Enhance Cardiff’s reputation as a key player in maternal and neonatal research

The award will be utilised as outlined below:

Develop a multi-centre co-applicate group. Several members of such a group are already involved with me, including co-clinicians, the Research Conduct and Development Service (RCDS) at Cardiff University (funded service), and the Research & Development Office in Cardiff & Vale University Health Board. Further involvement has been sought from parents and user groups and from research midwives.

The funding application will be developed over six months. This time will be utilised to develop the protocol of the trial involving all members of the co-applicant group, and prepare a high-quality funding application. After securing funding, I anticipate spending a six-month period in setting up the trial. This includes gaining ethical approval, identifying and securing approval for the Trial Steering Committee and data monitoring committee, identifying study sites including local PIs and research midwives. This stage will involve essential training for all involved personnel in running the specifics of the trial protocol.

The recruitment phase is anticipated to run for an eighteen month period. During this phase, recruitment, randomisation, delivery of the study intervention and collection of clinical data, will take place.

A final six-month period will be spent in analysing data from the trial, to allow presentation and publication.

Acting as chief investigator for such a trial, will enable me to establish myself as an independent researcher and further enhance Cardiff’s reputation as a key player in maternal and neonatal research.