Celebrating the life-changing research this St David's Day
This St David’s Day we're celebrating some of the life-changing Welsh research, and how our research community, patients, public and service users are making a difference to people’s lives in Wales.
1. Royal honours
Welsh research has been given royal recognition with both SAIL Databank and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in the spotlight.
Swansea University has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition for harnessing public data to improve population health and wellbeing through its world-renowned SAIL Databank.
And Regina Reyes, Clinical Research Nurse Specialist at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, spoke of her excitement at meeting His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace together with the Chief Nursing Officer Sue Tranka. The event was arranged to honour the dedicated efforts of internationally educated nurses and midwives throughout the decades.
2. Our youngest research participants
Our youngest participants started their research journeys from the moment they were born.
Around 200 mums and their babies participated in ABA-feed to look into whether extra support could improve continuation of successful breastfeeding.
Another 8,000 babies from across the United Kingdom, France and Germany took part in the HARMONIE study to identity an effective treatment to protect the infants from serious respiratory disease.
3. Innovation and technology
Advances in technology can lead to major impacts in research innovation, as shown by researchers at Hywel Dda University Health Board, which is using state-of-the-art surgeon-guided robots to carry out hip and knee replacement surgery with better patient outcomes.
A novel rhythmic drumming app has also been developed by Welsh researchers at Cardiff University in the hope of improving movement and cognitive abilities in people living with Huntington’s disease.
4. Creativity in research
Creativity knows no bounds, and in Wales we are known for it - as can be seen in several of our research areas:
Esther Goodhew, a speech and language therapist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, who is combining her passion for music with language therapy to create the first-ever inpatient choir in Wales to help post-stroke patients find their voice.
Dr Mayara Silveira Bianchim, Patient and Public Lead for the National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research, has creatively integrated cartoons and infographics in her study to facilitate communication with children affected by chronic pain.
And researchers from the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research are investigating the impact of 'essential' short breaks for unpaid carers in Wales to help them achieve a fulfilling life alongside caring.
5. Working with our under-served communities
Researchers in Wales are working alongside a wide range of diverse and under-served communities, recognising they have a crucial role to play in many areas of research.
A Wales-wide community-based education programme, led by researchers at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and PRIME Centre Wales, aims to improve the uptake of diabetes follow-up checks among people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Another study, led by Dr Paula Foscarini-Craggs, will look at the role physical activity plays in promoting people’s wellbeing after their traumatic experience with sanctuary seekers taking part in teaching.
6. Top recruiter
A total of 833 studies were open in Wales in 2023. Of these Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was the top recruiter with 3,258 Welsh participants recruited in a UK-wide study which aims to prevent new-born babies from contracting a potentially life-threatening infection.
7. A 'tasty' alternative
Cranberry juice could be one of the treatment options for women with recurrent urinary tract infections, according to a study led by Dr Leigh Sanyaolu, which is looking at the positives and negatives of various treatment options to develop a decision aid.
Each day, there is a lot of amazing research going on in Wales, sign up for our weekly bulletin to find out more.