by Nathania Bestwick NIHR Newcastle PSRC PhD student
I was grateful to travel to London for the PSYCH Symposium 2025 on Thursday, 4th December. This symposium brings together researchers, therapists, doctors, policymakers, investors, and campaigners to talk about the latest research in psychedelic medicine and how psychedelic therapies may be used in mainstream healthcare to treat mental health conditions.
I attended the symposium with Radin Karimi, another PhD student from the NIHR Newcastle Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC). Like my own work, Radin’s research looks at how to better manage polypharmacy (which is when people take many different medicines at the same time). Medicines used to treat mental health conditions often add to this problem, so we were interested to find out if psychedelic therapies might help people manage their mental health so they can take fewer medicines. We were also keen to learn how patient safety is managed in this developing area of research.
The symposium focused on a range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, eating disorders and distress near the end of life, particularly for people who have not responded to more commonly used treatments. Speakers shared evidence showing that psychedelic medicine, such as psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine, can help to ease symptoms in people with these conditions. They also explained that psychedelic therapies may help people process deeper emotional problems behind their symptoms, which can lead to longer-lasting improvements in well-being. Several speakers had worked with military veterans and shared how these therapies have helped them manage PTSD, support their mental health, and feel better in everyday life after leaving the military.
Patient safety was a major focus throughout the symposium. Research in this area is strictly regulated, with people being carefully checked (called screening) before they’re invited to take part, and with study information being clearly explained so that people can make an informed choice when agreeing to join a study. Therapies are provided in carefully controlled and supportive treatment spaces by highly trained therapists and healthcare professionals, with close monitoring during sessions, and follow-up support after the treatment to help people understand their experiences and get the best results from the treatment.
Professors David Nutt and Guy Goodwin had an interesting discussion about recent results from a large study which showed that a single dose of synthetic psilocybin helped people with severe, long-lasting depression, with higher doses leading to bigger improvements in symptoms. They also spoke about drug laws creating stigma around psychedelic research, even though there is growing evidence that these substances can have real health benefits and that they may be less harmful than legal drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco.
One example of how psychedelic medicine is being used in standard healthcare came from Professor Ranil Gunewardene, who described how he is leading one of the first clinics in Australia to offer regulated psychedelic-assisted therapy. Since his research is with patients who have complex health conditions (called real-world patients), it may give us helpful insight into how these therapies can be used outside of highly controlled research environments.
In summary, the symposium showed that psychedelic medicine has promising potential to improve care for people with mental health conditions, particularly those that are difficult to treat. It also highlighted that more research is needed and that building upon the current evidence base will help us better understand how effective and safe these treatments are, and how they can be carefully and appropriately used as part of standard healthcare.
Details and bios for each of the speakers can be found here
Yahya F, Cooper M, Saif W, Kassem M, Nazar H Development of a Hospital at Home Digital Twin for Patients With Frailty: Scoping Review Journal of Medical Internet Research 2025;0:e0 URL: https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e81510 doi: 10.2196/81510
What’s this about?
How can we make the most of advanced technology and live information to improve how we deliver hospital-level care at home?
What’s this about?
How can we make the most of advanced technology and live information to improve how we deliver hospital-level care at home?
Why are we looking at this?
The NHS 10-year plan wants to:
- Move more care from hospitals closer to home
- Prevent illness instead of just treating it
- Use more digital tools to support care
What is the work we are doing?
We explore all three by using something called Digital Twins. A Digital Twin is like a live virtual simulation of a patient and their surroundings using real-time information. It can help healthcare professionals predict problems early, to give care that’s safer and more personalised.
Learning from, and working with other experts, our work looked at creating a simple step-by-step model, which can be used to develop a Hospital-at-Home Digital Twin. This review was based on existing evidence for tools to support this, for patients living at home with frailty.
What does this mean?
- Technology and real-time data can help health professionals care for patients at home more efficiently.
- Digital Twins could make care timelier, safer, and tailored to each person.
