The Clinical Research Network (CRN) Trainee Leads are ENT specialist registrars appointed in each of the 15 local CRNs for a maximum period of 36 months. By forming a network of Trainee Leads, they are able to connect with other trainees to share knowledge across the country.
Trainee Leads work closely with the local Clinical Research Specialty Lead and Audiology Champions to bridge the gap between clinical trial teams, ENT, audiology and audio vestibular medicine trainees in departments. The Trainee Leads raise awareness of the CRN support available for studies and how to qualify for this support. The ENT Trainee Leads also support the delivery of ENT studies on the CRN portfolio:
- by increasing the number of participants recruited to studies,
- increasing the number of studies that recruit to time and target,
- reduce the time it takes to recruit the first participant into ENT studies.
An important part of their role involves raising awareness to the trainee community of potentially suitable studies that are open elsewhere, that might be appropriate for new sites to also open. They also support local education about clinical trials to local trainees, contribute towards national audits, and in some cases assist in setting up centres locally for national clinical trials.
The Trainee Leads are closely linked with the UK ENT Trainee Research Network (INTEGRATE), which is led by Dr John Hardman.
Trainee leads work in practice
The Post-OPerative Tonsillectomy Study (POP-T)
POP-T is an entirely trainee led, designed and delivered study running across the North West of England. One of the main aims of the project was to involve the broader ENT trainee group in each region to help foster an interest in ENT surgical research from an early stage.
All stages of the application process were performed by the trainees group. This included applying through the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) through to the Research Ethics application and committee approval, to adoption onto the NIHR portfolio.
The study is now recruiting patients to the study and all Principal Investigators (PIs) at our sites around the North West are trainees, both junior and senior. Trainees, conducting tonsillectomy, have subsequently been consenting patients for recruitment on the day of surgery before the patient's operation and then collecting appropriate data before this is collated at monthly intervals centrally.
This project has been affected by COVID-19 but is maintaining recruitment requirements . The study team hope to complete it next year and hope that it has inspired other trainees to engage in collaborative research within the Network.
SeaSHeL study
Trainee Leads from across 100 NHS trusts have supported the SeaSHeL study by playing a critical role in study registration at their local site, patient recruitment and study data collection. Trainee Leads have successfully continued to deliver the study throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period.
The Trainee Leads role in coordinating the study also included facilitating training clinicians in research to provide them with tangible research skills that will benefit their organisations, colleagues and patients in future. This has been supported via the ENT INTEGRATE trainee research network, Student and Foundation Doctors in Otolaryngology (SFO UK) , and the NIHR CRN Audiology Champions.
Further details on the study can be found at www.seashel.co.uk