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New research partnership creates nurse leadership role

Published: 20 April 2022 at 16:00

The exterior of an NHS hospital

ARU joins forces with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) have joined forces to build capacity and develop professionals to run research in the region.

In the first step for this milestone collaboration, they have set up a new joint research nurse lead post, hosted by CPFT’s Windsor Research Unit and fully funded by ARU.

The postholder will work in a successful NHS clinical research team to encourage and support joint research and partnership projects between the two organisations.

Nursing professionals across the region are invited to apply for this exciting role, now open to recruitment. The ARU Partnership Clinical Research Nurse Lead will be responsible for coordinating development and delivery of both CPFT and ARU research projects, arranging access to National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) portfolio support where appropriate.

The job description and a link to apply can be found on the CPFT website.

Gloria Calderon-Kimpton, CPFT’s Windsor Research Unit Manager and Trust Lead for NIHR Research Delivery, said:

“It is our mission to ensure everyone around the region has the opportunity to participate in health and social care research and to continue our commitment towards improving quality of life for people through research.

“This exciting partnership will help us to offer a wider range of studies across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough communities and provide more development opportunities for healthcare professionals in our region. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to finalise contracts and make it happen! We look forward to working with ARU colleagues and welcoming the Research Nurse Lead to our team.”


The partnership builds on the success of previous projects combining the Windsor Research Unit team’s specialist skills and NHS facilities with ARU research expertise. ARU works together with CPFT on the HOMESIDE music therapy study, to help people living with dementia. Earlier this year, this world-leading music therapy work was awarded The Queen’s Anniversary Prize.

Professor Laurie Butler, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of ARU’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, said:

“We are delighted to work with CPFT, and this next stage of our partnership involves an ARU research nurse being embedded in CPFT’s internationally renowned Windsor Research Unit.

“ARU’s research expertise includes wellbeing, physical activity, music therapy, medical devices, diet, and vision, and this partnership will help to strengthen our clinical research capacity. Through joint projects, we hope this research collaboration with CPFT will enable us improve access to cutting edge treatments and diagnostics so that those living with chronic conditions can lead happier, healthier lives.”


CPFT is one of the country’s top research-active NHS Trusts running physical and mental health studies with thousands of participants every year, and together with ARU, they aim to transform lives with groundbreaking research and make a difference for local communities.

Scott Haldane, CPFT Chief Executive, said:

“This is a new landmark partnership for the Trust, which will help us deliver more research to improve health and social care in our region and address health inequalities, working with one of the UK’s leading universities.

“We look forward to working with ARU on future projects to serve our diverse population and areas of need, including prisons, residential and care homes, homeless and travelling communities across Peterborough and Fenland areas.”