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.

In August I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Singapore to attend the BMJ International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare. I presented a poster about a service evaluation I had worked on, led by Dr Matt Cooper, which explored a hospital discharge service providing one-to-one, personalised support for carers of people leaving hospital.

The conference theme, moving together toward sustainable quality, emphasised the importance of collaboration across sectors to achieve lasting improvements in healthcare. Many sessions focused on involving patients and carers as partners in care, by embedding lived experience into service design and evaluation to make change meaningful and sustainable. Other sessions explored how to support population health across the life course, recognising the social factors that shape health and the role of community-based care.

These messages echoed the key findings from our service evaluation, which highlighted how person-centred, inclusive support can empower carers to support their own wellbeing and the patient during hospital-to-home transitions. Our approach of working with staff and carers to understand the service’s impact reflected the same emphasis on participation and learning that was central to the conference. For me, a key message was that sustainability in healthcare also depends on continuity, where good care extends beyond the hospital to meet people’s needs in the community.

After the conference I got to explore Singapore and think about sustainability in a different way. The contrast between greenery and skyscrapers, the hawker centres blending food from diverse communities together, and the evening light show through the Supertrees were all incredible reminders the benefits of collaborative design.

I was pleased to be invited to speak at this year’s International Psoriasis Council Symposium, held during the 54th European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) meeting in Antwerp, Belgium. It was an amazing opportunity to share an update on my PhD research, which looks at how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve treatment selection in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition that causes red, scaly areas. There are now many effective treatments called biologic therapies, which work by targeting parts of the immune system involved in psoriasis. Despite these options, it can be hard to know which biologic will work best for each individual. Right now, dermatologists often go through a long and costly process of trial-and-error to find the most appropriate treatment. My research is trying to change that by developing an AI tool that can help dermatologists choose the safest and most effective biologic for each patient.

My presentation sparked some insightful conversations, and these continued during the conference’s social events and later at a poster walk where I presented more of my work.

The meeting took place in a very unusual and memorable venue: the Flanders Meeting & Convention Center, which is part of Antwerp Zoo! This venue was complete with dramatic exhibits such as a suspended whale skeleton and a stunning butterfly room.

Over the four days, I listened to inspiring talks from both leading scientists and early-career researchers. It was fantastic to discuss ideas and return with fresh thoughts to shape the next phase of my work. One of the most powerful moments for me was a panel discussion led by women scientists who spoke openly about the challenges and benefits of working in research as a woman.

I had never really thought of visiting Antwerp before, but after seeing its beautiful buildings, fascinating culture, and endless chocolate shops, I’d recommend a visit!

Walking into County Hall, London, on 28th June 2025, I could feel the excitement in the air. Doctors, researchers, and patients had gathered for the Right Treatment: Right Time Annual Psoriasis Meeting, all sharing knowledge about psoriasis—a skin condition that causes red, itchy patches. The main theme of the day stayed with me: giving patients the right treatment at the right time is key to keeping them safe and healthy.

The first talk by Professor Darren Ashcroft really caught my attention. He explained that factors like smoking, alcohol, and being overweight can make psoriasis worse. He also highlighted that other health conditions, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, can influence psoriasis too. For me, this was a big reminder that treatment isn’t just about the skin—it’s about the whole patient. Understanding these links helps researchers and doctors make better choices to keep patients safe.

Next, Dr. Andrew Pink spoke about new treatments and their safety. He explained that biologics, like Icotrokinra (IL-23), and the topical Topinarof, are very well tolerated, while Spesolimab shows good results for a serious type of psoriasis. He reminded everyone that most patients have mild to moderate psoriasis, so treatments must be carefully matched to the right severity at the right time. It was inspiring to see how researchers make patient safety their top priority.

There were also talks by Dr. Thivi Maruthappu on diet and nutrition, and Dr. John Lee, who shared insights from MySkin.org, where patients contribute their experiences. These sessions showed me how listening to patients helps doctors provide the right treatment at the right time—not too early, not too late, and always safely.

In the afternoon, Professor Catherine Smith spoke about how psoriasis and heart disease share the same biological pathways, and Luc Francis, a young researcher, presented his work on biomarkers of remission. Both talks made it clear that timely treatment can prevent long-term health problems.

