Joint BSPGHAN / NIHR – Children Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research Working Group (RWG)
Strategy for period February 2020 – December 2023
Revised January 31st 2020
Overall aim: to protect and improve the health and well being of children and young people through fostering research in gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition
Specific objectives:
- Ensure that all research is informed by the opinions of children and their parents/carers
- Establish clinical networks with sufficient capacity to assess disease burdens and deliver multi-centre trials efficiently and to a high standard
- Liaise closely with other National Institute for Health Research CSGs, the Paediatric European Digestive Diseases Clinical Research Network and other interested groups (e.g. British Society of Gastroenterology) to share expertise and develop collaborative studies
- Maintain close links with relevant research charities both to inform their work and as possible sources of research funding
- Whilst maintaining independence, work closely with commercial partners especially to inform the design of commercially sponsored trials at an early stage
- Review research proposals (commercial and non-commercial) to encourage good governance and trial progress, especially regarding recruitment, to maximise efficiency in reaching trial endpoints
- Facilitate the engagement of NHS child health staff so that they can maximize their contribution to research as part of their day-to-day work
- Maximise opportunities to build capacity in research by involving trainee researchers in the group’s activities wherever possible
Mechanism: The RWG will develop a workplan each year setting-out specific targets and timelines to achieve the strategy