Health workers are being encouraged to wear red to mark a worldwide day recognising the difference clinical research makes to help improve and save lives.
Friday, September 20, will be #Red4Research Day, a campaign to show appreciation and support for all those taking part in clinical research.
It celebrates the huge team effort that research takes to drive new and improved treatments and ways of diagnosing and preventing disease to help people live better and for longer.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust leads and supports a wide variety of research studies.
Since it was formed in 2019, it has recruited more than 23,000 patients to many different trials. These include trials such as the COLO-DETECT AI study, which has looked at how technology can help increase the detection rate of polyps during a check of the bowel.
The Trust has a dedicated research team and has supported a rise in the number of studies and research-active staff each year.
To show support for the effort, the Trust is inviting its staff to wear red where they can on the day.
This will show their backing and appreciation for all those participating, undertaking and supporting research to drive health improvements.
The Trust will also share short films from their research departments about their work via its social media channels and screens around its hospitals on the day.
Information stands will be set up in the restaurant at Sunderland Royal Hospital and the main entrance at South Tyneside District Hospital to showcase the fantastic research underway at STSFT.
Visitors are welcome to call in and speak to the team about research and potential ways they can get involved.
Deepali Varma is Director of Research for the Trust and NIHR National Specialty lead for Ophthalmology. She is also a consultant at Sunderland Eye Infirmary and specialises in retinal care.
She said: “Red4Research Day gives us the chance to celebrate what we have already achieved. It also recognises the part we are playing in making future changes and improvements.
“Ultimately, this work will make the care we give even better and save lives, helping people live healthier for longer.
“The fact that we are at the centre of many of these studies, which are often world-leading, is something we are hugely proud of.
“We could not do it without the support of our patients and their loved ones and our teams, who strive to make a difference.”
More details about the Trust’s clinical research work can be found via the Research page on its website.