Members of CaHRU received the team achievement award for research for the fifth successive year on behalf of the team at the University of Lincoln awards ceremony at the Engine Shed, Brayford Campus on 20 November 2019. The team includes Prof Niro Siriwardena (director), Prof Graham Law, Dr Zahid Asghar, Dr Coral Sirdifield, Dr Stephanie Armstrong, Dr Murray Smith, Dr Julie Pattinson, Dr Joseph Akanuwe, Dr Elise Rowan, Dr Sarathchandra Kumarawansa, Dr Iresha Jayawickrama, Viet-Hai Phung, Despina Laparidou, Greg Whitley, and Sue Bowler.
The team have over 30 active studies covering the whole spectrum of research methods. These include: major clinical trials investigating sleep restriction therapy for primary care for insomnia (HABIT); observational studies investigating diabetes emergencies in patients in care homes, ambulance care for seizures, and performance of doctors in the MRCGP licensing exam; qualitative designs, for example exploring perceptions of professionals and patients on child obesity; surveys, for example on experiences of people with Guillain-Barre syndrome; mixed methods studies of GPs working in emergency departments and healthcare for offenders on probation; and systematic reviews, e.g. psychological therapies for insomnia in autism and psychological therapies for insomnia related to tinnitus.
CaHRU have had 24 papers published or accepted for publication in leading journals in the past 12 months including landmark publications covering research developing new indicators for ambulance services, glyceryl trinitrate in stroke, the effects of online treatments for insomnia, cost-effectiveness of smoking therapies in pregnancy, and the effects of diabetes in pregnancy in major journals such as the Lancet, JAMA Psychiatry, Diabetes Care, Addiction, Stroke, Heart and Medical Education. Over the same period CaHRU have led or are named collaborators in research or research-related projects valued over £9 million, exceeding a 60% success rate in applications with over £1 million of funding awarded to Lincoln. The main project funders over the past year have been the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Heath Education England.
CaHRU’s impact derives primarily from a focus on studies that make a difference to service users, carers and care provided by the health service. The work has increased the university’s reputation, media interest in its research and standing nationally and internationally.
Prof A. N Siriwardena