NI PEAR Research Update
How to get involved in Paediatric Research?
This page can advise on:
1. Opportunities within training
2. OOP opportunities
3. What’s going on in NI
4. How to contact us for advice
Opportunities in training
•Get involved in studies which are running in your hospital. See below for what’s going on in RBHSC and RJMH.
•Be proactive – if you know you have placements coming up in these trusts contact the research nurses at RBHSC (BRIGHT@belfasttrust.hscni.net )or the CRN/your supervisors at the RJMH. It helps to be organised to maximise your time on placement.
•Some researchers may have a small sub-study or audit to be run around the research projects which could be developed into a mini project achievable within clinical training.
•Good Clinical Practice
•This is a requirement to be on the delegation log for many trials (a list of people that are able to consent and undertake certain tasks on a trial or research program). It’s a free online course and covers all essential regulations and frameworks for research
•Have a Research CV ready to go. These should be brief single sided page which is signed and dated. Keep it simple!
•There maybe a NIHR trial running in the trust you will be working in. These are open to the Associate PI scheme. This is a brilliant experience in how to run a trial, It’s a recognised qualification and will be specific to the department you’re working in. You can read more here. https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/clinical-research-courses-and-support/associate-principal-investigator-scheme
•Again it helps to be organised as there can be one Asc.PI per trial for every 6 months.
ONLINE
1.Academic tool kit https://academictoolkit.org/
2.Sign up to the TREES seminars https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/education-careers/courses/rcpch-course/trainee-research-network-education-seminars-trees TREES takes place on the last Tuesday of every month, 13:00 - 13:45. Seminars are hosted on Microsoft Teams
3.RCPCH learning module: Research essentials for paediatricians https://learning.rcpch.ac.uk/courses/research-essentials-for-paediatricians-in-training/
4.RCPCH learning module: Systematic reviews https://learning.rcpch.ac.uk/courses/systematic-reviews/
5.CATCH - https://www.catch.ac.uk/ has lots of resources about clinical academic careers. From inspiration to guidances on writing your first big grant application as an independent researcher.
EVENTS
https://www.nimdta.gov.uk/annual-flagship-events/research-for-clinicians-day/ - Usually in Autumn, highly recommended and a great opportunity to present audit and research locally.
NIMDTA regional training day – each year we have a research focused day open to all trainees . (last 6/11/25)
RCPCH academic training day - This is an online study day which has a focus on trainees with a keen interest in clinical academic training pathways. This also usually runs annually in the Autumn. (last 6/11/25)
NIPEAR’s Spring Conference – 2026 date TBC – watch this space! At this conference there will be opportunities to showcase upcoming research opportunities in NI and beyond and some active research projects in the region.
