Wednesday, 03 December 2025
The iCAhRE™ (Interdisciplinary Clinical Academic health Research Excellence) programme helps staff at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust to learn about research and use it to further improve patient care.
Since completing the programme, which is delivered by staff at UHCW and Coventry University, participants have been awarded research grants totalling £3.2 million and produced more than 230 publications.
The study conducted by a team from Coventry University and Professor Joan Coad from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham, led by Dr Eleanor Lutman-White from Coventry University’s Research Centre for Healthcare and Communities, showed the iCAhRETM programme significantly enhanced participants’ research knowledge and skills, as well as informing and changing clinical practice, building staff confidence, increasing engagement in research-related activities and supporting career progression.
Dr Lutman-White said: “Nurses, Midwives, Allied Health Professionals and Healthcare Scientists form the majority of the clinical workforce providing care to patients but have fewer opportunities to engage in research compared to medical staff.
“This evaluation has underlined the vital importance of providing opportunities to develop research knowledge and skills to these healthcare professionals.”
Part of UHCW’s Research for All strategy, this collaborative initiative reflects the Trust’s commitment to fostering a culture of research across all healthcare professions with the aim of ultimately contributing to improved patient care and outcomes.
Nicolas Aldridge, Head of Research Delivery and Impact at UHCW, said: “We receive very positive feedback on the iCAhRE programme from our staff, many of whom go on to build research careers, and it is great to see this backed up by a formal evaluation.
“With cohort nine currently running, the iCAhRE Bronze programme has had 59 staff gain Master’s modules in research methodology and real-world clinical research experiences.”
This evaluation is significant because it highlights that when organisations like UHCW invest in supporting clinical research careers, they don't just advance knowledge, learning and evidence-based care - they empower staff, impact on patient safety and ultimately help shape the future of health and care.”
The full paper can be found here.
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For further details please contact the corresponding author – Professor Jane Coad on jane.coad@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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