Get involved at NELFT as a colleague, academic or professional

Staff involvement can include:

Referring service users to take part in studies
Delivering exciting new treatments and interventions
Sharing your clinical experience and insights
Contributing to the design and delivery of new research projects

We warmly welcome staff from all areas to join us on our research journey – whether that’s through a small local project, an academic study, or a large grant funded trial. We can’t wait to hear from you and explore how you can get involved.

Become a Research Advocate!

Support your colleagues and service in getting involved in research

Discover research projects that could improve health and care for service users in your community

Take part in exciting research alongside world-leading academics and experts

Contribute to growing our research-positive culture at NELFT

Any member of NELFT staff can become a Research Advocate, and no prior experience in research is necessary. A Research Advocate plays an important role to keep colleagues and service users informed about opportunities to take part in research at NELFT.

This could include:

Working closely with researchers and research delivery staff
Updating colleagues with the latest research opportunities
Sharing cutting-edge research findings with your team
Networking with like-minded colleagues at NELFT

We are always looking for enthusiastic Research Advocates to work with us, and run regular training workshops to inform and connect with staff who are curious to find out more. The training will introduce you to the basics of how research works within the NHS and here at NELFT. We can also discuss areas of research that interest you. We hope that more teams will feel informed about research and keen to take part where they can.

Our next training sessions are being held on:

11th March 2026

15th September 2026

Discover your path in Research

Our team provides comprehensive support for professionals from diverse backgrounds, including nurses, doctors, pharmacists, allied health professionals, mental health professionals and many others. We are dedicated to assisting colleagues and professionals as they actively develop their research skills and portfolios. Whether you are embarking on a small project or pursuing advanced qualifications such as Clinical Fellowships, Master's degrees, or PhDs, our team is here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Expand your research knowledge

We regularly offer and promote academic, research and clinical events to support colleagues who wish to expand their research skills and knowledge. Make sure to check out our Academic Training Calendar and social media to keep up to date with available workshops, conferences and learning opportunities.

There are many opportunities for colleagues to get involved, enrich their career development or begin their own research journey at NELFT. Our door is always open to hear your ideas and suggestions.

Training

We offer many great training opportunities for NELFT colleagues, service users, patients and researchers which enhance knowledge and skills to plan, carry out and present research while building professional networks. There is something for everyone, whether you are involved in research now or just curious about research or projects happening across the Trust.

NELFT Research & Development are running the following workshops in 2026:

academic training calendar

Research Journal Club

NELFT Journal Club meets regularly to discuss and critically evaluate research journal articles in a casual and informal setting. The aim of the session is to encourage wider reading and stimulate debate and discussion across a broad range of research topics. Journal Club provides the opportunity for individuals to develop their critical appraisal skills in a relaxed and friendly environment and is open to anyone who is interested in developing skills associated with reading, evaluating and discussing research.

NELFT PhD Club

PhD Club invites anyone who is undertaking a PhD at NELFT to join and get involved. The group meets straight after Journal Club.

This Club provides a meeting space and support for individuals undertaking a PhD at NELFT. It provides an opportunity for peer support and a welcoming and supporting environment to discuss your research project. It is a useful platform to discuss issues, challenges and offer each other feedback and advice. It also provides an opportunity for shared learning and a chance to pass on relevant skills and knowledge. If you would like further details about PhD Club or have any queries, please get in touch.

Other ways to get involved

Other ways to gain research knowledge and experience:

Share your experiences and ideas with the team
Co-design and co-produce research
Take part in one of our studies that are looking for participants
Support one of our studies as a Local Collaborator, Principal Investigator or study staff
Find out more about Research at NELFT, and share with others
Join our events, workshops and conferences to expand your research skills and knowledge

Key benefits of being involved include:

Enhancing skills and gaining Continuous Professional Development (CPD) experience
Enhanced job satisfaction and reduced burnout
Improved clinical practice and evidence-based care
Networking, career development and enhanced reputation
Access to resources and specialised knowledge