World Trauma Day 2026: Bringing Trauma & Orthopaedic Research into the Heart of the RVH

October 27, 2026

To mark World Trauma Day 2026, the Trauma and Orthopaedics Clinical Research Team, supported by the NICRN T&O Team, held a research awareness event in the Royal Victoria Hospital foyer on Friday 16 October.

With World Trauma Day falling on Saturday 17 October this year, the event was held on the preceding working day to provide an opportunity to engage with patients, visitors, students and hospital staff and showcase the important role of clinical research in improving trauma and orthopaedic care.

The stand was organised by Anie Philip, NICRN Clinical Research Nurse, Trauma & Orthopaedics, with support from Priya Edwards, NICRN Clinical Research Nurse, Diabetes Research, and Jackalene Robinson, NICRN Clinical Trial Assistant.

Throughout the morning, the team shared information about a range of studies taking place within Trauma and Orthopaedic Services in BHSCT with interested patients.

A particular focus was the POP-I study, led by Mr Sean Shevlin, Consultant Anaesthetist, which explores perioperative anaemia in patients undergoing emergency hip fracture and emergency laparotomy surgery, including how anaemia can be monitored and managed around the time of surgery.

Other studies highlighted included:

WHiTE11 FRUITI, led by Mr Owen Diamond, focusing on hip fractures.

TOTS, led by Mr Richard Napier, investigating toddler fractures in children.

POLYFIX-DCM, comparing laminectomy surgical approaches for the treatment of degenerative cervical myelopathy.

The stand generated considerable interest, with patients and visitors joining medical and physiotherapy colleagues, medical students and international students from Queen’s University to speak with the research team. These conversations provided opportunities to discuss clinical trials, research participation and how research can contribute to improving care for future patients.

Posters, information leaflets and small giveaways also helped to encourage conversations and engagement throughout the morning.

The initiative received support from senior colleagues, including Dr Paul Biagioni, NICRN Senior Manager, who visited the stand and provided very positive feedback. Mr Martyn Neil, former Clinical Director and Consultant Surgeon in Trauma and Orthopaedic Services at Royal Victoria Hospital, also visited and engaged with the team.

The event was a great opportunity to showcase the breadth of clinical research taking place within Trauma and Orthopaedics at RVH while recognising the invaluable contribution of patients, research participants and healthcare professionals.