Colleagues from our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and Mental Health Research Delivery team attended the UK & Ireland CRF Conference 2026 held recently at the prestigious Trinity College Dublin.
Bringing together clinical research professionals from across the UK and Ireland, the conference provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, build connections and explore the future of clinical research.
This year’s theme, Two Islands, Many Voices – Futurescaping Trans-National Clinical Research, highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation and partnership in shaping research delivery across borders.
Across two intense days, delegates attended plenary and parallel sessions covering topics including digital health, workforce development, patient and public involvement, data sharing and research innovation. The conference also provided valuable opportunities to network with colleagues, exchange ideas and learn from examples of best practice from across the CRF community.
Oxford Health’s Mental Health Research Delivery team attendee Yohan Augustin said: “It was really interesting to get an insight into how other CRF’s in the country and in Ireland were managing clinical trials in healthcare. Because this was a conference in Ireland, we were able to see that scope across the EU, as well as what’s happening within the UK. There were a variety of speakers with some personal highlights around AI’s role in clinical research, decentralised and hybrid trials and updates on 150-day targets. Conferences like these help us see the bigger picture of what we do, and it was great to be reminded of that”.
CRF: Oxford Health colleague Toto who also attended the event said: “The conference highlighted the power of collaboration, providing opportunities to learn from others and build lasting professional connections. I returned with new ideas, insights and contacts that will support our ongoing work at Oxford Health.”
Our CRF won four posters on display, showcasing work taking place across our facility and contributing to discussions on improving research delivery and participant experience.One of the posters highlighted how embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) monitoring into routine research processes improved participant data completeness and supported more inclusive mental health research.
The team also played an active role in the conference programme. Sarah Marr, our Communications Manager delivered the session Embedding Best Practice: Communications Skills for the Wider CRF Team, exploring how effective communication can support recruitment, engagement, partnerships and research impact. She told us: “The level of engagement throughout the session was brilliant. The discussion was interactive, insightful and highly practical, and I hope delegates left feeling more confident in approaching communications activities within their own CRFs.”
Angela Conlan our Public and Patient Involvement, Engagement and Participation Lead and Sidra Malik, a member of the Oxford Health CRF Engage group, helped deliver Hands-on Patient and Public Engagement and Involvement: Methods, Models and Impact, sharing practical approaches to meaningful public involvement in research.
Angela said: “It has been an inspiring few days in Dublin. I was proud to showcase our work alongside colleagues and public contributors, and to contribute to discussions about meaningful public involvement in research. I came away with lots of ideas, encouraged by the passion and creativity across the network, and excited about what we can bring back to Oxford Health.”
The strong focus on collaboration, patient-centred research and innovation was particularly encouraging, reinforcing the vital role CRFs play in delivering high-quality research and improving outcomes for patients.
Sidra commented on her favourite session from the event: ‘The ‘Small Change, Big Impact’ parallel session at the CRF conference was fantastic. As an ENGAGE PPI member it was incredibly relatable to see how minor shifts in how we approach day-to-day decisions can make such a profound and positive difference.’
CRF: Oxford Health attendee Rebecca Smith said: “I left the CRF Conference in Dublin energised and inspired. Sharing our ENGAGE PPIE work, hearing research success stories, and connecting with colleagues across the network reinforced my belief that early collaboration and patient involvement are key to delivering better research. It was a powerful reminder that behind every study is the potential to bring hope, improve lives, and make a real difference for patients and the public.”
Thank you to the UKCRF Network and local organising team for delivering such a memorable and engaging event. We look forward to building on the learning, connections and ideas gained in Dublin to further strengthen our work and research delivery at CRF: Oxford Health.
