Getting Involved
People are sometimes afraid of the idea of research, or don't know what it entails - even healthcare workers. Below you'll find some good opportunities for training, and getting involved in dementia research in your Trust.
Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki is at the core of what we do. It means being precise, careful, and transparent at every turn, so that patient safety is at the cetnre of everyone's research experience. Click on the link to be transferred to NIHR Learn, where you can take the training. You may need to register with an NHS email address.
Becoming a Principal Investigator involves managing a team, providing the drive for recruitment, being focused on good governance and GCP. It also invovles being creative and curious and coming up with your own research ideas.. Click on the link to be transferred to NIHR Learn, where you can take the Leadership module. You may need to register with an NHS email address. There are regular local CRN face to face courses for an introduction to being a PI.
The Associate PI Scheme is a six month in-work training opportunity, providing practical experience for healthcare professionals starting their research career. People who would not normally have the opportunity to take part in clinical research in their day to day role have the chance to experience what it means to work on and deliver a NIHR portfolio trial under the mentorship of an enthusiastic Local PI. Participating healthcare professionals receive formal recognition of engagement in NIHR Portfolio research studies through the certification of Associate PI status, endorsed by the NIHR and Royal Colleges. Click on the video to learn more.
The Join Dementia Research Database forms the basis of recruitment for many studies. The Join Dementia Research researcher training contains a series of online bite-sized modules with a competency based quiz at the end. Once you have completed the training modules and the competency quiz you will then be asked to complete a form with your details and then you will be issued with your JDR login details and assigned to your studies.
CDR Training
Apply here to get online training in using the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR). This is the scale used in many clinical trials as a screening tool, and as an outcome measure. Being proficient in the CDR means you can take a structured history of cognitive problems which is standardised across users.
Membership of the MDS is free for those on a higher training scheme, and comes with free online training on the use of the Unified Parkinson' Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)
Register for the online training in the Montreal Cognitive Assesssment, a vital brieftool often used for screening in clinical trials in dementia.
The University of Glasgow has created a rater training programme for the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Evaluation v3. Register here to make sure you have the skills to use this commonly used and accepted rating scale.
Raters administering the C-SSRS are not required to have clinical training (in clinical psychology, nursing, psychiatry, etc.). Training in the administration of the scale is recommended for all academic research and is typically required for commercially sponsored trials. If required, the training certificate is valid for 2 years or for the duration of an ongoing trial, where the scale is administered continuously. The Project has a separate webpage with specific information about the use of the C-SSRS in research funded by pharmaceutical companies (including licensing requirements).