How research can benefit clinical practice

Being involved in research – either full time of part time – can help staff develop a range of new skills. For clinicians, it can benefit their delivery of clinical care.

In a short Q&A, we caught up with Dr Alexis Jones, consultant rheumatologist at UCLH, on how a research fellowship supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at UCLH has benefitted her wider clinical practice.

Can you tell us what your fellowship involved?

“Over an 18-month period, the research fellowship exposed me to a wide range of clinical trials covering a wide range of rheumatology. I worked on approximately 30 trials, including early phase and later phase trials, as well as commercial trials. I worked within a team of consultants, research nurses, trial coordinators and pharmacists. One of the trials, BEAT Lupus, was a landmark trial set up by our team at UCLH and looked at a combination of two immune therapies for lupus.

“Working full time across this portfolio of research studies, I gained an in depth understanding of trial design, recruitment, data analysis and how to conduct study visits

“The skills I acquired during this time assisted me in the development my own research project, which ultimately led to an MDRes at UCL."

How has the research fellowship benefitted your clinical practice?

“Working in research has benefitted me in several ways.

“I now have a good understanding and knowledge of the way in which we can integrate research into everyday clinical practice from recruitment to study visits.

“I have been able to gather leadership and management skills working alongside a group of research nurses and trial coordinators

“I have developed new skills such as musculoskeletal ultrasound and am now adept at assessing disease outcome measures. These skills are often not taught during rheumatology training and have helped me significantly in my clinical practice.

“I am now much more confident about initiating novel treatments for my patients, knowing the robust and rigorous trial process these drugs have been through during their development

“Working in research, opened my eyes to how much patients want to be involved in research and take part in clinical trials. These opportunities should be offered to them and I am now much more confident about approaching patients for research.

Would you have any advice for anyone who has the chance to take part in research?

“I would say it’s an excellent opportunity. Understanding the role of research in medicine is fundamental to be being a good doctor. It does not necessarily have to lead to a career in academic medicine but will provide any clinician with a deeper knowledge of how we develop new treatments for our patients and how you, as an individual, could play a pivotal role in this.”

Find out more

Access the BRC’s Career Development web pages.