The College of Optometrists

iPRO (Innovation in Practice-based Research for Optometrists), the College of Optometrists’ research support service, has just launched the Optometric Collaborative Research Network (OCRN).

The OCRN has been set up to assist College Members to learn more about practice-based research, support other optometrists with their projects and to exchange ideas with each other.

Benefits of the OCRN are:

• Optometrists undertaking a research project can collect data on patients from practices in addition to their own; this increases the sample size and helps to increase the applicability of findings to the wider optometric community
• Participating and collaborating in research stimulates further research ideas relevant to everyday practice
• Optometrists participating in projects gain research skills through their involvement and this helps them to develop the confidence to do their own research
• University based researchers can use the OCRN to recruit patients into studies; this will forge stronger links between practitioners and academic departments, providing wider support for practice-based research and opportunities for joint applications for funding 

National Meetings
The OCRN aims to hold several meetings nationally each year to ensure that the needs of the constituent community are being met.  It will also give attendees a chance to discuss potential research ideas, meet researchers hoping to recruit study participants, and discuss early study results.

The meetings will be held in locations that are central and/or relatively accessible for most parts of the UK.

iPRO Discussion Forum
A discussion forum has been created on the College website to allow members to informally chat with each other. Visit the “Member Forums” on the College website or click here.

Training Days
Building on from the number of highly successful Research Training Days held over the last year, iPRO plans to run more over the coming months in these areas:

• ways of using patient data for research projects
• data analysis and statistics
• evidence based practice
• developing research proposals

The next training day will take place at the College of Optometrists in London on Sunday 28 June, 1.00pm - 4.00pm, and will focus on developing research proposals for funding from the iPRO Small Grants Scheme.  For more information and to confirm attendance please see the booking form below.

  28 june 09 training day booking form   Training day booking form, 28 June

Contact
For more information please get in touch with the iPRO Manager, Beverley Hancock by Email: b.hancock@bham.ac.uk or Phone: 0121 414 7113.

Address:

Dept of Primary Care & General Practice
University of Birmingham
Primary Care Clinical Sciences Building
Edgbaston
Birmingham

B15 2TT