BAPO Research Hub
The BAPO - Staffordshire University research hub offers UK prosthetists and orthotists, regardless of experience, the opportunity to collaborate with an experienced research team on projects relevant to the P&O profession.
There will be call every year and a competitive application process will be completed. Those selected will gain first-hand experience on the full research process from literature review to data collection, analysis, and publication writing. This initiative provides P&O professionals a pathway to contribute to and learn from impactful research aimed at advancing their field.
Aim:
The aim of the research hub is to give Prosthetists and Orthotists an opportunity to be involved in research projects pertinent to the P&O profession, working alongside a team of experienced researchers who have successfully published numerous research papers and continue to work on a wide range of research projects.
The mentoring research team consists of Professor Nachi Chockalingam, Dr Nicky Eddison and Dr Aoife Healy.
Benefits:
The P&O professional who joins the team to work on a project will gain experience on how a real research project works, they will work alongside the team learning how to carry out a literature search, design and execute a research project, collect and analyse data and write a paper for peer-reviewed publication. If they work on the project from start to finish their name will be included on any subsequent published research.
The Process:
Once the research team have decided on a project, BAPO will advise their members that they can apply to be part of the team, via a dedicated application form, and providing them with details on the general area of the project. The research team will then choose one or two applicants (depending on the size of the project) and brief them on the detail of the project, the successful applicant/s will then be invited to all the research meetings and be included as a full member of the team for the duration of the project.
Who can apply:
Applications are open to all UK prosthetists and orthotists who are BAPO members, experience in research, years of practice and current job role are not relevant to the application process. The aim is to give everyone the opportunity to be part of research. Please note: the research hub is only for qualified P&O staff, students are not permitted to apply.
Is there a cost?
There is no cost to the applicant, this is a free of charge initiative with the aim of inspiring P&O professionals into research.
Our Previous Work
Exploration of the representation of the allied health professions in senior leadership positions in the UK National Health Service (bmj.com)
Nicola Eddison, Aoife Healy, Nina Darke, Mary Jones, Millar Leask, Gwen L Roberts, Nachiappan Chockalingam
Prescription practiceThe UK prosthetic and orthotic workforce: current status and implications for the futures for rigid ankle-foot orthoses among UK orthotists.
Nicola Eddison, Aoife Healy, Enza Leone, Caroline Jackson, Bracken Pluckrose & Nachiappan Chockalingam