Doncaster health team win ‘Research Team of the Year’ at national ceremony

The research team at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) – Grounded Research – have won ‘Research Team of the Year’ at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network, Yorkshire and Humber, Research Awards.
By Stephanie Bateman
Published 20th May 2022, 09:06 GMT
Updated 20th May 2022, 09:08 GMT
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It is especially fitting that the award was this month, as RDaSH is celebrating the importance of research generally, and the successes of the Grounded Research team specifically, as part of International Clinical Trials week, which culminates in International Clinical Trials Day (ICTD) today (Friday 20).

ICTD is an annual event which celebrates the anniversary of the first clinical trial by James Lind in 1747 into the causes of scurvy on board the HMS Salisbury.

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Kathryn Singh, Chief Executive of RDaSH said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us all the vital importance of health research. Research helps improve health and social care and finds better treatments for future generations. Everyone at RDaSH is delighted that our research team have won this award against tough competition as it recognises the specialised and dedicated team who put quality at the forefront of all their research.”

Mike Seneviratne (Speciality Doctor, Clinical Director for Research), Sam Bennett (Team Administrator, Grounded Research Team), Jodie Keyworth (Head of Business Development), Heather Rice (Assistant Director of Research) and Kevin Williamson (Head of Research)Mike Seneviratne (Speciality Doctor, Clinical Director for Research), Sam Bennett (Team Administrator, Grounded Research Team), Jodie Keyworth (Head of Business Development), Heather Rice (Assistant Director of Research) and Kevin Williamson (Head of Research)
Mike Seneviratne (Speciality Doctor, Clinical Director for Research), Sam Bennett (Team Administrator, Grounded Research Team), Jodie Keyworth (Head of Business Development), Heather Rice (Assistant Director of Research) and Kevin Williamson (Head of Research)
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Over the past year the team has consistently performed well, recruiting well over a thousand people to studies – 199% of its annual target - and it is already over target for this year. It also hosted COVID-19 vaccine research, with a major commercial trial in the Sanofi Booster study and a large role in the ComFluCov study into flu and covid vaccines.

Heather Rice, Assistant Director of Research, said: “As a team we are determined to live up to our name – to be looking up and out, but to be grounded, taking research to where people are and rooted in our communities in Doncaster, Rotherham and North Lincolnshire. After a year of constant change and growth we have the experience, the expertise and the capacity to make a real difference to patients’ lives, now and in the future.

“It has been very much a team effort - not just in Grounded Research but across all of RDaSH with clinical teams and support services such as finance, purchasing, communications and HR all having a huge input.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

Related topics:YorkshireDoncaster