Hospitals runs an online research registry called Research + Me for people who are interested in taking part in research.

By signing up to the registry, you’re agreeing to receive information about studies that you may be suitable for.

To sign up, you just need to fill out a short online form to tell us a bit about yourself and any health conditions you have. We will then contact you when we are looking for research volunteers that match your profile.

You will receive all the information you need to decide whether you want to take part in the study. Taking part is entirely optional and we will never share your personal information.

You can contact us at any time to stop receiving information or to remove your details from Research+Me altogether.

Be Part of Research

Be Part of Research is a free service which makes it easy to find and take part in vital health and care research across the UK. It is run by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR).

All NIHR-supported trials at Newcastle Hospitals are uploaded to the Be Part of Research website. You can search for a trial by condition, name of the trial drug, and location.

Prefer not to take part in a clinical trial? You can still help shape research

Taking part in research doesn’t always mean signing up to be part of a trial or study. We work with patient and public groups that are linked to the trust and focus on a particular health condition. Some of these groups are listed below:

Young Person’s Advisory Group North East (YPAGne)

YPAGne is a dedicated youth patient and public involvement and engagement group composed of young members aged 12-18 from across the region.

The group assists researchers in developing, designing and delivering impactful research projects from their experiences and perspectives.

The group meets on the second Thursday of the month at the RVI. For further information contact [email protected]

Patient and Public Engagement and Involvement in Musculoskeletal Research (PIMS)

PIMS is a group of patients and members of the public who work with musculoskeletal experts at the trust and Newcastle University.

PIMS provides a forum for direct interaction with researchers, and gives members an opportunity to learn more about Newcastle’s fantastic research, and provide feedback to researchers.

The group meets four times a year and you don’t need any experience, just enthusiasm! How much you do and contribute is up to you.

You can find out more on our dedicated webpage

Perspectives in Cancer Research Group

Established 11 years ago, the groups meets every other month in Newcastle city centre and also meets online.

Members of the group actively assist researchers in developing, designing, and delivering impactful research projects.

To date, the group has contributed to creating national educational resources for cancer patients, acted as co-applicants on research studies, and co-produced their own PPI research. They have also reviewed research protocols, participant information sheets, and consent forms, providing feedback to ensure research is patient-centred.

The group is led by Dr Ben Hood, nurse consultant, who can be contacted on [email protected]

Newcastle Cardiovascular Trials and Research (NECTAR)

NECTAR is dedicated to clinical cardiovascular trials and research with the aim of improving the lives of patients with cardio conditions. NECTAR provides a platform for members of the public and patients to express their views freely about ongoing and future research.

If you’d like to find out more, please email us on [email protected] or call 0191 244 8939.

LIVErNORTH

LIVErNORTH is a national liver patient support group based at the Freeman Hospital, but members join from all over the world.

Meetings take place every six weeks via Zoom and include a guest speaker, such as a healthcare professional, or someone from a university who talks about the latest liver disease developments.

LIVErNORTH has a two-bedroom flat on the Freeman Hospital site, providing overnight facilities for patients, relatives, and carers. The accommodation is for people who find frequent travel to and from the hospital too difficult or costly.

To find more, please get in touch with the team by emailing [email protected] or call 0191 370 2961.

Contact us

If you have any queries or questions about research, please don’t hesitate to contact us on the email below.

[email protected]