How the research community in Wales is changing lives in 2023
From tackling COVID-19 to working on sun safety and so much more, the research community in Wales did some incredible things in 2022 – and this year will be no different.
This January, the Health and Care Research Wales research community shared their research resolutions for 2023 and we can’t wait to see what they achieve:
Supporting families in Wales
It’s important to understand how family’s health and wellbeing affect our children’s future, and this year the National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research is focussing on finding out how to provide the best support for families in Wales.
If you’re an expectant parent or have a child aged 18 months to two years, help them achieve their goal by taking part in an online survey.
Better oral health
Poor oral health is a common problem for older people living in care homes and sheltered accommodation, but in 2023 the North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health and Care aims to combat this problem with the help of dental care professionals through the SENIOR study.
A blood test for cancer
This year the Wales Cancer Bank and the Wales Cancer Research Centre will be researching if a simple blood test could help doctors find the best treatment for patients with lung cancer.
Dr Magda Meissner, Medical Oncology Consultant, was awarded our Research for Patient and Public Benefit Wales grant in 2022 for this work which aims to shorten the time from referral to the start of treatment for lung cancer patients.
Encouraging healthy ageing
In 2023, the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research aims to understand how to develop environments for ageing which offer greater health and wellbeing benefits, while contributing to more sustainable futures in Wales.
Working with the public, creatives and decision makers, researchers will be asking people of different ages their views on climate change.
New medication for type 1 diabetes
Results from a study, which took place at the Swansea Trials Unit, looking at whether a new medication can delay damage to the pancreas of people with type 1 diabetes will be published in 2023.
The USTEKID trial aimed to make it easier to achieve optimal diabetes control in the early years following diagnosis.
Improving mental health in schools
One in eight school pupils have a mental health problem, and, this year, the DECIPHer Centre aims to help schools tackle this by evaluating the effectiveness of the whole-school approach.
This approach promotes consistent messaging and support about mental health in schools.
Supporting research with data
After providing over 300 research projects and 500 researchers with help in 2022, the Secure Anonymised information Linkage Databank is excited to support so many more studies to use data in the public’s best interest in 2023.
Developing research careers
This year, our Faculty is working on new, more inclusive research funding schemes to support those developing vital health and social care research in Wales.
The team will be working with past, present and future members to develop their careers and support these researchers to deliver evidence for life-changing treatments and care.
To keep up to date with all the life changing research happening in Wales sign up to the Health and Care Research Wales bulletin.