Ten years of the BACD Strategic Research Group

Ten years of the BACD Strategic Research Group: maximizing opportunities for paediatric neurodisability research

One of the BACD’s aims is to support high quality research that improves clinical practice, and outcomes for families and children. The BACD Strategic Research Group (SRG) was set up 10 years ago and aims to:

• Identify and encourage high quality clinical research in childhood disability in Britain; in particular collaborative multi-disciplinary projects
• Encourage and assist people in the field, including families, young people and clinicians, to identify research priorities
• Facilitate and support the development of major research applications to Wellcome, Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research and national charitable funding bodies
• Encourage and help clinicians, who are interested, to participate in research, and potentially pursue an academic career path

The SRG reports to the BACD Executive regarding its strategic endeavours. The SRGs membership has always been multidisciplinary, and has included committee members from across the UK. This has maximised the opportunity for regional and national impact for all professionals. A summary of recent SRG activity is presented at the annual BACD meeting each year – that is always an opportunity to remind members that it’s their SRG – the SRG works with the Executive, for BACD members.

We hope you enjoy reading about the success of the SRG. It’s success and impact would not have come about without the support of the Executive, and the considerable efforts and time invested by many SRG members who applied to participate. It is not possible to list all past and present SRG members in this summary – but all are listed on the SRG section of the website.