- We’ve outlined the main building blocks for creating a Hospital at Home Digital Twin.
This work is just the beginning, but it shows how technology could possibly change the world of healthcare and what needs to be worked on to make this possible.
For those that want to know more:
Our article reviews the current evidence for tools that exist to support the development of a Hospital at Home Digital Twin. We describe the 5 layers required to build a Digital Twin. Results show that a variety of technologies exist to pick up information, such as wearables. However more understanding is needed of how we manage that data, store it, translate it and use it to make useful predictions to help staff who are looking after us make decisions. This article also talks about some of the challenges and opportunities we may face when using these technologies in our current healthcare system.
By Kamil, NIHR Newcastle PSRC Patient, Public Contributor
Lured by the promise of good food and new acquaintances, on Friday 17 October I made my way to Manchester for the NIHR SafetyNet Symposium – a gathering of clinicians, researchers and public contributors united by a single mission: tackling inequities in patient safety. Hosted by the Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC), the event brought together colleagues from the six PSRCs across England – Central London, Greater Manchester, Midlands, Newcastle, North West London and Yorkshire & Humber.
The day began with coffee and a bustling lobby filled with poster presentations. From the start, it was clear this wasn’t just an academic exercise. It was a collective effort to bridge the gap between policy, practice and lived experience.
One of the first things that struck me was the keynote by Dr Rosie Benneyworth from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB). I hadn’t heard of HSSIB before and I found its mission fascinating. The organisation investigates systemic issues in healthcare topics such as sepsis, prison health and fatigue without focusing on blame. Instead, it looks for learning and improvement. This shift from a ‘who’s to blame’ culture to one of collective accountability resonated deeply with me.
A presentation on avoidable healthcare-associated harm in prisons was another eye-opener. While I wasn’t surprised to hear that prisoners and people experiencing homelessness suffer significantly worse health outcomes, it was sobering to see how these inequities manifest in daily practice e.g. medication shortages, missed appointments and institutional barriers that make basic care difficult. As someone finishing reading a book on health promotion, I could connect the dots between theory and reality: these are not abstract inequalities, they are lived injustices.
One reflection that stayed with me came from a discussion about adoption and breaking cycles of poverty and violence. Even in systems that often feel broken, there are ways to create safety and opportunity through compassion and action.
Several sessions focused on the intersection of communication and safety, including translation and interpreting services. This hit particularly close to home. As a qualified Polish interpreter, I know how vital accurate translation is for patient safety, yet the pay rates offered by NHS providers are often so low that professionals can’t afford to take the work. Hearing that language access was being discussed as a safety issue, not just a convenience, was both encouraging and frustrating. We have the knowledge; now the system needs the will to act.
The Patient Safety Healthcare Inequalities Reduction Framework, presented by Dr Hester Wain, outlined five principles for change: communication and information, training and resources, data, co-production, and research. I was especially struck by her emphasis that the experiences informing the framework are what make it powerful.
By the end of the day, after many conversations in the poster corridor and a moving talk on ethnic inequities in patient safety by Professor Dawn Edge, I left Manchester feeling both hopeful and challenged. The message was clear: health doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Tackling inequity requires empathy, collaboration, and, above all, a commitment to listen to those whose voices are too often ignored. For me, as a patient-cum-public contributor, the symposium was a reminder that my lived experience isn’t just welcome in research – it’s essential.
By Dr Anna Robinson-Barella and Dr Matt Cooper
Along with several of our NIHR Newcastle PSRC colleagues, Matt and I attended the SafetyNet symposium on Friday 17th October in Manchester. The focus of the event was: “Tackling Inequalities in Patient Safety”. It was a day that encouraged a lot of reflection-primarily upon patient safety and our cross-PSRC SafetyNet-agenda, but also upon intersectional influences including ethnicity, marginalisation, and wider EDI-related issues underpinning our work.