The day ended with patient panels and expert discussions, emphasizing that patients and researchers working together is essential to improve care.

For me, the conference was more than just learning about new medicines—it was a reminder that every decision in research and treatment should prioritize patient safety. I left inspired to continue my work, making sure that the right treatment is given at the right time, for the benefit of patients everywhere.

Patient safety research considers various matters of life, death and health. These are not any academic topics. For many people, these are experiences they have lived through and are living with.

Before I started my research training, I became a practitioner. Mental health occupational therapy taught me a lot about healthcare and relationships. I learned that it is wise to listen to patients. Two different people can have the same condition, but completely different experiences. I also learned that it is caring to have difficult conversations. At its best, healthcare is about moments when a person in pain gets to talk with someone who is wise and caring. Both the patient and the practitioner use their voice, both listen, both learn.

Now I am learning to research. I have clear boundaries between how I engage with people as a researcher and as a therapist. There are great differences in how to build and navigate relationships in each role. As different as it is to show up as a researcher and as a practitioner, there are some similarities. At its best, also research is about people having good conversations. Researchers and people with personal experience get together to speak, listen and learn.

In my doctoral research, I work with a group of people who I have met through my previous projects. Different group members have personal experiences to share. Some know how it feels to live with addiction, and how it is to recover. Some have been family carers for someone with mental health problems. The common ground is that we all have a strong idea on what mental health support is at its best and at its worst.

We all bring with us our own reasons and motivations to do our bit in research:

Joanne: I want to improve things for others. I want to make positive, long-lasting change easier for everyone: professionals, policymakers, patients, families.

Haley: I want people’s voices to be heard by those who make big decisions at the higher levels. Research is a vital help.

Domna: I research because I want to understand how health systems can grow in wisdom and care. In this group, I can test my ideas and connect with practice memories.

Carol: I want to share my lived experience as a carer by helping with research and use it to help make change for future generations. 

Together, we work with clear ground rules. One person speaks at a time, everyone listens. If someone shares a personal story in the room, it stays in the room. We agree and disagree with uncompromising respect. Honesty is essential and expression is free – we can swear, but not at each other.

While we keep the conversation flowing, we get things done. We have spent time talking through the logic behind the project. We have developed information sheets for research participants. We have thought through scenarios that could bring up ethical challenges. We prepare to make sense of data together in the next stages of the research. We have gathered ideas on who to connect with in the later stages of the project, to share findings and learning.

We keep the conversation alive to catch ideas and build new understanding – of healthcare and of each other. We can all agree that hope lives where people sit around a shared table and speak their minds.

Director of EDI for the NIHR Newcastle PSRC and the Newcastle University School of Pharmacy, Lecture in Pharmacy.

As we approach this new academic year, I am filled with intrigue and curiosity at the prospect of attending the equity diversity and inclusivity (EDI) events that are planned, in collaboration between the NIHR Newcastle PSRC and the Newcastle University School of Pharmacy. As Director for EDI, I am passionate about inclusion, diversity, representation and equity within all that we do in the PSRC – that includes the approaches that our team implement within in their research, as well as the support available for our staff and colleagues. I view the collaborative EDI events as a brilliant opportunity to hear from experts and those with lived-experiences and to learn how to make meaningful change towards equitable, inclusive and effective patient care. I am very much looking forward to the events that we have planned for attendees this year.

Deputy-Director of EDI for the NIHR Newcastle PSRC and the Newcastle University School of Pharmacy, Research Associate in NIHR Newcastle PSRC.

I am excited to start my first full academic year as Deputy Director for EDI within the NIHR Newcastle PSRC and the Newcastle University School of Pharmacy. I hope within my role I can support Anna in her Director role and ensure that the EDI strategy is delivered in all aspects of our work. I am particularly passionate about ensuring inclusive research that is translational to practice and building a better future for everyone. The goal of the PSRC is to make real world change within patient safety for patients and the public, of which EDI is a central pillar to this work. The EDI events we will be hosting over the next academic year shine a light on this commitment as we look to learn from those making a difference with their work, inspiring the next generation of pharmacists and researchers. I encourage everyone to attend them if they can and please do reach out with future topics for our next events.