Oxford’s annual Health Research Showcase, which brings researchers from many disciplines together with members of the public, attracted hundreds of half-term visitors to Oxford’s Westgate Centre on 28 May.
The event, organised by Oxford’s two NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRC), is aimed at letting the public know about the incredible range of healthcare research taking place in their city to improve diagnosis, treatment and care for a range of conditions, from Dementia to asthma, depression to diabetes. There were stands highlighting the BRCs’ work in young people’s mental health, heart disease, infection, sleep problems or genetic diseases.
The event is held during the half-term holiday, and many children and young people were among the visitors learning about the science behind the research through fun, hands-on activities.
The Showcase event was also a chance to encourage people to get involved in research, whether by participating in trials or helping to design and evaluate studies.
We were pleased to welcome both our Director Professor Rachel Upthegrove MBE and Deputy Director Professor Jeremy Hall who spent time at the event engaging with stand holders and the public.
Rachel commented, “It was great to see so many members of the public engaging with our researchers and showing such interest in the work taking place across Oxford. This event is a valuable opportunity to celebrate and showcase the dedication and hard work of teams across the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres, and to highlight how that work connects directly to improving patient care.
By bringing researchers and the public together in this way, we can foster understanding and curiosity and build stronger relationships with the communities we serve. It also reinforces the important role people can play in research, helping to shape studies and take part in work that ultimately leads to better treatments, earlier diagnosis and improved care for patients.”
The NIHR BRC: Oxford Health is a partnership between the University and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, while the NIHR BRC: Oxford is a partnership between the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust. Together they conduct research across 26 different healthcare themes.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is the UK’s largest funder of health and care research. NIHR BRCs are collaborations between universities and NHS organisations that bring together academics and clinicians to translate scientific breakthroughs into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies that benefit NHS patients.
Many thanks to all our wonderful researchers who made this important annual event so engaging, interactive and informative. Thanks also to those members of the public who came along and helped create a truly memorable day at The Westgate. We are already looking forward to next year!
