Wessex Intensive Care Innovation and Research (WICIR) Steering Group opens to members

Applications are now open to join the WICIR steering group committee

14/07/25

Background

The Wessex Intensive Care Innovation and Research (WICIR) Network is being convened to advance collaborative, inclusive, high-impact research in critical care by uniting clinicians, trainees, allied health professionals and other colleagues working in intensive care research and innovation across Wessex.

Through shared data, joint studies and strategic support, WICIR empowers members to generate meaningful evidence to improve patient outcomes and build research capacity and innovation adoption across critical care multidisciplinary teams in the Wessex region.

WICIR aspires to cultivate a dynamic, connected research ecosystem that enables members to explore, lead and influence the future of intensive care research.

This will be achieved through:

  • Promoting and enabling coordination and providing leadership in the strategy, management and delivery of critical care research and innovation in Wessex
  • Working with organisations across the region, through a collaborative interdisciplinary approach 
  • Harmonising and harnessing ICU data across Wessex institutions for deeper insight and readiness, with secure and equitable access to regional datasets
  • Creating a regional coordinated platform for the design and delivery of impactful research, including collaborative grant applications and partnerships
  • Supporting trainee-driven inquiry and development through ethically approved multi-site protocols, underpinned by streamlined research infrastructure
  • Fostering an inclusive research culture by engaging pharmacists, dietitians, physiotherapists and other allied professionals, offering educational resources to build capacity 
  • Building sustainable structures to make research accessible, collaborative and responsive to real-world clinical challenges by encouraging open idea exchange among clinicians, scientists, industry and research organisations
  • Overcoming research obstacles through shared learning, enabling continuous improvement and innovation across WICIR.

Role of the Committee

The primary functions of the Wessex Intensive Care Innovation and Research Steering Committee will include, but are not limited to:

  • Consulting, inputting and deciding upon strategic direction
  • Regularly reflecting on overall strategy and objectives to ensure continued alignment with overall aims as work develops
  • Engaging wider stakeholders and exploring opportunities for steering group membership, where appropriate
  • Acting as a bridge to share information between the steering group and respective colleagues
  • Driving the delivery of agreed programmes of work

Meetings will be held quarterly.

Steering Group Membership

Expressions of interest are welcomed from colleagues across Wessex Health Partner organisations. We are inviting all colleagues working within the critical care specialty, who currently work within research and/or innovation, or have an interest in supporting the generation of greater collaborative interdisciplinary critical care research and speeding up the development and adoption of critical care innovation at scale. When reviewing the constitution of the steering committee we will aim to ensure;

  • Spread across the Wessex region, with representation from as many Wessex Health Partner members as possible
  • A range of seniority
  • A range of professions from across multi-disciplinary teams
  • A range of colleagues to represent research, innovation and education

All applicants will be invited to join the central contact list to support a wider network. We welcome colleagues from any organisation, relevant to the Wessex WICIR initiatives, to join the network members list.

Why Apply?

WICIR Steering Committee is a motivated group of leaders in critical care representing organisations across the Wessex region. Joining the conversation will open opportunities to join a broad network of colleagues working in R&I across the region, whilst influencing strategy and decision-making to support the growth of critical care R&I capability and capacity in Wessex.

How to Apply

The call is open until Monday 18 September 2025 and the first steering committee meeting will be December.

To apply please send a covering letter/email detailing how you feel you are going to strengthen the group, and how you plan to engage people within your organisation to support the aims of the group.

For more information, please contact nina.barratt@wessexhp.org.uk

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