We heard from speakers across all six of the PSRCs, as well as two keynote speakers, Dr Rosie Benneyworth presenting “Moving away from a “whose to blame” culture” and Prof Dawn Edge presenting “Ethnic Inequalities in Patient Safety”.
NIHR Newcastle PSRC had 32 of our colleagues in attendance; many of whom presented research posters about their work covering topics like polypharmacy, medicines adherence, costs and treatment decisions, social prescribing, health-related quality of life, and predicting diseases by using AI.
It was also a pleasure to personally contribute to the agenda of the day, and represent NIHR Newcastle PSRC, by presenting an evidence synthesis on inequities affecting medicines access for people experiencing homelessness and the subsequent consequences on their (patient) safety.
Congratulations to all the team involved in organising, hosting and running a great symposium!
By Henry Song, Artificial intelligence and data science in multiple long-term conditions theme PhD student
Attending the NIHR Newcastle PSRC/Pharmacy event on the 19th of June was a very positive experience for me. Although I was not able to present my latest research findings due to recent changes in my project dataset, the day still proved to be highly valuable.
I had the chance to see a wide range of presentations from fellow students and colleagues. Some of the work provided direct inspiration for my own research, while others helped to broaden my perspective on the diverse approaches within our field. I was particularly struck by the experimental-based studies on display, which were not only highly innovative but also showed real potential for future impact.
In the afternoon, the workshop on research funding applications was especially useful. It gave me a first insight into the key steps, structure, and approaches involved in applying for research grants. This will no doubt be very important as I continue to develop my academic career.
Overall, the event was an excellent opportunity to learn, connect, and reflect on both my own project and the wider research landscape.
Experience of participation and poster presentation.
By PhD Student Rajeev Shrestha
On 18th July 2025, I got the opportunity to attend the Great North Pharmacy Research Collaborative (GNPRC) Conference, held at the Hilton Hotel, Gateshead. This event brought together pharmacy professionals, researchers, and pharmacy trainees to explore innovations in medicines optimisation, collaboration, and workforce development.
A key highlight for me was presenting my poster titled “Outcome of Deprescribing in People with Life-Limiting Conditions: A Systematic Review”. This study aimed to synthesise evidence on the clinical-, medicine and system-related outcomes of deprescribing practices among palliative patients. I had an opportunity to interact with fellow attendees during the poster viewing sessions that really sparked meaningful conversations around the safer use of medication. Personally, it was encouraging to see the ongoing works on reducing inappropriate use of medication by practising pharmacists.
The conference agenda was rich with insightful sessions. I particularly appreciated the breakout session on “Shared Decision Making and its Role in Reducing Overprescribing,” which also resonate with the area of my research. The growing emphasis on collaboration across sectors, from community pharmacies to NHS manufacturing, highlighted the evolving role of pharmacists in shaping safer, more effective care pathways.
Overall, GNPRC 2025 was a valuable experience to me. The event inspired new ideas, informed ongoing initiatives and deepened our commitment to contributing to quality use of medications.
11.30 – 12.30. Lecture Theatre 1 (LT1), King George VI building / Hybrid
“Reducing the impact of deconditioning for older people admitted to hospital: development of a participatory research and improvement strategy with real world impact ”
Dr Lisa Robinson is AHP Consultant (Newcastle Hospitals) and Visiting Fellow (Northumbria University). She is also the successful recipient of an NIHR Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award (SCPRA) (2024-2029).
In this session, Lisa will present an overview of an emerging programme of work which aims to reduce the impact of deconditioning for older people admitted to hospital. She will present the findings from a recent group concept mapping project with multidisciplinary healthcare staff and discuss plans for future work which aims to integrate research and practice development activity to improve the safety of older adults in an acute care setting.
On this occassion the event will be hybrid and a link will be sent in the run up to the event.
I’m Liam, a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist in Acute and Emergency Care at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. I split my time between clinical practice (four days a week) and research (one day a week) through the NIHR Newcastle PSRC Patient Safety Development Award. Since graduating from Newcastle University’s School of Pharmacy in 2022, I’ve been building my research career alongside clinical development, driven by a passion for research sparked during my undergraduate studies.
