Debbie Moll, who recently started as the CRF Team Lead speaks about her career in research.
Debbie previously worked as a researcher in the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Memory and Cognition Research Delivery Team and also worked part-time as the CRF: Oxford Health’s Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Lead.
Tell us a little about yourself, and what attracted you to working at CRF: Oxford Health?
I have been working in research delivery for several years. I enjoy this work as it allows me to maintain my clinical skills as well as develop research and academic skills.
I find the studies delivered at CRF: Oxford Health fascinating as they explore possibilities for new treatments within mental and cognitive health.
My colleagues at CRF: Oxford Health are fantastic, with everyone coming from different backgrounds to deliver high-quality research, while also supporting the wellbeing of participants and team members. I had been working with the team as the PPI Lead and am looking forward to working with the team more closely and getting to know everyone better.
What will your recent promotion to Team Leader at CRF: Oxford Health involve?
This role involves leading and line managing a team of research delivery staff at the CRF: Oxford Health, as well as supporting the management of research delivery and ensuring that research is conducted safely and appropriately.
What is your vision for the team you will work with?
It is important that research delivery staff are supported to deliver high-quality participant-centred research. Inclusivity is also essential for research, to find new treatments that are appropriate for each member of our diverse society.
What will be at the top of your To-Do List?
I will be spending time at CRF: Oxford Health getting to know the day-to-day research activities as well as staff priorities. We hope to recruit a new Patient and Public Involvement Lead soon and I will be supporting the new candidate into this role.
How did you get to where you are today?
After qualifying as a Speech and Language Therapist, I worked in paediatrics for approximately 3 years. My work focused on post-acute paediatric neurorehabilitation with children recovering from severe acquired brain injury.
While working clinically, I found that there was a lack of research to inform evidence-based decisions, and this influenced my decision to apply for a full-time role in clinical research delivery.
My first research delivery position was at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, primarily in the women and children’s team, then coordinating a large COVID data collection study during the pandemic.
I then joined the Memory and Cognition Research Delivery team at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and later started my part-time role as the PPI Lead at CRF: Oxford Health. I really enjoy working with research participants and public contributors, to help people have a positive experience of research and to contribute to the discovery of new treatments.
Who or what inspires you?
The stories of research participants are a huge motivation to me. They share their challenging experiences to help find new treatments for future patients experiencing mental health conditions and/or dementia. Participants have also highlighted the support and care that they receive from research staff, and the huge positive impact this can have on their daily life.
If you were not in your job currently, what would you like to be doing?
I would either be in the sea or on a beach, or playing my violin or viola, or else in front of Netflix with my crochet!
