The Research Room

How can research help people living with painful, persistent leg ulcers receive the best possible care?
This week we're joined by Professor Jo Dumville and Catherine Arundel to explore VenUS-6, a major clinical trial investigating treatments for venous leg ulcers and this time we have results!
We chat about the study and the 25 years of research that came before it, what the findings reveal about healing times, cost-effectiveness and patient preferences, and why the results matter for patients, nurses and the NHS.
Plus Catherine and Jo tackle the random hat questions, from imagining “Venusopoly” to revealing their karaoke choices and essential research fuel.
 
Find our more about the study: https://www.york.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/dissemination/venus6/ 
Read the full results paper: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1005154 
 

We are taking a quick summer break, so there is no new research project to share this week! However, our back catalog is full of great trials and conversations. We share a few of our favourite past episodes for you to binge while we’re away, plus a sneak peek at what’s coming up next.
 
We'd love ot hear from you! Email us at: ytu-pod@york.ac.uk or get in touch via our website www.theresearchroompodcast.co.uk 
 
Music by Matthew Bailey
 

How can we ensure health research truly represents everyone in our society?
Join us this week in The Research Room as we sit down with Dr Suman Prinjha, Lorraine Lawrence, and Tahsin Tabassum to explore the fantastic work of the Centre for Health Research Inclusion (CHERI) at the University of York.
We go behind the scenes to see how CHERI is working hard to improve representation of underserved groups in health research and dive into their work on the NIHR-funded UPTURN study, which is co-designing tailored support to improve pulmonary rehabilitation uptake for people living with COPD. Whether you are a researcher, healthcare professional, or simply curious about how building community trust leads to better healthcare for all, this conversation is packed with practical insights you won't want to miss.
Plus, stick around to find out our guests' secret skills and which classic Goonies line they live by!
 
Find out more about CHERI: https://www.york.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/health-research-inclusion/
Find out more about the CHERI training webinar on 14th October: https://www.york.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/health-research-inclusion/trainingandresources/training/
Learn more about UPTURN: https://www.upturn-study.co.uk/ 
 
Music by Matthew Bailey

What does "safe" AI actually mean in healthcare?
When you think of artificial intelligence, you might picture chatbots or sci-fi robots. But right now, AI is quietly working behind the scenes in everyday healthcare, spotting strokes, reading lung scans, and helping doctors detect issues during routine procedures. This week we're chatting to Dr. Laura Fernley about her work investigating the ethical side of this clinical integration: asking whether the tech being introduced is truly ethical, how we evaluate its safety, and what we actually mean when we call an AI system "safe".
Plus we find out how modern philosophy isn't all about arguing with Aristotle!
Find out more about The Centre of Assuring Autonomy: https://www.york.ac.uk/assuring-autonomy/ 
Find out more about Laura's Work: https://laurafearnley.wordpress.com/ 
Music by Matthew Bailey
 

We're taking a summer holiday this week re-sharing one of our favourite episodes from last year, The BioDrive AFS trial!
Last year were joined by Professor David Allsup and Lydia Flett to discuss the BioDrive AFS study. We learn how the trial is tackling the tricky issue of fungal infections in blood cancer patients and exploring how biomarker-driven approaches could revolutionise treatment.
Plus, stick around to hear what research superpowers David and Lydia would pick!
 
Resources & Links from this Episode:
Find out more about BioDrive AFS here: https://biodrive-rct.com/ 
To get in touch with the BioDrive AFS team, email: biodrive-group@york.ac.uk 
Music by Matthew Bailey

Can creative arts break down the barriers surrounding young men’s mental health?
This week Lucy, Janine and guest host Hayley Stone sit down with Emma Standley, Matt Harper-Hardcastle, and Dr Jack Woodhams to discuss the Next Gen Menfulness Project. Discover how an exciting partnership between University of York researchers, Next Door But One Theatre Company and a men's mental health charity Menfulness is empowering young men in alternative provision schools to tell their own stories, challenge negative stereotypes, and shape future research. The team tackles the big conversations around boys' mental health, sharing how important positive role models and genuine connections are for shaping the next generation of men.
Join us as we trace their journey from the WhatsApp group to 10 Downing Street, and now into The Research Room!
 