The NIHR Newcastle PSRC’s impact on clinicians
Traditionally, clinical practice and academia have been seen as separate career paths. Clinicians interested in research often had to pursue it in their own time, outside of demanding full-time roles.
The NIHR clinical academic pathway has transformed this by funding protected research time and reimbursing employers, allowing clinicians to step away from practice to pursue research.
For me, this has meant one day each week seconded at NIHR Newcastle PSRC, where I’ve developed core research skills. Working with experienced researchers has helped me understand the full project lifecycle, from shaping early ideas and designing methodology to recruiting participants, collecting data, and writing up results.
Building Collaborations
Embedding clinicians within the NIHR Newcastle PSRC helps build strong links with partner organisations. Connections with charities and local health and social care providers create future opportunities at both individual and organisational levels. This also broadens the chance for under-represented groups to have a voice, influence practice, and help reduce health inequalities.
At Newcastle University, embedded clinicians benefit from access to leading academics in their field and can learn from their experience. Previously, collaborations were often ad hoc, such as draft reviews or methodology advice. These awards now enable clinicians to work more closely with academics and gain a deeper understanding of research and academia.
Why is this valuable to the public?
Research-active organisations are linked to better patient outcomes. Combining clinical work with research lets me address real issues I encounter in practice, shaping projects that can drive meaningful change.
In acute medicine, I’ve focused on discharge and follow-up challenges. Through the NIHR Newcastle PSRC, I’m now working on a project exploring these issues for homecare recipients and those working in the industry.
Being embedded in both sectors also helps spread research findings more effectively, supporting better service improvements and outcomes.
Next Steps
A key goal is to encourage more healthcare professionals to engage in research. The NIHR clinical academic pathway supports this by offering development alongside clinical roles, leading to qualifications and national research leadership opportunities.
Alongside Dr Anna Robinson-Barella, Dr David Sinclair, Dr Vanessa Davey, Prof Barbara Hanratty, and Prof Adam Todd in the journal of Age and Ageing.
Understanding polypharmacy for people receiving home care services: a scoping review of the evidence
This review comprehensively maps the evidence on the prevalence and management of polypharmacy in home care settings and highlights promising strategies for enhancing medication quality. However, significant gaps remain in understanding of how care staff and recipients experience and manage complex medication regimens, underscoring the need for further research in this area.
Natalia Ochodzka, MSci Biomedical Sciences Graduate
Natalia held a summer internship between May and June of 2024 with Dr Matt Cooper. Natalia worked on a systematic review looking to identify digital toolkits used in the self-management of long-term conditions within the home and reflects on her internship here:
Hi! I am Natalia, a recent graduate of MSci Biomedical Sciences with a Professional Placement Year programme at Newcastle University. I was also a research assistant at the School of Pharmacy for six weeks in May and June this year. My project was a scoping review focused on home-based interventions that support mental and physical health self-management in patients with multiple long-term conditions. I was based at the Newcastle Patient Safety Research Collaboration office and spent 60 hours surrounded by a wide range of researchers – from undergraduate interns, through research assistants and doctoral candidates to associates.
The nature of a literature review is very methodological; you need to follow certain steps to diligently get through thousands of publications to narrow your search to the most relevant reports, which then combined will (hopefully) suggest an answer to your research question, or at least provide you with the most relevant information on the search topic. Although it seems like an individual job, the part of the internship I enjoyed the most was interacting with my team! Daily discussions on topics related (and not so much) to our research questions made me realise that there is no one right way to do things right and that I should never limit myself to thinking in the regular, three-dimensional way. I learned distinctive styles of working, studying, and teaching, and all of it combined made me a better researcher. I saw the value and consequences of diligent work ethics, networking, and collaborating with people from outside of your study/ work circle. I am certain that this experience alongside the support received at PSRC will empower my future in clinical research, focused on physical activity and experimental medicine.
