Consultant radiographer, Dr Cynthia Eccles, has been appointed AHP research champion for the Greater Manchester network, the first time a radiographer has undertaken this voluntary role anywhere in the UK.
Cynthia, who practises at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and is honorary senior lecturer in cancer sciences at the University of Manchester, will be working alongside Maria Barrett, dietitian at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, to ensure that more professionals are aware of and involved in health and social care research for the benefit of staff and patients.
Cynthia is a Canadian trained research radiographer (MRTT/MR), dual qualified in radiotherapy and diagnostic MRI, a DPhil (radiobiology) graduate of Oxford University. She is a consultant research radiographer with a focus on MRI guided and image guided proton beam RT at the Christie. Cynthia worked at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.
Based at one of 15 local clinical research networks around the country, research champions are a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) sponsored role. They work with AHPs locally and with their fellow AHP research champions nationally. They are role models and connectors for AHP health and social care professionals across their local network.