1. Chairman Academic and Research Committee
Introduction to Clinical Research and the British Heart Foundation View
Monday 13th March 2017
Professor Gavin Murphy (Glenfield Hospital, Leicester & BHF Chairholder)
Chairman Academic and Research Committee

2. Research Infrastructure
Academic Training
Innovation
Trials Networks

3. Sen. Lecturer or equivalent
Infrastructure: Most cardiothoracic surgery academics work in non-university posts
Sub Specialty
Professor
Reader
Sen. Lecturer or equivalent
Hon Professor
Hon Reader
Hon Sen. Lecturer
Adult Cardiac/ Cardiothoracic 5 1 2 10 39
Congenital 4
Thoracic
Transplant

4. Lack of Critical Mass in University Appointments
There are more university academics in cardiology and respiratory medicine at the University of Leicester than for the whole of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the UK

5. NIHR Research Career Pathways
Note: Across the NIHR, ONLY TCC provide opps for integrated academic clinical training (IAT for docs and dentists and ICA for non medics/dentists) to ensure people can embed research in their clinical roles.

6. NIHR ACF and CL posts in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Cardiology
Specialty
Current
ACFs
Ended ACFs
Current CLs
Ended CLs
Cardiothoracic Surgery 5 3 2 4
General Surgery 32
103 20 36
Cardiology 25 62 26 33

7. CCT Academic Requirements by Surgical Specialty
Certification Guidelines. Joint Committee on Surgical Training.

8. National Institute for Health Research
The research arm of the NHS
Established in 2006 as a vehicle for implementing Government’s strategy for applied health research
£1b annual spend
Vision
To improve the health and wealth of the nation through research
Surgical research is under- represented in the NIHR portfolio
Infrastructure demonstrates wide intra- and inter institutional variation

9. Research Capacity: Over 6000 patients in surgery trials

10. Research Networks
NHS/ NIHR provides a unique opportunity for research.
However
New research networks established for each trial
Loss of corporate memory
In the ERICCA trial site set-up in one study was 24 months.
Wasteful of resources.
Disincentivises collaboration
Reduces access to NIHR/ BHF/ CRUK funds

11. Strategy to Increase Critical Mass in Academic Cardiothoracic Surgery
Academic and Research Committee.
National Research Meeting.
National initiatives: RCS specialty leads for clinical research.
Engagement with funders.
National research priority setting.
National trials network.
Trainees research network.
Increase in ACF/ ACL posts.