Eleanor Allen MSc Forensic Psychology Graduate
Eleanor held a summer internship between May and June of 2024 with Dr Matt Cooper. Eleanor worked on a project evaluating a hospital to home discharge service with a local charity. Eleanor reflects on her internship:
My research internship spanned six weeks and primarily involved the design and delivery of a service evaluation. This project was commissioned by a local charity and focused on hospital-to-home transitions in care. Coming from a forensic psychology background, the project area was relatively unfamiliar to me. Nevertheless, the skills required were transferable, allowing me to utilise my previous experiences as a volunteer researcher, in court, and from my research methods training. While I had some prior experience with qualitative data collection, this was the most immersed and involved I had been with a project. I was responsible for coordinating participants, data management and conducting one-to-one qualitative interviews with the charity staff members. Throughout the data collection process, we reflexively updated the interview schedule, meaning that every interview influenced future iterations of the questions. This led to effective and meaningful data collection and allowed me to incorporate my insights from the interviews. I presented my initial reflections and findings at the School of Pharmacy conference. The event gave me the opportunity to discuss the project with others from a broad range of academic disciplines, and gain insight into the research community at the school. I was particularly interested in the language used by charity staff members, especially relating this to self-identification as a barrier for carers seeking help. Often, staff held dual roles as carers and employees, and their language reflected how normalised their caring roles were. The conference was an excellent opportunity to meet other researchers and learn about ongoing projects within the school.
Overall, this internship was extremely valuable. Conducting research in an applied context was highly rewarding, and despite my background in forensics, I was able to apply my existing skills to the role. My experience and insights were valued by the research team, and I felt able to contribute meaningfully to the project. I also developed novel skills, such as communicating with a wide range of people, including participants, external partners, and academics. My qualitative interviewing and data management skills were also strengthened through the project. I am happy to say that I have now started as an assistant psychologist in an NHS Trust conducting research! I spoke about my experience with qualitative interviewing and recruitment in my application. Above anything else they seemed to like how I spoke about rapport building and connecting with people. I’m super grateful for the experience because it really built my confidence with that. Thank you Matt!
Arisha Ahmed MSc Pharmacy Graduate
Arisha held a summer internship between June and August 2024, supervised by Dr Matt Cooper. Arisha worked on a systematic review looking to identify digital toolkits used in the self-management of long-term conditions within the home and reflects on her internship here:
This summer I undertook a research internship with the School of Pharmacy at Newcastle University with Dr. Matthew Cooper as my supervisor. This project has allowed me to develop skills valuable in both research and my own professional development. My role within the team included, developing a systematic search strategy, navigating research databases (e.g. Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and CINAHL), study selection, evaluation of research quality in addition to completing a data extraction. Whilst the project was rewarding, we faced a few setbacks that taught us important lessons about the research process. For example, the screening process and data extraction took longer than initially anticipated which impacted the long-term plan of the project. These challenges taught us the importance of setting realistic deadlines and maintaining flexibility within project planning. The setbacks allowed me to truly understand the complexity of the research process as well as the importance of delegating tasks to each team member effectively to ensure a robust and timely piece of research was produced.
The findings from this research will continue to contribute to ongoing research activities within the School of Pharmacy at Newcastle University. Outcomes from this project aim to advise healthcare providers with invaluable knowledge as well as inform advancements in digital medicine. The project team are particularly interested in how to inform and guide Artificial intelligence (AI) systems to create AI driven health solutions. These innovations have the potential to significantly improve patient care and enhance clinical decision-making in the future.
As a healthcare professional, this internship has allowed me to critically analyse studies, assessing their rigor, relevance and impact to provide evidence-based care to my patients. It has also enhanced my appreciation for the vast array of research available to us in medicine. I am excited to further explore how medical policy, and advancements can be shaped by research, and I hope to pursue a career in research alongside my role in the NHS, focusing on integrating innovative digital solutions to patient care.
