Wessex Health Partners celebrates the arrival of the Wessex Research Buses

Wessex Health Partners (WHP) shared in the celebrations at the launch of the Wessex Research Buses on Friday 2 February. 

Working together with the Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex and other partners, the WHP strategic alliance has enabled the production of two 3.5 ton vehicles, equipped with everything needed to run a wide range of studies in the Wessex region.  

These buses are an important initiative, being mobile will help to increase the ability to make participation in research more accessible. Taking research out on the road into local communities to reach people who historically have been under-served in research. 

Christine McGrath, Managing Director, Wessex Health Partners said: “This launch marks a significant point as these buses extend our region's network of hubs to make health research increasingly accessible. We’re proud to be part of this huge pan-Wessex team effort, this marks the beginning of a new chapter.” 

Kelly Adams, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of CRN Wessex, said: “We are so happy to reach today’s milestone. The buses represent our major goals for research - to include people who have never had the chance to get involved, and to really transform healthcare in our area.”

The NIHR CRN Wessex has said that the buses are already being lined up to help deliver an innovative asthma study as well as a dementia trial. They will be used across Hampshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight and parts of Wiltshire. 

They are also available to hire by anyone interested in using them to deliver clinical research or clinical treatments, for outreach and engagement events and to carry out public consultations.

To find out more, please contact tom.simpson@nihr.ac.uk