About the UKF-PCRO

To jump to an area on this page please click on one of the shortcuts below:

Federation name change
What does the Federation do?
Encouraging Collaborative Research
A 'network of networks'
The core objectives of PCRN's
Funding
How the Federation is run

Federation name change [top of page]

It was agreed at the Annual General Meeting on 2nd December 2004 in York that the Federation would change its name to 'The UK Federation of Primary Care Research Organisations'.

Please note, the Federation website URL has changed to:

www.ukf-pcro.org

Please also update your favourites/shortcuts.

What does the Federation do? [top of page]

Supports cross-regional collaborative research

Co-ordinates research networks’ response to the development of national priorities for research

Represents networks’ interests and needs to external agencies such as professional and academic organizations

Promotes dialogue and communication between networks

Shares strategies for success

Encouraging collaborative research [top of page]

The Federation currently facilitates three research interest groups (RIGs): Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer & Mental Health.

The aims of the RIGs are:

to bring together primary care researchers with an interest in research in the RIG topic area

to explore opportunities for joint working on research projects

to disseminate work undertaken/in progress relating to primary care based research

to facilitate collaboration between primary care research networks on applying for research funding for research projects.

Click here for information about future meetings

A ‘network of networks’ [top of page]

An Annual Conference is held to share our rich range of experience and strategies for promoting primary care research, discuss issues relevant to all networks and liaise with other interested parties. This year the Conference will be held in York on 2-3 December.

We facilitate communication between networks through regular mailings, our newsletter ‘NetConnect’ and an e-mail discussion group.
NetConnect is published three times a year (click here for the most recent editions)

The Core Objectives of PCRNs [top of page]

The Department of Health has developed a list of core objectives for primary care research networks:

Promote the use of research in clinical practice

Provide access to and disseminate information on potential research collaboration, research training opportunities, research funding and academic advice

Encourage participation of practitioners in research activities

Identify research training needs among its constituency

Organise research training for primary care practitioners

Facilitate research cooperation and collaboration between primary care practitioners and other health related agencies e.g. social services, local authorities, acute care

Facilitate change in the research culture of primary care.

The core objectives are not intended to be a restrictive or exhaustive list of activities. The Federation membership is made up of organisations that broadly work along these lines.

Funding [top of page]

The Federation has been supported by grants from the NHS R&D Programme in England and Wales, the Scottish Office and Northern Ireland HSSB but is striving to be self-funded with the financial support of our network members through annual subscription fees.

How the Federation is run [top of page]

The Federation is run by a steering committee who are elected from the membership. Committee members are elected every two years and can be re-elected. In addition there are sub-groups that work on relevant issues such as IT, evaluation, communications.

Please find information about the current steering committee below:

Terri Harding (Chair)
Terri qualified as a Nurse in the 70’s and worked in secondary care for the next fifteen years, both on the wards and in nurse education, occasionally assisting health professionals with research projects. She then worked as a research nurse working on both pharmaceutical trials and doctor led studies before accepting her present post. Although she is rarely ‘research active’ herself now she does receive satisfaction from NoReN’s involvement in the success of their regional researchers. Whether this is as a result of the mentoring and support from the research officers, the opportunity to receive specific expert advice through our network system and/or the active involvement of NoReN as a collaborator in local research she feels that the initial NoReN objective of ensuring that research is seen as a positive attribute has had a positive effect on the R & D environment within primary care. For her own development she is studying for a MBA and looking forward to NoReN’s involvement of the SAPC 2005 in Newcastle Gateshead, July 2005.
Terri can be contacted on: noren.network@virgin.net

