Capacity Development
Principal Investigator Training
Development of Future Clinical Researchers
The development of future clinical researchers is a crucial part of building mental health research capacity within the Midlands. We are working with Midlands Mental Health NHS Trusts to develop staff, research facilities and organisational practices to help them grow their research study portfolios. We are working on a number of initiatives which are detailed below, and we will continue to develop further activities in response to our continuing discussions with our partner Trusts and any future needs identified.
Principal Investigator Training
These one-day, in-person, training events provided an introduction for clinicians about becoming a Principal Investigator with a focus on the role in clinical trials. We invited clinicians working in mental health, who were interested in taking on the role of Principal Investigator, and were located within the Midlands region, to attend the events with a representative from their R&D department. The events were free to attend and were aimed at clinicians who had not been Principal Investigators on a clinical trial before.
Events were held in January 2024 in Birmingham, April 2024 in Nottingham and the final in-person event took place in March 2025 in Birmingham. A total of 91 clinicians and research staff attended these events.
Session topics included:
Why become a Principal Investigator? Introduction to different types of studies Introduction and overview of clinical trials: What they are and why we do them Developing capacity and capability within local Mental Health Trusts The roles and responsibilities of PIs The experience of being a PI Next steps to becoming a PI: How to take things forward
Aims of the day:
- To bring together clinicians working in mental health trusts who were interested in becoming a Principal Investigator (PI) on a clinical trial.
- To foster relationships with Midlands mental health trusts who may be part of current or future studies associated with the MHMTC.
- To facilitate a dialogue and mutual support between potential PIs and R&D departments.
- To outline different types of trial design and standard processes involved within them.
- To identify the standard organisational structure of clinical trials and then apply this to sites.
- To outline the roles and responsibilities of PIs.
- To identify the infrastructure requitements for engaging in clinical trials and to develop actions for developing the infrastructure.
Learning Objectives & Outcomes
- Clinicians understand the key processes of clinical trials and know how they apply to their Trust.
- Clinicians and R&D representatives understand their respective roles in undertaking clinical trials.
- Clinicians and R&D representatives identify the infrastructure/support currently available in their Trust and what would need to be developed to undertake different types of clinical trial.
Midlands Principal Investigator Development Network
This exciting new opportunity was implemented following feedback from attendees at the PI Training Events and provides members with access to a wide range of opportunities to develop their research experience. The Network is for any clinician (allied health professionals, nurses, psychologists, medics etc) who are interested in, or have experience of, being a PI in research. The Network currently has over 340 members across a range of clinical specialties and from all 11 Midlands Mental Health NHS Trusts.
See what the Midlands PI Development Network offers...
If you would like to join the PI Development Network and gain access to the above resources, please use the link below to register.
Register Here: PI Development Network Registration
Personal Support Meetings for PI Network Members
The Capacity Development Team at the MHMTC are pleased to offer individual and tailored support for members, with meetings arranged at the request of members at a time to suit you. These meetings will be with Charlotte and Gemma from the Capacity Development Team, and may also include other colleagues from the MHMTC Team if we feel they have expertise which may be helpful to the clinician seeking advice and support.
These meetings can be used to discuss anything that will help you progress your research journey, which may include:
- Research role opportunities you have identified that you wish to explore or seek advice on
- Advice on being a PI, what the role entails, help with day-to-day tasks etc.
- Help with joining the NIHR Associate PI Scheme, including finding a study on the scheme or getting an existing study registered for the scheme
- Help with identifying a mentor for your first PI role
- Advice on training and development opportunities
This offer is in addition to the valuable, local support offered by your Trust R&D Teams, who we will also continue to work with in relation to helping you progress any local opportunities. We hope you will utilise this offer from us, and we very much look forward to hearing from you if there is anything that you feel we may be able to help with.
Please contact Charlotte or Gemma to arrange an appointment.
Charlotte Maybury at c.maybury@bham.ac.uk
Gemma Unwin at G.L.Unwin@bham.ac.uk
We look forward to seeing you!
Contact Us
Collaboration with the NHS is central to our mission. If you are a healthcare professional or part of an NHS organisation and would like to discuss partnership opportunities, clinical integration, or research initiatives, please get in touch with us.
