Overseas Institution Report: Martina Sykorova

Nottingham DTC student Martina Sykorova reporting back after her ESRC-funded Overseas Institution Visit to the Copenhagen Wound Healing and Lymphoedema Centre

Martina recently visited the Copenhagen Wound Healing and Lymphoedema Centre (CWHLC) at the Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark and during her stay, was involved in three projects:

1.       Completing a draft of research proposal for the ‘Prevalence and impact of lymphoedema in children and young adults within the Danish health system’. The study will be the first prevalence study of lymphoedema in children at a national level. It was an excellent experience of writing a proposal of a large and complex study that focuses on health and social impacts of the disease.

2.       International survey (chronic oedema outcome measures): Designing the survey, piloting the survey, using an electronic platform to collect data, participant recruitment

3.       Scoping review: project proposal, methodology, literature searches using multiple databases, reviewing

"The visit has exceeded all my expectations. The aim of the visit was to establish research links with the CWHLC and a charity organisation International Lymphoedema Framework which has been accomplished. In the end of the visit, the research team proposed that I further collaborate on the project which I consider the biggest outcome of the visit. As a result of working on the scoping review I was invited to submit an abstract for the 2019 International Lymphedema Framework conference to present findings from the study. This is another valuable outcome of the visit.

There were some unexpected benefits. One journal has already agreed to publish findings from two projects I was working on: the scoping review and the international survey. This is of a huge importance for myself, a young researcher who would like to stay working in academia after completing my PhD. In addition, a specialist research centre was recruited to help with the national prevalence study (genetic testing). This collaboration will lead to establishing research links with one of the best lymphoedema research centres in the world, St George’s Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, University of London, UK."

The OIV will undeniably have a very positive impact on my future career. The three-month visit was an excellent learning experience that enabled me to learn from more experienced researchers and establish research links with two reputable organisations (CWHLC and St George’s) and a charity organisation the International Lymphoedema Framework. One of the outcomes is a publication of findings from the three projects, and two of the publications have already been agreed to be published in a wound care journal. It  will also make a positive impact on my PhD since I have significantly deepened my clinical knowledge of chronic oedema/ lymphoedema and improved my research skills. The invitation to present findings from the scoping review at an international conference is of a great importance too.

Overall, the visit has enabled me to establish myself as a young researcher and to collaborate with some of the best international researchers in the field of lymphoedema."

Martina Sykorova