Find out more about Menfulness: https://menfulness.org/
Find out more about Next Door But One: https://www.nextdoorbutone.co.uk/ 
 
Music by Matthew Bailey
 
 

What happens when the podcast hosts step out from behind the mic and into the guest seat?
In this special first birthday episode of The Research Room, co-hosts Lucy Atha and Janine Heeley from the York Trials Unit at the University of York join podcast intern Hayley Stone to celebrate a whole year of chatting with a purpose!
Listen as Hayley interviews Lucy and Janine about their journey creating the podcast, their favourite past episodes, and the behind-the-scenes recording mishaps they’ve navigated along the way. Looking to the future, they discuss their dream guests and aims of interviewing researchers across other university departments. Stay tuned until the very end to hear Lucy and Janine play a game of “who’s more likely to?” and find out which beverage and cake flavour best represent the podcast!
A huge thank you to all of our incredible previous guests and listeners who have tuned in and supported us over the past year!
Music by Matthew Bailey

How can cutting-edge augmented reality glasses transform traditional physiotherapy into engaging games for people living with Parkinson’s disease?
In this episode, Lucy and Janine are joined by Chief Investigator Professor Rory O'Connor from the University of Leeds and Barri Morgan Jones from Strolll to explore the RESTART-PD project. This innovative research initiative focuses on an essential clinical and digital health priority: improving movement, balance, and daily function for individuals living with Parkinson's disease.
Listen as we discuss the journey of utilising augmented reality headsets to turn standard, often repetitive rehabilitation exercises into fun, patient-centred games that can be played right at home. We discover the personal inspiration behind the Strolll technology behind this randomised controlled trial, and how remote clinical monitoring through a web portal dashboard can help support rehabilitation and tackle extensive NHS waiting lists.
 
Find out more about the RESTART-PD Trial: https://www.york.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/trials/restartpd/
Find out more about Strolll: https://www.strolll.co/
 
Music by Matthew Bailey

How can a massive, real-world database tracking nearly 60,000 patients revolutionise our understanding of blood cancer treatment and patient care?
In this episode, Lucy and Janine are joined by Professor Alex Smith and Professor Debra Howell from the University of York’s Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group to explore the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN). This major research initiative focuses on a critical health priority: collecting granular, population-based data to transform the care pathways for those diagnosed with blood cancers.
Listen as we discuss the journey of building a 20-year registry that captures the detailed care pathway for over 100 different subtypes of blood cancer. We discover the powerful methodology behind combining large-scale epidemiology with qualitative patient interviews—revealing how real-world survival rates have doubled for certain conditions, the emotional anxieties of the "watch and wait" approach, and what the future holds for cutting-edge treatments like CAR T-cell therapy. PLUS, we find out what happens when "symbiotic nerds" unite to put the patient's lived experience at the absolute centre of data science!
 
HMRN website: https://hmrn.org/
HMRN Publications: https://hmrn.org/publications/papers
Music by Matthew Bailey

How can an adapted, chair-based yoga program improve the quality of life for older adults living with multiple long-term health conditions? 
 
In this episode Lucy and guest host Emma are joined by Dr Laura Wiley from the University of York and Dr Lesley Ward from Northumbria University to explore the Gentle Years Yoga project. This major research initiative focused on a critical health priority: improving the quality of life for older adults living with multiple health conditions.
 
Listen as we discuss the journey of utilising a chair-based yoga programme developed by the British Wheel of Yoga to make the practice accessible outside of typical high-street studios. We discover the methodology behind this  randomised controlled trial as well as the qualitative data whic revealed the transformative impact that yoga can have. PLUS we get to hear the results!
 
Find out more about the Gentle Years Yoga Trial: https://www.york.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/archive/gyy-trial/
Results paper 1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39259017/
Results paper 2: https://openresearch.nihr.ac.uk/articles/3-52/v2
Proces evaluation paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40098115/
 
Music by Matthew Bailey