Step into the future of healthcare at our Health Research Showcase event 2025. Join us at the Westgate Centre in Oxford on Thursday 29 May from 10:00. We are teaming up again with Oxford BRC to showcase the exciting medical innovation that’s taking place across both Oxford Biomedical Research Centres in Oxford. No registration required, See you there!
Mental Health Awareness Week
Our BRC and the Department of Psychiatry have collaborated for Mental Health Awareness Week across social media this week. The theme is “Community,” focusing on the importance of support networks. Throughout the week, we have shared insightful content across our socials including daily posts featuring our researchers who have answered the question “What is the one fact you wish people knew about brain and mental health?”
The NIHR Be Part of Research campaign launches on Tuesday 20 May, aiming to encourage public participation in research and increase sign-ups to the Be Part of Research service, especially from underrepresented groups. Running from 20 May to 18 June, the first phase targets the general public, urging them to take part in research. The launch coincides with International Clinical Trials Day on 20 May.
Our campaign starts next week and we will be sharing information about mental health studies, currently being recruited to across Oxford Health Foundation Trust, including at our BRC.
To stay updated and participate in the campaign, follow Oxford Health BRC on social media platforms:
The public, students and staff are invited to join the Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) team for tea and cake to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day on 20 May.
The open afternoon provides an opportunity to:
Learn more about research and how you can get involved
Meet the local research community
Learn about student placements, careers in research and research opportunities for healthcare professionals
Have a tour of the facility
No need to book. See you there!
First participants recruited to bipolar depression study
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust‘s Mental Health Research Delivery Team have successfully recruited the first participants to the ASCEnD study into bipolar disorder, which is being carried out at the Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF). The ASCEnD study aims to address the limited treatment options available for people experiencing depressive symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.
Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week, led by NHS Employers, emphasizes the importance of inclusiveness in the NHS for patients, workforce, and research. It highlights the need for diverse representation in clinical trials to ensure scientific accuracy and health equity. NHS Employers’ campaign offers tools and guidance to help researchers design inclusive studies, ensuring accessibility and challenging biases in data collection and interpretation. Better research leads to better care by recognizing every voice.
Recently, 4 new appointments were made within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s (OHFT) Research and Development (R&D) team. Claudia Hurducas was appointed as Lead for Strategic Liaison, Adam Pill and Nnenna Omeje were appointed on a job share as Acting Joint Head of Research Informatics and Avinash Sabbarwal has joined as R&D Administrator.
Support the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) Dementia Action Week campaign from 19 to 23 May. The NIHR RDN will raise awareness about the importance of timely and accurate dementia diagnosis. The campaign highlights how research aids diagnosis, encourages participation through Join Dementia Research, and emphasizes the benefits of research involvement.
Help by sharing posts, tagging (@beatdementia) on X and Facebook
New study launched investigating the day-to-day experience of patients with psychiatric disorders
A groundbreaking study by the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Cumulus Neuroscience aims to explore the daily experiences of patients with psychiatric disorders, particularly those with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Utilizing the NeuLogiq® neuroassessment platform, the study will track brain activity, mood, and behaviour at home, providing detailed insights that could guide the development of new therapies.
First participant recruited to pioneering Parkinson’s trial
The pioneering clinical trial for idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD), linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s, has recruited its first UK participant. Led by Professor Michele Hu and Dr. Karolien Groenewald, the trial involves 40 participants from the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre. Funded by Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech and in collaboration with Syntara, the trial aims to investigate SNT-4728’s potential to reduce brain inflammation and slow Parkinson’s progression.
