Imperial’s Clinical Academic Training Office celebrates a decade of excellence
Members of the Academic Health Science Centre community have been celebrating the 10th anniversary of a training hub which provides education and development opportunities for healthcare staff.
The Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO) delivers research training and education opportunities for clinical staff. It is part of the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre – a strategic partnership between Imperial College London, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
In June, more than 90 delegates from across the AHSC’s partnership gathered to celebrate CATO’s 10th anniversary at the annual research symposium event at the W12 Conferences, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Reflecting on 10 Years of CATO
Opening the event Professor Jeremy Levy, Director of CATO, highlighted its achievements over the last ten years. CATO has successfully encouraged a wider range of healthcare professionals – nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacy staff, psychologists and clinical research practitioners (NMAHPPs) into research careers. It has also won the maximum number of externally funded Integrated Academic Training posts from the National Institute of Health and Care Research each year. Such posts support the training of doctors in England to develop their clinical academic careers.
Professor Levy said:
“It is wonderful to celebrate the 10th anniversary of CATO and its work to develop future leaders in research, education and patient care. Over the last decade, CATO has grown into a vibrant community that empowers aspiring clinical academics to push boundaries, ask bold questions and shape the future of medicine.
“I have been proud to see CATO go from strength to strength and hear so many wonderful success stories of staff who have benefited from our support and have developed in their careers.
“However, nationally, the numbers of clinical academics are declining in the UK which impacts medical research and patient care. It means our work is more vital than ever.
“The research symposium was an opportunity for our delegates to make connections, exchange ideas and learn from their peers. I hope they felt inspired and part of a community contributing to a culture of excellence and discovery.
“I want to thank and congratulate all those who have played a crucial role in CATO’s success and look forward to the next decade.”
Celebrating excellence
Delegates had the opportunity to listen to speakers who have benefited from CATO’s support and have developed in their clinical academic careers.
They included Ravi Mehta, Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Infectious Disease, who spoke about his work to develop a rapid test for viral infections that could be used for preparing for the next pandemic and tackling the rise of antimicrobial resistance – where disease-causing bacteria and viruses stop responding to treatment. Dr Mehta is working on a new test for a molecule called ddhC, which the body produces in response to many different viral infections. His hope is that this test would help doctors to determine quickly who has a viral infection and who doesn’t, with the aim of reducing antibiotic use.
They also heard from Jennifer Crow, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Stroke at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow at Imperial College London, who spoke about her work exploring what life is like for patients after a minor stroke.
She talked about patients’ experiences of receiving a diagnosis of minor stroke, the follow-up care they received and the impact this had on their quality of life. She explained that lived experiences of stroke patients should be understood further to improve the aftercare delivered.
Delegates saw an exhibition of posters showcasing research studies and projects undertaken by healthcare staff. These included a project about patients with chronic conditions that is evaluating interventions aimed at improving referral rates from primary care to specialist services, and a study to uncover genetic mechanisms behind preterm birth.
Prizes were awarded to Ravi Mehta and to Athena Trachalaki, Postdoctoral Researcher and a Respiratory Medicine Physician at Imperial College London, for her study that found that air pollution exposure is associated with faster decline and increased mortality in pulmonary fibrosis – a progressive, debilitating condition marked by lung scarring.
Pioneering research
Delegates had the opportunity to attend expert-led workshops, delivered by clinical academics and experienced facilitators.
Dr James Howard, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Cardiology in the National Heart and Lung Institute and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, led a workshop on the impact of using generative AI such as ChatGPT for research and clinical academic practice. Dr Howard outlined how his research applies AI to cardiovascular imaging and diagnostics and how this benefits his work. He also outlined the potential pitfalls to be avoided such as false citations.
The keynote speaker was Professor Waljit Dhillo, Professor of Endocrinology & Metabolism at Imperial College London and Consultant Endocrinologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He outlined his career journey and some of his key research work. This included using kisspeptin, for safer IVF treatment and to treat women and men distressed by their low sexual desire. He also talked about his role as UK National Dean of the NIHR Academy – which attracts, trains and supports highly skilled academic researchers.
“Research has impacted my career and clinical practice. Through my research I have been able to help many more women have babies and trial a drug compound to reduce the number of hot flushes women experience during menopause.
“As Dean of the NIHR Academy, I want to develop a highly skilled clinical academic workforce capable of conducting and advancing the best research to benefit the health and wellbeing of society. CATO’s work is vital in supporting this and I want to congratulate the team for all their work over the last ten years to make it such a success. It was heartening to see such great presentations, posters and delegates coming together in the pursuit of excellence. I look forward to seeing CATO’s growth over the next ten years.”