Caroline Gunnell (Vice Chair and Secretary)
Caroline is a Nurse Practitioner in primary care and Research Governance Co-ordinator based at Epping Forest PCT RMG which covers the West Essex PCTs of Uttlesford and Harlow. She is a programme lead for the Essex Primary Care Research Network (EPCRN) and was chair of the management group of the East London and Essex Network of Researchers (ELENoR) before that. She is an active member representing primary and community nursing, working on collaborative projects to build up practice nursing and research awareness, particularly interested in diabetes and men’s health. Apart from the UK Federation of PCRNs steering group Caroline also sits on the NHS R&D Primary Care Working Group and is a member of SAPC and the RCN Research Society. Caroline is committed to developing and supporting multidisciplinary primary care research at all levels. She was fortunate enough to be awarded an NHSE Enterprise Award to support her MSc work and is pursuing a Professional Doctorate in Nursing (DN) at the University of Essex.
Caroline can be contacted on:
caroline.gunnell@epping-pct.nhs.uk

Louise Letley RN MSc (Treasurer)
Louise has been involved with primary care research for over ten years. Her first research post was as a practice research nurse on the British Family Heart study. In 1997 she joined the team at the MRC General Practice Research Framework (GPRF) coordinating centre. The GPRF is an organisation of over 1000 general practices throughout the UK involved in epidemiological, primary care and health services research. She is currently the Senior Nurse Manager for the MRC GPRF taking overall responsibility for the nursing aspects of Framework studies. Her main area of interest is the development of cancer/palliative care research within primary care.
Louise can be contacted on l.letley@gprf.mrc.ac.uk

Keith Meadows
Keith is Associate Director of R&D at Tower Hamlets PCT and the North East London Consortium for Research and Development (NELCRAD) where he provides strategic leadership in the development of sustainable programmes of research and capacity building. Prior to this, Keith was Head of R&D at City and Hackney PCT. Before joining the NHS he spent over 20 years as an academic researcher with a particular interest in the assessment of the psychological impact of living with chronic illness.
During 2003 Keith was co-opted onto the Federation’s Steering Committee to provide support on addressing issues of indemnity for independent contractors. He currently sits on the NHS R&D Forum’s Primary Care Working Group, the London Primary Care Research Network Group and the local PCT board.
Keith is committed to the development of primary care research capacity and capability at all levels.

Michael Moore
I have been a GP with an interest in research since 1988. In 1996 the Three Swans Surgery in Salisbury became a South West Regional Office Research General Practice with a small annual grant to pay for protected time. In 1998 we successfully bid against the Culyer funds and received additional infrastructure funding allowing me to increase my research time from one to two days each week. I have been involved with the Wessex Research Network (WReN) since its inception in 1993 and have served continuously on the Executive Group and the Management Committee. In 2003, following the departure of Helen Smith, I took on the Deputy Director’s role and then became WReN Director in September 2004. I still work half time on clinical work in my practice in Salisbury.
Research interests include mental health problems, particularly depression, and the management of acute self limiting illness.
I have at various times served on national committees providing advice to the Department of Health on infrastructure funding and primary care research networks.

Andrew Wilson
Andrew Wilson is Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Leicester and a GP in the city. He was primary care lead for Trent RDSU until October 2006, when he was appointed clinical lead for PCRN East Midlands and South Yorkshire. His research interests include intermediate care and the primary care contribution to smoking cessation. He is a member of the RCGP Scientific Foundation Board and is deputy chair of the East Midlands NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Committee.

Julia Miller
Julia’s experience lies both in research and management. She has experience of doing research, working with researchers, developing policy and getting research into practice, as well as disseminating information through research papers and oral presentations. Julia currently has two roles, as Senior Scientific Administrator in the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research www.nspcr.ac.uk based at the University of Manchester and as the Associate Director for Research and Development in Halton and St Helen’s PCT www.champrmg.nhs.uk. She has extensive knowledge of the NHS, in particular the North West, and has worked as a researcher, research and development manager and assistant director at the North West Strategic Health Authority. From an applied health services research perspective Julia has been involved in research projects which have resulted in publication and service change.

Paul Batchelor

Julia Brown
CIRC Project Manager
RCGP

Patricia Ellis
Research Manager
PCRN

Jackie Campbell
Professor of Neurophysiology, AHP Researcher
Trent RDSU, PCRN EMSY, Research Forum for AHPs

Alyson Pugh
Velindre TR