Pharmacy Practice Research Trust continues its commitment to increasing pharmacy practice research capacity

Pharmacy practice research capacity has been further supported by the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust (the PPRT) through the announcement of grants totalling over £100,000 to the successful applicants for its 2011 Practice Research Awards and Research Training Bursaries. Awards have been made to six pharmacists who want to develop their skills in conducting research. Four pharmacists have been granted Practice Research Awards totalling £86,420:

• Esmita Charadi, Academic Research Pharmacist, National Centre for Infection and Management Galen Award to investigate: Antimicrobial Dosing in Obesity Study (ADIOS)

• Chi Hynh, PhD Student, Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Practice, The School of Pharmacy, University of London Linstead Award to investigate: Medicines reconciliation research in young (MERRY) – post hospital discharge follow-up of patients

• Wing Man Lau, Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, University of ReadingLinstead Award to investigate: Pharmacists’ advice in relation to topical administration of corticosteroids: is fingertip a useful concept in all instances?

• Frances Notman, Community Pharmacist Extended Services Manager, Aberdeen Linstead Award to investigate: Understanding patients’ self-management of early cancer symptoms and exploring the potential role of community pharmacists in earlier diagnosis

Two pharmacists have been granted Research Training Bursaries totaling £21,480:

• Frances Notman: to undertake an MRes at Aberdeen University

•   Sadaf Qureshi, NICE Liaison & Clinical Audit Pharmacist, NHS Derbyshire County to undertake a Masters in Health Economics and Health Policy at University of Birmingham.

Beth Allen, Director of the PPRT said:

“This funding is vital to develop a research active profession to underpin the development of a strong evidence base in pharmacy that supports high quality patient care. It reflects the PPRT’s continuing commitment to increasing pharmacy practice research capacity and we hope that many more pharmacists will follow suit in recognising the value of research in their own practice and in a wider professional context and apply for a research or training grant in the 2012 programme.”