By taking part in research studies, you can help improve treatments for conditions that affect you and others. So, when you share your experience and insight, you’re driving real change in healthcare.
Together, we can find better solutions, create new treatments, and make a lasting difference in healthcare.
Your voice is powerful and it can shape the future of medicine.
Research there’s something for everyone.
There are many different ways to take part in health and care research — physical tests, questionnaires, lifestyle changes, donating samples, drug trials, scans.
When you volunteer, you might be invited to:
There are also opportunities for you to have a say in what research is funded and how it is carried out.
Be part of something amazing,
Be Part of Research.
Be Part of Research (logo) NHS (logo)
bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk (onscreen text)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (logo) HSC | Public Heath Agency | Research ang Development (logo)
NHS Research Scotland (logo) Health and Care Research Wales (logo)
If you are interested in taking part in research, you can search for studies that we are running at the Trust by visiting the Be Part of Research website.
When you’re on the site, you can search for a specialty that you are interested in and is running in the area convenient for you.
Search for studies now by visiting https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/results/search-results?query=&location=Essex.
Don’t forget you can also sign up with Be Part of Research to get updates about studies that match your interests.
You’ve been invited to take part in our research because you meet the study’s criteria. We’ll explain everything to help you decide if taking part is right for you.
We’ll give you all the details about the study, including what’s involved, any potential risks and how it could benefit future treatments. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions and think it over.
If you choose to join, we’ll ask you to sign a consent form. This means you agree to participate, but you’re free to withdraw at any time if you change your mind—without it affecting your care.
Your first visit is where we’ll collect important information like your medical history and some basic measurements. If the study needs any monitoring tools (like blood pressure devices), we’ll show you how to use them.
We’ll follow up with you throughout the study, either through clinic visits, phone calls, or online check-ins—depending on the study design. We’ll guide you through each step and keep you informed.
Your safety is our top priority. We’ll monitor your progress closely and check in with you about how you’re feeling. If you ever have concerns or side effects, we’re here to help right away.
We’ll keep you updated on the study’s progress, so you always know what’s happening and how your participation is contributing to the research.
Once the study is finished, we’ll invite you for a final visit. We’ll wrap things up, discuss any final details with you and thank you for your valuable contribution.
When the study is complete and results are analysed, we’ll let you know the findings and any breakthroughs that were made thanks to your help. Your participation makes a difference!
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Be Part of Research service are funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing, and promotes economic growth.
They have two purposes, to:
Together they fund 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RDNs). We are part of the East of England RDN. To find out more about this, visit https://rdn.nihr.ac.uk/region/east-of-england.
They support us to fund research staff, provide digital tools and support collaboration with other organisations within the region. To receive this support, researchers need to apply to the NIHR for their study to be accepted onto the NIHR portfolio, who then make sure that the research is carried out to high standards.
If you have taken part in a study and would like to provide feedback on your experience, please complete a PRES survey — it takes five minutes to complete.
Taking part in the survey is voluntary and anonymous.
There are no right or wrong answers.
Your decision to take/not take this survey will not affect the care or treatment you have.
What exactly is the PRES?
PRES stands for Participant in Research Experience Survey — the title says it all really, it's our chance to really find out what it's like to take part in a study and collect people's views good or bad.
We can and do ask a lot of people to take part in research though it's only fair that they have a chance to tell us what this was really like.
People willingly give up their time and it's important they feel truly valued our studies don't always run smoothly, this survey helps us understand what has gone well but also what hasn't.
Gathering these responses will ultimately improve people's experiences in the future listening well and using feedback is absolutely the key to designing better studies. And the better the study, the better healthcare we can provide.
The survey can be completed online or on paper. Responses are pooled and then carefully reviewed by a whole team of researchers. The results are published nationally and shared with the bodies which influence and shape the whole research system.
The entire exercise does lead to real change and is at the very center of what we at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) are trying to do.
People choose to be part of research to make a difference this survey is an extension of this it too creates real impact for example it's the reason we're reducing travel time to clinics and streamlining visits. It's why we're taking research opportunities out into communities rather than asking people to come to us in short this survey is the key to providing better health and social care research in the future leading to treatments and care that will help us all.
So please do everything you can to spread the word and boost participation.
You can use the links below to complete the PRES survey online or if you prefer a paper survey, please ask your research nurse for a paper copy.
Be sure to list the hospital where you took part in the research (Basildon, Broomfield or Southend) as well as the study name and number. This can be found on your patient information sheet or you can ask your research nurse if you are unsure.
The research engagement network, provided by Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), aims to work with partner organisations to develop their local research activities with underrepresented communities.
It involves increasing diversity in research and supporting the diverse local communities to get involved in research.
To find out more and how to get involved, visit https://virtualviews.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/ren-research-engagement-network.