Small Starter Grant Blog - Awardee Shares Experience of Research Visits
Research visits are a powerful tool for connecting with collaborators in a meaningful manner, establishing strong relationships for the future and developing an understanding of specific techniques. Thanks to the support of the BIOREME Small Starter Grant, recent awardee Lauren Ketteridge has been able to undertake two such research visits – one to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories at Porton Down and the other to the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London. Below, Lauren shares her experience on these trips and reflects on how the Small Starter Grant has opened doors in their research.
As I have progressed through my research career, it has become readily apparent that building bridges with others in the field is imperative to generate impact and, perhaps more importantly, longevity. I am currently working as the principal modeller on a collaborative project between the University of Warwick, the Centre for Blast Injury Studies, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, investigating the interaction between primary blast lung injury and major haemorrhage on immediate survivability after an explosive event; a project which will have a significant impact and has sparked numerous ideas for follow-up studies. However, having approached this topic from a purely computational perspective, I noticed at the beginning of the collaboration that I found it difficult to assess the feasibility of each of these ideas across video conferencing, as I was naive to the intricacies of experimental data collection. Thus, I applied for the Small Starter Grant to support in-person visits to my collaborators.
My first visit to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory included a tour of the toxicology and ballistics facilities alongside a series of meetings to prioritise future collaboration. As a visual learner, seeing the equipment in person allowed me to finally understand several things which I had previously only read about, which was amazing! Perhaps more than anything, being in-person to understand the work culture of individual departments at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has since enabled much better communication, with a focus on each other's strategic objectives.
My second visit associated with this grant was to the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London, where I experienced a whirlwind tour of the mechanical equipment underpinning their research.
The centre has already formed strong connections with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, so it was useful to discuss how these were developed, with the hope that this experience will help me navigate my own relationship building. In addition, I found this trip especially useful in developing my sense of research identity, which is especially important given that the list of research ideas has grown again!
Though two short research visits might not seem like much, the impact over the combined days on my current research – and future research plans – has been enormous. On a personal level, I feel much less isolated in my research and now have a wider range of people whom I can contact should I have field-specific questions. In addition, I have now prioritised my future research plans in a manner that suits all involved parties, which will also ensure that I can generate the most impact possible as a result of my work. It is entirely thanks to BIOREME that I have been able to achieve the things stated above, and for that, I am massively grateful. When the research ideas refined during these visits come to life, I will not forget that it was BIOREME that got them going in the first place.
Lauren Ketteridge is a PhD student at the University of Warwick, whose work focuses on advancing trauma care in austere environments – from the scene of the injury through to the intensive care unit. Lauren's research trip was made possible through funding from BIOREME. We encourage all in respiratory research who are planning research visits or collaborative activity to explore the opportunities available through BIOREME and consider submitting an application. You can find relevant information here.