#Red4Research day (19 June) is a chance to celebrate the brilliant work of our teams across the Trust who support research and innovation. This year, we are shining a spotlight on the Clinical Trials Pharmacy team who play a critical role in bringing our research to life by supporting teams to deliver research safely, efficiently and with purpose. 

The role of pharmacy in clinical research

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are essential to the success of clinical research. They bring expert knowledge of how medicines work, strong attention to detail in complex trial processes and a commitment to improving patient care through innovation

This unique skillset places pharmacy teams in an ideal position to identify unmet needs and contribute to the development of better, safer treatments - particularly in mental health where innovation is crucial. 

The team's mission

Mersey Care’s clinical trials pharmacy team (pictured above) consists of Lead Research and Clinical Trials Pharmacist Rachel Walsh, Specialist Pharmacy Technician Samantha Hewitt-Williams and Specialist Pharmacist Feyisope Fagade.

Rachel said:

“The team’s mission is to deliver safe, timely and accountable dispensing of clinical trial medicines. This supports the Trust’s operational plan of delivering world-class research that advances mental health treatments and ensures the fastest access to innovations for the people who need them most. This commitment ensures that research is not just conducted but delivered to the highest possible standard.

“This is so important because every clinical trial has the potential to improve lives. For our service users, this means earlier access to new and innovative treatments, safer, more effective care and hope for better outcomes in the future. For staff, it improves job satisfaction as they feel part of something bigger and get the chance to contribute to advancements that extend far beyond our Trust.”

Samantha explains that the team bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that each trial runs smoothly and that service users participating in research receive the highest standard of care. 

“Our role is to translate complex protocols into day-to-day clinical operations, supporting research across the Trust through a range of key activities. These range from ensuring safe and complaint medicines, data integrity and quality assurance to study feasibility and set-up, expert support and continued research development.”

What the team delivers

The team’s activities include:

  • Safe and compliant medicines – ensuring investigational medicines are prepared, stored and dispensed safely and that patient wellbeing is safeguarded at every stage of the trial and there is full compliance with legal, regulatory, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards.
  • Data integrity and quality assurance – maintaining the integrity and accuracy of research data and ensure compliance and quality across all pharmacy trial activities
  • Study feasibility and set-up – assessing the feasibility of new studies efficiently to support innovative research, supporting study setup processes and work to set up commercial trials within 150 days in line with legislation.
  • Collaboration and expert support – the team collaborate with research partners, provide expert pharmaceutical advice and assist with pharmacy costing for funding applications.
  • Research growth and workforce development – the team enabling new research opportunities, promote research training opportunities, build staff confidence and capability and encourage wider participation in research delivery.

 

Looking to the future

Samantha emphasises that research is not separate from clinical care – it’s part of it! 

“We are committed to embedding research into pharmacy careers, creating opportunities for staff to get involved and helping to build a culture where research is part of everyday practice. By doing so, we support national research initiatives, strengthen our workforce and improve patient outcomes.”

Find out more about #Red4Research on the Research and Development Forum website.

Get inspired by the brilliant work of staff across the Trust who are supporting research and innovation on the your research stories page.