Key Welsh landmarks lit up in honour of life-changing research

Cardiff Castle and Welsh Government’s Cathays Park were lit up in red to celebrate #Red4Research a day of recognition for the life-changing research conducted, especially over the past two years where research offered a beacon of hope. 

A day of recognition  

#Red4Research Day began in 2020 as a way of saying thank you to the incredible research teams collectively working to develop new diagnostics and treatments. 

Research isn’t undertaken by individuals working in isolation but made possible by people around the world working together.  

#Red4Research has been supported by people in America, Australia, Chile, Italy, Spain, Malaysia and India as well as the UK, where it started. This year, key landmarks were lit up, as a way of recognising research teams across health boards and research centres. 

Research in Wales 

A snapshot of the research conducted here in Wales to help combat the COVID-19, saw the set up and delivery 119 COVID-19 studies, including seven vaccine trials, providing an opportunity for more than 60,000 people in Wales to take part in research. This research was conducted alongside many other studies covering a range of health and social care conditions, such as cancer, fertility, dementia. 

Research has changed lives 

Jane, 56 from North Cardiff took part in the Wales Lower Limb Trauma Recovery Scale (WaLLTR) study, which developed and tested a tool to support the recovery of patients who had suffered from a type of severely broken leg called an open tibial fracture. For this study, Jane made several visits to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, and took part in workshops and clinics as part of exercise treatment to help people like her to recover more quickly from their injuries. 

She said: “Without people like me volunteering to help with studies, researchers wouldn’t be able to make vital improvements in caring for patients. It makes such a big difference and is really rewarding so I would encourage others to do it too.  

“Without research things might have been worse for me after my crash. For example, my leg which needed four surgeries, might not have been saved.  

“I do remind myself that it took a lot of people to put me back together again and I feel quite lucky to have taken part in that study, which likely led to me recovering physically more quickly and feeling supported by the doctors and physios.” 

First Minister, Professor Mark Drakeford said: “Research is so important to ensure we continue to improve our health and social care services, the wellbeing of our population, and to provide the most efficient and up-to-date care and treatment for patients. 

“Research is often something that goes unnoticed, but our talented research teams across Wales are going above and beyond to deliver life-changing studies day in day out. These studies will impact us and our loved ones in the future and I want to acknowledge their efforts today and to say ‘diolch’ from us all.” 

Health and Care Research Wales funds, supports and oversees all research conducted here in Wales. 

Director of Health and Care Research Wales, Kieran Walshe said: “Even though it’s a small gesture the lighting of huge landmarks across Wales and the UK puts it into perspective how research effects everyone and literally shines a light on those behind this amazing work. 

“We hope that this recognition makes more people think of the impact and encourages more people to help out in any way they can.”