Michael Kasese qualified as a mental health nurse in 2004, starting in London, and has worked in adult and specialist mental health services at CPFT for over a decade since 2009. He joins the partnership’s cornerstone post after managing CPFT’s CLASS Clinic and ADHD teams, which led to his first research project with ARU - where he is now studying a Masters in Global Public Health.
Michael said: “I am really excited to be working with this milestone research partnership! We will first be mapping projects across the University that CPFT can join, to offer more research opportunities for people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that will help to address our health challenges.
“I have always had a passion for research and health sciences, which led me to apply for this role.
I am particularly interested in neurodevelopmental disorders, how they affect people in different ways during the life course, and how people manage to adapt over time. Research formulates evidence-based practice for healthcare and helps to develop better treatments that will improve people’s quality of life.”
Michael worked as a research assistant with one of ARU and CPFT’s ground-breaking mental health joint studies which found a link between hoarding behaviours and ADHD. The results are now published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, with a summary available here:
https://aru.ac.uk/news/adhd-linked-to-hoarding-behaviour-new-study
Offering some helpful advice for any health professionals interested in a research career, Michael added: “I have been reading research articles and journals ever since I qualified, and it is important to cultivate a curiosity in research and new scientific developments. Keep an eye on research projects in your field of interest and opportunities to either support or work on them in some capacity. Joining a CPFT/ARU study in my specialist area really boosted my research journey and experience, and I’m so glad to be able to continue my research career in this new role.”
The joint research nurse lead post is hosted by CPFT’s Windsor Research Unit and fully funded by ARU, so Michael will be working with a successful NHS clinical research team to coordinate development and delivery of their joint research projects, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Dr Gloria Calderon-Kimpton (left), CPFT’s Windsor Research Unit Manager and Trust Lead for NIHR Research Delivery said: “Michael is an outstanding candidate, and we are delighted to welcome him to our team as he shares our passion for improving lives through research. With his help, and ARU colleagues, we can build more capacity for research in the north of our region and ensure all the communities we serve get more opportunities to participate in studies. We have run successful projects with ARU already, combining our specialist skills with their expertise and I look forward to our future collaborations!”
ARU runs many educational programmes committed to reducing health inequalities and Michael’s role will link NHS services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to more research projects in public health focused on the needs of our communities.
Michael’s supervisor at ARU, Professor of Public Health Lee Smith said: “We are extremely glad to announce Michael’s appointment. His role is essential in the development of the strategic relationship between ARU and CPFT’s Windsor Research Unit. Michael’s work will support staff from both organisations to conduct pilot and funded clinical research, with the ultimate aim of improving the mental and physical health of the populations we serve.”
- For more information on research at CPFT and the latest opportunities to take part visit: www.cpft.nhs.uk/research
- For further details on ARU research projects visit: www.aru.ac.uk/research
Image: Michael Kasese
