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Research term
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Definition and explanation
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Abstract
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This is a brief summary of a research study. It describes why the study was performed, the methods, results and the conclusions found from the research.
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Audit
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Clinical audit is a quality improvement process that measures current patient care and outcomes against agreed standard of best practice to facilitate change and improvement.
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BHF (British Heart Foundation)
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A charitable organisation and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research in the UK. Their work aims to shape public policy and increase awareness of cardiovascular disease and prevention.
British Heart Foundation
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BHF CRC (Research Development Fund)
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Funds research projects in cardiovascular disease, such as providing funding to support the development of ideas or the gathering of pilot data to prepare for a larger study. Provides small grants of up to £10,000.
Research Development Fund
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BHF Data Science Centre
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A partnership between the BHF and Health Data Research UK to facilitate cardiovascular research, including research in imaging, using large-scale data and advanced analytics.
British Heart Foundation - Data Science Centre
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Case study
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A short report describing usually novel findings on a single patient. Describes the patient presentation in terms of symptoms, clinical findings, diagnostic tests to provide a diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
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Citation
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A citation in research is a reference (usually a published research paper) where you got your information from. It gives readers the opportunity to find that source and read further. In a research paper citations are written in full in the reference section.
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Corresponding author
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The corresponding author carries out the communication and administrative tasks with the publisher in order to get a research paper published. They are not necessarily the first author.
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CTIMP (Clinical Trial of an Investigational Medical Product)
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A CTIMP is a clinical trial that evaluates the safety, efficacy and effectiveness of a particular drug. A non-CTIMP trial does not use an investigational medical product.
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Ethics
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A set of guiding principles for all involved in research. They are designed to protect patient safety, dignity and human rights of those taking part in research. This also includes informed consent to take part in a research study.
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First author
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The first author is the person involved in the research who has carried out the majority of the work in collecting and analysing data and in writing the paper. They have made a significant intellectual contribution to the paper.
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Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
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The agreed international standard for conducting clinical research. GCP training is required for all researchers involved in clinical trials.
You can apply for GCP certification through your Trust, or via the NIHR. You must create a log in with the NIHR first.
Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
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Grant
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Funding awarded to a research group or individual that are to be used for a research project and are not expected to be repaid.
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Health Research Authority (HRA)
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Part of the Department of Health and Social care that provides and ensures that health care standards are met in England and Wales.
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Literature search
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The process of performing a thorough search of all available literature (journal articles, case studies, to build a picture of what is known and what is unknown about a particular subject. This is performed at the start of a research project and helps inform the research question.
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Meta-analysis
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This is a method of analysing the quantitative data from multiple independent studies to combine them to answer a research question.
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Novel
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New or original. Not previously described before.
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NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)
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The NIHR is the UK governments major funder of clinical research. It works in partnership with the NHS, universities and the Department of Health to fund, enable and deliver research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care to improve people’s health and social wellbeing, both in the UK and abroad.
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NIHR Pre-doctoral Fellow
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A program of training and development supported by the NIHR which is designed to support and further careers at Masters level.
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NIHR Doctoral Fellow
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NIHR funded fellowships to support the completion of a PhD.
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NIHR Post-doctoral clinical academic (and clinical lecturer)
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NIHR funded support to undertake post-doctoral research with a view to becoming an independent researcher and a clinical leader.
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NIHR Research support service
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Provides expert support for healthcare researchers on the design and delivery of research and the development of research funding applications.
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Observational study
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A type of research design where patients are observed without any intervention taking place. This can be prospective (looking forward from a given time-point) or retrospective (looking at backwards at information that has already been collected).
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ORCiD ID
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A unique identifier given to researchers. You can apply for an ORCiD ID free of charge. It links publications, grants, education, employment together. You need an ORCiD ID if you are the corresponding author in a publication.
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Peer review
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Part of the publication process in which a writer submits a draft of the research paper to other experts in the field who provide a critical evaluation.
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Pilot study (or feasibility study)
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A small scale run of a research method to test for feasibility before scaling up into a larger study, usually involving only small numbers of patients.
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Platform grant
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A particular type of grant awarded to well-established research groups to fund long-term research strategies and innovation.
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Principal investigator
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The person in charge of a clinical trial or a research project.
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Program grant
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Similar to a platform grant, in that this type of grant is awarded to well-established research groups. These usually involve one or more disciplines to address significant research challenges.
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Protocol
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The overall plan for a piece of research or a research project. This includes the research question, background, who or what is being studied and the study design.
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Qualitative research
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Qualitative research does not focus on statistics or collect data in the forms of numbers, but is used to explore and understand people’s beliefs, experiences, attitudes or behaviours. It asks questions about how and why to improve outcomes. For example, what are the challenges students face when learning echocardiography to provide suggestions as to what could be done to help students.
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Quantitative research
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Data is collected in the form of numbers to facilitate statistical analysis to make predications and test causal relationships. Research methods include clinical trials and observational studies.
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Seed funding
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Funding provided at the initial stages of research with the aim of generating pilot or proof of concept data.
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Sponsor
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The organisation that takes the legal responsibility to set up, manage or fund the research study, without carrying out the research. For example, a pharmaceutical company.
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Translational research
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Translating scientific discoveries in the lab to clinical settings, such as improving or creating diagnostic tests.
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