Meet the Reproductive Health Research team
What is the reproductive health research team?
The reproductive health research team is made up of midwives, nurses and clinical trials assistants.
We undertake research in all areas of reproductive health, running studies in maternity, gynaecology, fertility and urogynaecology. We deliver all types of studies - from new vaccine studies to drug and device studies, as well as interventional and observational studies.
It has been fantastic to see how our studies have changed practice over the years. Research ensures the best available evidence is used to plan care in the department.
How does your team support research in our university-hospital partnership?
We work closely with our clinical colleagues to deliver studies and ensure research is integral in all our clinical areas.
One current study offers the chance to screen for an extra condition - Spinal Muscular Atrophy – when babies are five days old. This is done at their routine newborn blood spot test. Our midwifery, midwifery support workers and healthcare assistant colleagues have championed the study with their women and birthing people. In just over a year, more than 3,000 babies have had this screening test performed as part of the study.
Who is in the reproductive health research team?
We are currently a team of eight. This consists of six midwives (Fiona Walbridge, Jane Forbes, Kate Raney, Nicki Martin, and Rhea Hampton), one nurse (Kim Jones) and one senior clinical trials assistant (Mónica Córcoles Fernandez). The team is led by Simon Smith, who is a senior research charge nurse.
Our midwives work primarily on maternity and fertility studies. This requires frequent visits to the ward areas and our obstetric theatre. Kim has the important role of helping to deliver our gynaecology studies. Mónica supports all of us on most studies, which is a big task!
How can staff get in touch?
Our team contact address is ReproHealthResearchT@uhs.nhs.uk. All emails will be responded to swiftly within office hours.