The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7372 p532
22 October 2005

Society summary

Community pharmacists funded to undertake research training

Four community pharmacists are undertaking research training with bursaries from the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust, the independent research charity founded by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

The four are Jessica Purkiss, a locum community pharmacist from County Durham, John Hall, a community pharmacist from County Durham, Nazmeen Khideja, a pharmacy and clinical services manager from Birmingham, and Anita Sharma, a self-employed locum from Manchester.

The trust’s bursary scheme, which is supported by a grant from the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust, is used to assist community pharmacists who have an interest in developing their skills in conducting research relating to everyday practice. Three levels of funding are available:

level 1 — funding to undertake research modules and a small-scale project (supported by a research organisation such as a higher education institute, a primary care research network or a research and development unit)

level 2 — funding to upgrade a diploma in clinical/community pharmacy to a MSc, which usually involves undertaking a further two modules (one on research methods) and undertaking a project

level 3 — funding to undertake a non-pharmacy MSc.

The bursaries are designed to cover salary (pro rata for part time) or locum costs, course fees, research costs up to £250 (including printing, postage and travel), supervision costs (from a higher education institution or from a local research and development unit/network) and up to £200 towards attendance and presentation of work at UK conferences.

Mrs Purkiss will receive £4,985 for a level 1 bursary on research methodology and survey design. Mr Hall will receive £12,000 for a level 2 bursary to conduct an MPhil at the graduate research school, University of Sunderland. Miss Khideja will receive £4,500 for a level 2 bursary to help her convert her diploma in community clinical pharmacy into an MSc. Miss Sharma will receive £38,159 for a level 3 bursary to carry out an MSc in health psychology.

The trust says that the aim of the bursary scheme, which began in 2002, is to develop pharmacists who have basic experience and skills in health services research and will pursue research as part of their practice. It says that an example of the success of the scheme is Tabassum Jafri, a 2003 research training bursary holder, who is to undertake a PhD at Cambridge University, applying risk assessment practices to the medication provision process, either based on existing methods, or by adapting and tailoring new methods.

Details of the application process for the 2006 research training bursaries will be announced in January 2006. Further information on the 2005 bursaries or previous individuals funded through the scheme can be obtained from Beth Allen, acting research manager (tel 020 7572 2466; e-mail beth.allen@rpsgb.org).