Facilities & Resources
Access to Facilities
The Institute for Mental Health at the University of Birmingham is developing a new Clinical Research Facility (CRF) that will significantly boost mental health research capacity across the Midlands. This state-of-the-art facility will play a key role in supporting research aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health conditions, with a particular focus on Early Psychosis, Difficult to Treat Depression (DTD), and child and adolescent mental health.
The CRF will work closely with the Midlands Translational Collaboration of Excellence, which is designed to strengthen the region’s capacity for mental health research. By expanding infrastructure and building connections with the NIHR RDN (Research Delivery Network) and other key research bodies, the CRF will enable more ground-breaking studies to take place across the Midlands, helping to accelerate the development of new treatments and therapies.
More information will be available once the Clinical Research Facility is fully operational. Stay tuned for updates on its launch and the exciting research opportunities it will support
Access to Personnel and Support for Staffing
We’re keen to support mental health research within the Midlands and are developing a central bank of resources that can be provided to Trusts through our MHMTC Portfolio Adoption Scheme. Through this scheme, you can apply for support for ongoing studies at your site that fall within our scope (see below). At present, we can offer support to studies from our bank of trained and experienced Clinical Studies Officers who can support participant screening, identification, recruitment and data collection. We hope to extend the support available in the future which may include support for dedicated time for clinicians to undertake the PI role.
To apply for support, please review the attached framework and complete and return the application form.
The CSOs are centrally employed by Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, allowing them to easily work across multiple NHS Trusts. Since they
are already part of the NHS, they can quickly be assigned to new sites when needed, using a Letter of Access.
Main Role of the CSOs
The main role of the CSOs is to help identify participants, manage recruitment, and assist with data collection for MHMTC portfolio studies. They have the flexibility to work across the Midlands, providing vital support to different research teams. They can step in where there are gaps in staffing or assist with setting up new research sites, making sure that procedures for identifying, referring, and recruiting participants are well established. Since the CSOs are trained and experienced in mental health research, they can also offer expert advice and guidance to teams, working alongside them rather than being solely responsible for data collection.
Supporting Research
MHMTC will consider supporting research which:
A. Addresses one of the 5 key areas of the MHM:
- Difficult to treat depression, bipolar disorder, other mood disorders
- Early psychosis, clinical high risk of psychosis
- Children and young people
- Digital platforms for identification of participants and data collection
- Developing novel and tailored MH interventions through experimental study designs
B. Uses a more complex design such as experimental studies, clinical trials and complex trials and/or is industry-funded, commercial contract study or commercial contract clinical trial. (the MHMTC Portfolio will not typically include observational studies).
How CSOs can Support Research Teams:
- Participant Identification: CSOs can help identify individuals who may be eligible for research studies by screening patient caseloads.
- Recruitment and Data Collection: CSOs will work with clinical teams to set up referral processes, assist in recruiting participants and collecting data (primarily assisting local research delivery staff), ensuring that studies can run smoothly and efficiently.
- Expert Support: With their experience in mental health research, CSOs can provide valuable insights and practical support to research teams at each site.
- Filling Gaps: CSOs can provide short-term cover to help with staff turnover/absence or help with getting new studies up and running.
Practical Considerations:
- Travel: CSOs are able to travel to various sites across the Midlands. Travel expenses must be covered by the host sites, and these arrangements will be agreed in advance.
- Access to Systems: For CSOs to work effectively, they need access to the Trust’s IT systems, such as electronic patient records, which are important for tasks like screening. If this access is not possible, alternative plans should be made.
- Support from Host Sites: Host sites are expected to introduce CSOs to clinical teams and provide access to clinic spaces and contact information. A key contact person should be assigned at each site to help facilitate their work.
CSOs are managed by a Senior Clinical Research Mental Health Practitioner, who is responsible for assigning them to studies, monitoring progress, and coordinating with NHS Trusts to ensure access and approvals are in place.
Summary of process of application and adoption:
Sites identify a particular resource need on a study already open at site
Sites complete and submit the application form for adoption of the study at their site onto the MHMTC portfolio. Prior to this, sites may have an informal discussion about the study
The MHMTC Portfolio Advisory Committee reviews the application against the scope and current availability of resources
If the application is considered appropriate for support, a meeting will be convened with the host site and members of the Advisory Committee to agree the terms of the MoU
After the MoU is signed by both parties, resources will be provided and progress reviewed, as agreed.
