Research and Development : Defining research team roles

Within our organisation, there is a team of dedicated research staff who help doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide research as part of patient care.

As a participant, your clinical research practitioner or research nurse will support you throughout your journey who are ready to answer your questions, schedule appointments, and make sure you feel at ease.

The research team helps more research happen and supports people to learn new research skills. We work with our organisations and other health services to make research safe, fair and well managed. We make sure people taking part in research are treated safely and respectfully, that research follows the law and ethical rules, and that information is accurate and handled properly. We also help share research findings so that others can learn from them and improve services.

The Principal Investigator (PI), who looks after the study, makes sure of your safety and that the research meets rigorous standards. Together, the research team, which includes professionals like speech therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, and more, works to provide you with a seamless and supportive experience.

The Research Governance Team makes sure that appropriate governance arrangements are maintained throughout the studies. Studies are managed on time and to target in line with study protocols and national and international legislation and guidance.

The team assesses the Trust's ability to participate in an individual research project and supports all aspects of research across the Trust.

The Head of Research and Development looks after research management and governance for research hosted at the Trust. They lead the development of the research strategy, which supports, drives, and embeds research into clinical care. The strategy makes sure that the clinical teams develop different recruitment strategies for the involvement of patients, ensuring inclusive patient-centred research takes place. 

The Head of Department leads the strategic direction of research at Berkshire Healthcare. By collaborating with the governance team, the wider research team, and other key members, they ensure studies are of the highest quality and make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.