The National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol (Bristol Nutrition BRU) PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT POLICY The Bristol Nutrition BRU The Bristol Nutrition BRU opened in April 2012 and is a partnership between the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol. The aim of the unit is to translate knowledge developed from our work on causal associations in nutrition, drawn from population and clinical studies, to develop interventions that improve the health of people with conditions related to poor nutrition. The unit carries out patient-focused early phase experimental clinical research (commonly referred to as experimental medicine) in the areas of human nutrition, diet and lifestyle (including obesity). We have four specific themes: nutrition in people with prostate cancer optimising nutrition in children with chronic disease pre and post-surgical feeding sedentary behaviour in people with diabetes Work in these themes is supported by a core team of methodologists. This team also supports the transfer of ideas in other areas. Public engagement at the University of Bristol Public Engagement is central to the University of Bristol’s mission to pursue and share knowledge and understanding with the public. The University has a Centre for Public Engagement (CPE). The centre is led by Dr Maggie Leggett. The CPE’s primary aim is to promote open and continuous engagement between University staff and the public. The CPE strategy for engagement has been adopted by the University. Further information can be found on their website http://www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/. The aims of this strategy are to: help members of staff and students by o enriching research o enabling them see the relevance of their work in the wider community o developing communication and other transferable skills o supporting them to fulfil funders’ expectations for public engagement increase involvement of the public in the work of the university, aid the university by enhancing research and teaching The Bristol Nutrition BRU Public Engagement policy The unit is committed to public engagement. Rachel Perry was appointed as Public Engagement Lead and tasked with writing this policy for the unit. This policy will guide engagement activity within the unit. It was developed with support from the CPE and discussed with BRU staff. It has been agreed by the BRU Executive. The policy will be reviewed and updated regularly. The policy outlines work in four key areas: Supporting University strategy and engagement activities Staff training Leading engagement activities Monitoring and reviewing engagement activities Supporting University strategy and engagement activities The Bristol Nutrition BRU will work with the University to support their strategy and centrally organised engagement activities. The unit will also support the work of other groups such as The University West of England (UWE) Science Communications Unit (SCU). They have students completing a Masters who are often looking for research projects so there may be opportunities for collaboration. The Bristol Nutrition BRU will do the following: The engagement lead will circulate the Engagers digest (a regular update on engagement activities produced by the CPE) The unit will continue to run a seminar series open to the public Unit staff will host stalls at public fairs in the Trust and University (e.g. clinical trials day) Unit staff we will be encouraged to give talks to the public The engagement lead will explore the possibilities of running a twilight session on nutrition Staff training The Bristol Nutrition BRU is committed to staff development and training. The Unit has a training co-ordinator (Dr Charlotte Atkinson) and a unit training policy. http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/media/1736236/briefing_note_on_the_training_portfolio_for_ the_bristol_nutrition_bru_v10.1.pdf. The unit will ensure that training in skills to support engagement is offered to unit staff. To do this the unit will do the following: The engagement lead will identify relevant media training courses and ensure unit staff are aware of these The engagement lead will look into the possibility of running a media training course specifically for unit staff The engagement lead will work with the University CPE to run a half day on engagement for unit staff Leading engagement activities In addition to supporting engagement activities organised by others the Bristol Nutrition BRU will lead some engagement activities. For example, Dr Elanor Hinton visited Redland Green Secondary School in Bristol. She ran a mini workshop entitled 'Food on the brain' for year 8 and year 12. Further details are available in the appendix that describes all engagement activities carried out to date. The unit is funded by University of Bristol Institute of Advanced Studies to run workshops and pilot a school project. The first workshop was held on the 12th September 2013. It brought together academics working on childhood and health. The aim was to share research interests and encourage multi-disciplinary working between academics and to discuss ideas for public engagement with a local primary school. The engagement project will focus on developing the skills of research and enquiry defined in their broadest sense through stories of childhood and children's health. The unit are working in partnership with Bishop Road Primary School, to develop and pilot activities with them that will be tested after Easter and then potentially be rolled out to other schools. Once the materials and activities have been successfully refined the intention is to run further workshops and seek external funding to extend the range of topics covered and to formally evaluate their use in schools. Monitoring and reviewing engagement activities The Bristol Nutrition BRU will monitor and review engagement activities and training to ensure that the unit is making a contribution to public engagement. Specifically the unit will do the following: The unit administrative team will collect information on engagement activities. All engagement activities completed to date are included as an appendix. Any future work has also been included. The engagement lead will provide quarterly reports to the BRU executive The engagement lead will review and revise the policy annually Rachel Perry Bristol Nutrition BRU March 2014 Appendix – Engagement Activities to date April 2013 WCRF International/IASO Conference “Obesity, Physical Activity and Cancer” Dr. Lucy Hackshaw The Obesity, Physical Activity and Cancer conference included presentations from some of the most prominent speakers in the field, enabling transdisciplinary discussion across clinical, epidemiological and mechanistic specialities. The scientific sessions examined the links between obesity, physical activity and cancer incidence/survival, highlighting important biomarkers and early life events in relation to cancer risk, and exploring the molecular events and cellular mechanisms that underlie these processes. Lucy attended this meeting and presented a Poster entitled “Physical activity and nutritional interventions to reduce progression of prostate cancer: A systematic review” April 2013 Prostate Cancer UK Blue Skies Forum, Downing College, Cambridge Dr. Lucy Hackshaw Lucy attended this meeting in Cambridge. It had the objective of focusing attention on new initiatives in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, in particular on areas of research that aim to identify aggressive disease. The meeting was hosted by Prostate Cancer UK and supported by The Howard Foundation. May 2013 Clinical Trials Day Vaneesha Short, Laura Birch, The four BRU themes were represented by stalls manned by staff members. They presented posters Lucy Hackshaw, Georgia and handed out leaflets about the research at the BRU. As this was a public event, staff talked to Herbert, Cat Falconer, Laura members of the public about their research and organised interactive sessions that involved trialling Brocklebank, interventions such as gum (gum-chewing for perioperative care), tomatoes (prostate cancer study), Vanessa Er, Richard Hocking the Mandometer (a machine to help regulate eating) and wearing accelerometers (to measure activity levels). http://www.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/InternationalClinicalTrialsDay.aspx July 2013 Professor Ashley Cooper presented a Twilight Talk at the Bristol cycling festival on commuter cycling Prof. Ashley Cooper and health http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/commuter-cycling-does-it-help-your-health-tickets-6801863557 http://bristolcyclefestival.com/resources/BCF2013%20Programme%20Web%20(1).pdf July 2013 'Medicine and Me' Cleft lip and palate seminar, Royal Society of Medicine, London. - Promotion of Dr. Aidan Searle and recruitment to www.healthtalkonline.org cleft lip and palate module. Medicine and Me' provides a forum in which member of the public have the opportunity to engage in debate with medical professionals involved in treating a particular medical condition. The cleft lip and palate seminar was hosted for the benefit of families with children affected by cleft lip and palate or individuals born with the condition themselves - presentations were made by both health professionals working within the UK cleft service, parents and individuals. The day provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the www.healthtalkonline cleft lip and palate module