Research and Innovation

The Research and Innovation Department focuses on studies which are supported by the National Institute of Health Research, and a portfolio of other research studies currently taking place across the Trust.

View the Trust's Research and Innovation strategy (opens in new window).

Developments

There are lots of exciting developments happening at Sherwood Forest Hospitals to expand on delivering high-quality research:

Clinical Research Facility

A new, purpose-built Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has officially opened at King’s Mill Hospital, marking a significant step forward in Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to advancing clinical research.

The facility will enhance opportunities for innovation, expand access to clinical trials, and help improve patient care for communities across Mid-Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas.

The opening of the Clinical Research Facility has unlocked valuable opportunities for both patients and the Trust. Patients now have access to cutting-edge therapies and clinical trials that may not otherwise be available locally, offering new treatment options and closer clinical monitoring. At the same time, the Trust benefits from strengthened partnerships, enhanced research capacity, and improved clinical outcomes.

For Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the facility represents a major step forward in expanding research capability, strengthening collaboration with academic and industry partners, and attracting high-quality research opportunities. It reinforces the Trust’s commitment to delivering excellence in patient care while contributing to national and international advancements in healthcare.

By integrating research into routine clinical care, the Trust continues to enhance patient access to innovation, improve health outcomes, and support the development of tomorrow’s treatments.

Mobile Research Unit

A state-of-the-art mobile research unit will take to the roads of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, making it easier for people to take part in research opportunities and clinical trials.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Research Delivery Network (RDN), and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to provide a mobile research unit to take research out into local communities.

The van, which is fully accessible and equipped with patient treatment and waiting areas, will attend events to promote health and research and provide patients the opportunity to participate in relevant studies.

It will be easier for patients to sign up to and remain on research trials as they won’t need to travel to dedicated research facilities at King’s Mill Hospital or a local GP practice.

The Research and Innovation team cares for patients taking part in research trials in more than 25 areas, including respiratory, oncology, rheumatology, dementia and ageing. The Trust plans to build on this work by expanding studies into areas not previously involved in research.

Look out for the mobile research unit across the Trust’s three hospital sites and in the local area.

New appointment

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam (JVT) has been appointed as an Associate Non-Executive Director on the Trust’s Board of Directors, with a specific focus on research and innovation. JVT will provide leadership to support our ambition and the 2022-27 “Research is for everyone" strategy.

Get involved

Research Champions

Research Champions improve awareness and promotion of clinical research, increase patients’ opportunity to take part in research, and improve departmental working relations.

Now an official link role, Research Champions help to identify suitable patients for research studies in your area. This will provide our patients with wider opportunities to participate in research, helping to benefit future treatments and outcomes.

Full training is provided and updated annually.

If you would like more information about the research activity at the trust, contact a member of the research team using the details below.

Email: sfh-tr.researchandinnovation@nhs.net

Call: 01623 622515, extension 3990.

Alternatively, if you are a service user, you can talk to your clinical care team about the potential of getting involved in a research trial.

Research Academy

Much like a Research Champion, the purpose of the research academy is to improve awareness and promotion of clinical research, increase patients’ opportunity to take part in research and improve departmental working relations.

The role involves joining the research team one day per week for 12 months, working alongside the research nurses in identifying, consenting, and recruiting patients into research studies and clinical trials.

Once the academy is completed, it is expected that delegates will return to their departments with a specialist knowledge of research at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, and that this knowledge will be used to integrate research into everyday practice.

If you are interested in participating in the academy, please contact the team on 01623 622515, extension 3313.

Feedback

If you have taken part in a study at Sherwood, we would love to find out more about your experience.

If you can spare a few minutes, please complete the Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES).

You will need to know the study name and site name. The study team will provide the information you need.

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