Research Networks - clinical focus or field of research

Acute and critical care

Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN)

Every year across England and Wales, 10,000 people die after injury. It is the leading cause of death among children and young adults of 44 years and under. In addition, there are many thousands who are left severely disabled for life. Our foundation in research and our highly skilled team ensures that we provide accurate and relevant information to help Doctors, Nurses and Managers improve their services.

Website: https://www.tarn.ac.uk/

Allied and complimentary medicine

The Research Council for Complementary Medicine (RCCM) Complementary and Alternative Medicine Researcher Network (CAMRN)

The RCCM is a charity dedicated to developing and promoting high quality research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM).  The RCCM works with the CAM professions and CAM researchers to disseminate knowledge and evidence on safe and effective complementary medicine in the context of an integrated approach to health care.

Website: http://www.rccm.org.uk/

Bereavement research

Bereavement Research Forum (BRF)

The main purpose of the Bereavement Research Forum is to provide a forum to debate current/future research; influence policy makers and funders of research; and support and encourage both producers (researchers) and users of research (both academics and practitioners).

Website: http://www.brforum.org.uk/

Cardiovascular Disease and stroke

National Stroke Nursing Forum (NSNF)

The NSNF wishes to improve the quality of stroke care across the stroke pathway through promoting research that advances the discipline of stroke nursing.

Website: http://www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/school_of_health/national_stroke_forum.php 


Child Health

Research in Child Health Network

The Research in Child Health (RiCH) Community is committed to sharing research activity and enhancing evidence-based practice for infants, children and young people and their families through a steering group and a number of regional groups across the UK.

Website: Research in child health network

Association of Child Health Nurse Researchers (UK) Group (ACHNR)

ACHNR(UK) is for child health nurses who are doctorally prepared or a considerable way along the process of gaining a PhD, and for independent researchers in the field with other evidence of similar ability or achievement.

Chair: Dr Alison Twycross
Email: atwycros@hscs.sgul.ac.uk

Website: ACHNR(UK)

Childhood Cancer Research Nurses Group

We've been busy developing a new staff starter pack that incorporates essential, practical and basic information for research nurses and working on a specialist area on the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) website (members only access).

Chair: Selena Peters
Email: selena.peters@ubht.nhs.uk

Website: Childhood cancer research nurses group

Defence nursing

Territorial Army (TA) Nursing Research Professoriate

The TA nursing initiative brings together TA nursing academics from across the UK to establish a higher research expertise for leadership, development and guidance to positively influence Army nursing research.

Website: Territorial Army (TA) Nursing Research Professoriate

Doctoral nursing

RCN Research Society Doctoral Student Network

The RCN Research Society Doctoral Student Network is currently under review; if you would like more information please contact research.innovation@rcn.org.uk.

Website: http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/researchanddevelopment/rs/networking/phd_student_network

International Network for Doctoral Education in Nursing (INDEN)

INDEN is an independent group, comprised of educators, scholars and students involved in doctoral education in nursing. The aim of INDEN is to advance and promote high quality doctoral education in nursing through national/ international collaboration and co-operation.

Website: http://www.umich.edu/~inden/

Health technologies

Multidisciplinary Assessment of Technology Centre for Healthcare (MATCH)

MATCH is a research collaboration between five leading universities. It is involved with the assessment of medical devices and health technologies to appraise their value and improve health care and clinical outcomes.

Email: match@brunel.ac.uk
Website: www.match.ac.uk/

History of nursing

The UK Centre for the History of Nursing

The UK Centre for the History of Nursing and Midwifery (UKCHNM) is dedicated to research and education in the history of nursing and midwifery. It is based at the University of Manchester and acts in collaboration with the Royal College of Nursing Archives and the Royal College of Nursing's History of Nursing Society.

Website: http://www.ukchnm.org/

RCN Research Society - History of

Website: http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/researchanddevelopment/rs/history

Infectious diseases

Infectious Disease Research Network (IDRN)

The Infectious Disease Research Network (IDRN) promotes multi-disciplinary collaborations, provides information on funding opportunities, organizes training events, and acts as a forum for encouraging high quality infectious disease research. The IDRN was formed in 2001 and is funded by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Research Capacity Development. It was initially piloted as a London network, and now works with researchers across the UK.  Membership is free and resources include:

  • researchers' database
  • comprehensive funding and training bulletins
  • information on forthcoming IDRN events
  • presentations and reports from previous IDRN workshops
  • list of researchers interested in collaborative work
  • a forum for members
  • jobs page with current vacancies relating to infectious disease research

Contact: Mike Head, Network Manager
Tel: 020 7830 2239, Extn: 38822
Email:  mhead@idrn.org
Website: www.idrn.org/


Scottish Infection Research Network (SIRN)

As part of the Scottish Government's commitment to reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) within Scotland, a meeting was hosted by NHS Education for Scotland and the Chief Scientist Office in February 2005. From this meeting came the recommendation to establish a Network to work towards increasing the quality of research, and contribute towards the prevention and control of Healthcare-Associated Infections.   SIRN was officially launched on 6 August 2007.

