Two members of staff at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) have both been awarded a prestigious NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship (CDRF), beginning May 2018.

Caroline Miller, Upper Limb Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist and Jane Fletcher, Nutrition Nurse Team Leader, secured the funding to support completing a doctoral study (PhD) on an area of patient focused research, and to develop their clinical expertise.

The funding covers the cost of the PhD, research costs, salary and funds to attend conferences and other training.  Support is also provided throughout the Fellowship by a team of clinical and academic supervisors.

Both UHB colleagues have benefited from the support of the Integrated Clinical Academic Office team at UHB, who provide support and advice to clinical staff wanting to undertake research, or combine a career in research and clinical practice. The team also delivers clinical academic careers training programmes funded by HEE, available to applicants from across the West Midlands.

For more information, please contact clinicalacademics@uhb.nhs.uk.

Caroline and Jane explained why they applied for the funding and what their research will involve.

Caroline Miller, Upper Limb Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist

Why did you apply for the CDRF?

I wanted to continue my research with patients who have suffered a severe nerve injury to their shoulders or arms. Currently, it’s difficult to measure recovery from these injuries, as often only muscle strength is monitored. My research will help identify what outcomes are important to measure. It will also identify the best methods to measure issues such as the psychological and social impacts of these injuries. Recent research experience within the Hand, Plastics and Peripheral Nerve research team led by Mark Foster gave me the confidence to apply. The therapy department also greatly supported the application process and are supportive of development of clinical academic posts.

Were there any challenges which you faced?

As the patient group for these traumatic brachial plexus injuries is quite rare, my period of research will be a year longer than most undertaking a CDRF. As a result, I will be funded 75% by the NIHR and 25% clinically.

What will you gain from doing the programme?

The fellowship will provide an opportunity to increase my knowledge of nerve injury rehabilitation and research methods from expert clinicians and academics internationally. My supervisors - Professor Christina Jerosch-Herold, a national academic specialist in nerve injuries and Dominic Power, peripheral nerve consultant at UHB - will support me through the process. I will be able to use these new skills and knowledge in the future to improve care for patients with traumatic injuries at UHB.

Jane Fletcher, Nutrition Nurse Team Leader

What is your research focused on?

My research is focused on Vitamin D deficiency in people with Crohn’s Disease. I am hoping we can improve symptoms for people with the disease. I noticed in my clinical practice that there were no guidelines regarding when to screen for Vitamin D deficiency or how to treat it in people with Crohn’s, so I decided to research it.

Do you have any advice for anyone who is considering an application for the CDRF?

Be prepared - you have to manage academic work with your clinical work. However, there’s lots of support from supervisors – I have 3 academic supervisors at the University of Birmingham, and Dr. Sheldon Cooper providing clinical supervision here. The application process is also quite long, with lots of evidence required. But it’s all worth it in the end!

What will change for you as a result of the CDRF?

I’ll be able to devote more time to research, knowing that everything has been funded by the NIHR. I’ll also deepen my knowledge on nutrition, and be able to carry this forward into my future career, which will benefit both UHB and future patients.