NHS Grampian and University of Aberdeen offered funding for early research projects. These grants were to help projects get the ball rolling, but they will be applying for larger funding within the next year.
There were two successful projects which have received funding. You can read more about these projects listed below in no particular order.
Project 1
Who is involved?
Miss Shafaque Shaikh is a consultant colorectal surgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and was lead applicant. She is working with colleagues from the Health Science Research Unit of the University of Aberdeen and University of Oxford.
What is it about?
This project would like to develop a Core Outcome Set for Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS).
To find out more about what Core Outcome Sets are and why they are important you can watch this video from the COMET Initiative.
Why is it important?
RAS are very expensive and require a major reorganisation of the NHS service. Because of this, decision makers have to find out if the benefits are justifying the costs. The researchers hope that the development of a core outcome set for RAS will help assess the impact of implementing RAS.
Project 2
Who is involved?
Dr Callum Kaye is a consultant in the ARI Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and was lead applicant on one of the projects. Dr Kaye is working with other researchers at the Health Science Research Unit of the University of Aberdeen.
What is it about?
This project is about Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or ARDS. ARDS is a serious condition causing severe lung damage.
Why is it important?
Unfortunately, despite treatment in ICU, one third of people with ARDS do not survive and new treatments are needed.
What will the research involve?
Researchers will be looking at the number of people who are admitted to ICU’s with ARDS in the UK and will ask patients, patients’ families and doctors about their views on running a clinical trial.
Congratulations to both projects on being awarded this funding.