SIRN comprises a formal Steering Group and an informal Network.

The Steering Group consists of 15 representatives of academic research, clinicians, nurses, behavioural scientists, statisticians and educationalists who co-ordinate the functions of the Network.

The Network has unlimited membership and will actively promote interaction amongst scientists, clinicians, healthcare professionals and patients to facilitate, promote and deliver research that will significantly contribute to the prevention and control of HAIs. By registering on-line, you will have access to the Network.

At the moment SIRN has six special interest Sub-Groups, each with appropriate representation and working towards developing areas of weak research in Scotland by providing support and guidance for researchers in these areas. 

Website: www.gla.ac.uk/sirn/


Infection Prevention Society (IPS)

Our vision is that no person is harmed by a preventable infection. 

IPS will inform promote and sustain expert infection prevention policy and practice in the pursuit of patient or service user and staff safety wherever care is delivered.

Website: http://www.ips.uk.net/


Mental health

Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research (NPNR)

We are an international Network for psychiatric nursing research. Our members are mental health nurses, researchers, academics and professionals from around the world. We host an annual international conference taking place in Oxford, UK on 27 to 28 September 2012.

Website: http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/event_details/rcn_eventsms/npnr_2012

Research Centre for Occupation & Mental Health (RCOMH)

Our mission is to develop world class research in occupation and mental health to influence best practice. We will achieve this by providing leadership in research, having a global perspective, facilitating the enpowerment of people who use services to actively participate in research programmes and developing, facilitating and leading coordinated programmes of research.

Contact: Katrina Bannigan
Email: K.Bannigan@yorksj.ac.uk
Website: http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/RCOMH

Midwifery

The International Confederation of Midwives Research Standing Committee

The role of the Research Standing Committee includes the identification of midwifery research in progress; network with other researchers in the field of reproductive health; rRecommend to the ICM Board, executive committee and Council, activities, priorities, strategies and practices for midwifery research throughout the world; facilitate at each Congress research workshops targeted at specific levels of research skill; provide a resource of expert midwifery research workers for access by the International Confederation of Midwives’ headquarters if required.

Website: http://www.internationalmidwives.org/


Older people

My Home Life

My Home Life is led by the care home sector itself, in partnership with Age UK, City University and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It is a collaborative programme bringing together organisations which reflect the interests of care home providers, commissioners, regulators, care home residents and relatives, and those interested in education, research and practice development.

Contact: Professor Julienne Meyer
Email: mhl@city.ac.uk

Website: www.myhomelife.org.uk

KT-EQUAL

KT-EQUAL is a consortium of UK researchers dedicated to extending quality life for older and disabled people.  SPARC (Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity) and KT-EQUAL are working to bring together researchers, practitioners and policy makers with an interest in the wellbeing of older people through communicating the latest ageing-related research. KT-EQUAL isthe successor to SPARC.  

From August 2010 the KT-EQUAL website will contain news, information about workshops and recently issued monographs. The SPARC website will be maintained for the time being, enabling access to information about SPARC projects and workshops and activities undertaken during the first 18 months of KT-EQUAL, but the SPARC website will not be updated.

Website: http://www.sparc.ac.uk/

Website:  http://www.kt-equal.org.uk/

Orthopaedics

The Network for Evidence Based Practice in Orthopaedics and Trauma (NEBPOT)

The Network for Evidence Based Practice in Orthopaedics Group is a sub-group of the RCN Society of Orthopaedic Nursing. The main aim of this group is to act as an information link between nurses and PAMs to facilitate the development and sharing of expertise and evidence in the fields of orthopaedics and trauma.

Visit the NEBPOT website


Palliative Care

The Palliative Care Research Society (PCRS)

The PCRS is dedicated to promoting research into all aspects of palliative care and to facilitating its dissemination. Membership of the society is open to any individual or organisation who is interested in furthering the society's aims. Members are drawn from many different professions including medicine, nursing and social work.

Website: www.pcrs.org.uk/

Patient and Public involvement

INVOLVE - Promoting public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research

INVOLVE was established to promote public involvement in research, in order to improve the way that research is prioritised, commissioned, undertaken, communicated and used. We believe that research which reflects the needs and views of the public, is more likely to produce results that can be used to improve practice in health and social care.

