£3.2 million grant awarded to Newcastle Hospitals for new research institute

on 11 March 2022

A £3.2 million grant has been awarded to Newcastle Hospitals to create a research institute for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPs).

The research institute will provide opportunities to support staff in their research alongside their clinical practice.

Executive Chief Nurse at Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Maurya Cushlow, said: “This incredibly generous grant is fantastic news and will help us drive forward our innovative vision to introduce a unique Research Institute, harnessing the potential of our growing research active community.

“Having access to targeted support, relevant expertise and dedicated funding, means our NMAHPs can benefit from a truly unique springboard, helping them develop and launch their research ambitions.”

The grant has been awarded by the Newcastle Hospital Charity, which aims to provide a ‘innovative avenue to drive forward professional research.’

The proposed research institute will allow NMAHPs to focus on their research projects as well as provide a range of dedicated clinical academic fellowships.

The grant has been given shortly after the Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May announced the Making Research Better Plan and the Health Education England Allied Health Professions’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England.

Commenting on the grant, Non-executive Director of the Trust and Chair of the Charity Committee, Jill Baker, said: “The Charity is here to help our hospitals to go further by providing financial support for innovative healthcare, education and research initiatives, especially where other funding opportunities are limited.

“Keeping Newcastle at the forefront of global healthcare innovation and research is a key part of this, and we want to open up research opportunities to as wide a range of the Trust’s staff as possible.”

Source: National Health Executive