Website: http://www.invo.org.uk/

Patient Information Forum

The Patient Information Forum (PiF) is the UK organisation for people who work in consumer health information, in whatever role. We have more than 650 members working in all parts of the UK in a wide range of roles that involve communicating with patients and the public about their health. Members come from the NHS, voluntary sector, commercial, independent and public sectors and between them have a vast amount of expertise and experience. PiF has two broad aims

  • We help our members to share good practice and experience, to learn new skills and develop in their roles
  • We raise the profile of consumer health information at a national and local level and act as the voice for those who work in the area

Members benefit from education and training, regular news bulletins and resources and opportunities to share best practice and develop networks and relationships.

Website: http://www.pifonline.org.uk/

People in Research

Part of Involve, this database allows members of the public to search for opportunities to find out about research activities, and for researchers to register and publicise research opportunities

Website: www.peopleinresearch.org

Practice development

England Centre for Practice Development

Launched on 5 October 2011, the Centre is a partnership of international networks led by, and based at, Canterbury Christ Church University, and supported by members of the International Practice Development Collaborative including lead scholars, academics and practitioners in health and social care.  Their commitment is to increase scholarly activities and research in practice development to improve patient and service user experiences of care.

Website:  http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/health/EnglandCentreforPracticeDevelopment/Home.aspx

Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS)

FoNS has developed an excellent reputation at the forefront of nursing. As a registered charity, FoNS operates UK wide and across all healthcare settings. We are dedicated to working with nurses and healthcare teams to develop and share innovative ways of improving practice; thereby enabling them to provide care that is high quality; evidence based and meets the needs of patients.

Website: www.fons.org/dp

Professional and Practice Development NMAHP Forum for Scotland

This website will be closing down as of 1st January 2012, but if you are interested in sharing in an online forum, please follow the link to the Knowledge Network and join the community for the Professional Practice Development Network. To join this network, an Athens login is required. For further information on the registration for Athens please click on the login on the Knowledge Network front page.

Website: http://www.ppdnf.org/

Website:  Knowledge Network

Primary care and public health

Association of Nurses in Substance Abuse

The Association of Nurses in Substance Abuse was formed in 1983 as an interest group for nurses working in drug and alcohol services. Since then these services have undergone many changes and have rapidly expanded. These changes have raised many issues and topics for discussion by ANSA members. The development of drug and alcohol services has heralded a multidisciplinary approach to drug and alcohol problems. ANSA has reflected this change by welcoming workers from other disciplines as associate members of the organisation. ANSA acts as an advisory service to health and social care bodies and institutions, imparting specialist information on drug and alcohol related issues to the government and a number of advisory committees.

Website: http://www.ansauk.org/

Primary Care Nursing Research Network

The idea of this virtual network is to try and put nurses, midwives and health visitors in touch with each other to assist in building a stronger research presence in primary health care. It is open to all and not exclusive to members of the RCN. The conduit for information flow is through an electronic discussion group that you are encouraged to join. We would welcome adding information you would like to share or think others would benefit from. For more information, contact the Network administrator, Professor Vari Drennan.

Prison Health

Offender Health Research Network

The aims and objectives of the OHRN are

  • to develop a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency network focused on offender health care innovation, evaluation and knowledge dissemination
  • staff capability building through training opportunities and active involvement in health care research
  • to work toward developing the frequency and quality of user/carer involvement in offender health care provision and research 
  • to develop a "pathway to research", outlining the processes required to successfully undertake research in the Criminal Justice System, including information on funding, research ethics and governance, and practical information about conducting research in such unique environment

Website: http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/

 

Reporting

EQUATOR Network - the resource centre for good reporting of health research studies

Too often, good research evidence is undermined by poor quality reporting. The EQUATOR Network is an international initiative that seeks to improve reliability and value of medical research literature by promoting transparent and accurate reporting of research studies.

This goal will be achieved through:

  • raising awareness of the crucial importance of good reporting of research
  • becoming the recognised global centre providing resources, education and training relating to the reporting of health research and use of reporting guidelines
  • assisting in the development, dissemination and implementation of reporting guidelines
  • monitoring the status of the quality of reporting across health research literature
  • conducting research relating to the quality of reporting

Website: EQUATOR network

 

Sexual health

ICN HIV/AIDS network

The key objective of the ICN HIV/AIDS Network is to be a global resource for nurses working in, or interested in, HIV policy, practice development, education and research. By promoting networking and linkages, the network will enable knowledge and expertise to be shared, while reflecting the changing nature of HIV client-care across the globe.

Website: http://www.icn.ch/networks/hiv-aids-network/


Transcultural nursing

Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS)

The mission of the TCNS is to enhance the quality of culturally congruent, competent, and equitable care that results in improved health and well being for people worldwide. The TCNS seeks to provide nurses and other healthcare professionals with the knowledge base necessary to ensure cultural competence in practice, education, research and administration.

Website: http://www.tcns.org/