Nicky Cunningham's research experience

I am an associate research delivery manager and lead nurse for the NENC CRN, as well as senior nurse research lead for South Tees Hospitals Foundation Trust and a visiting research fellow at the University of Sunderland.

I have been nursing for 33 years, 24 years working within clinical research. I have held many roles in research nursing as well as senior lecturer in research methodology, clinical trials unit manager and project manager as well as a co-applicant researcher and nurse, midwife and allied health professional (NMAHP) engagement lead. Clinical specialties I have worked in include cardiovascular, HIV and macular degeneration research.

My real passion is in supporting nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to get engaged with research to improve practice and outcomes for patients. In my role as a research delivery manager I cover the specialties of stroke, renal and urology. diabetes, metabolic and endocrine disorders and cardiovascular diseases. I also run the #SteesBeCurious hashtag on Twitter!

Professor Kim Spyridopoulos's research experience

I am an honorary consultant interventional cardiologist at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital specialising in the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction (acute heart attacks) using coronary stenting. Since 2008, I have chaired the cardiovascular gerontology, institute of genetic medicine at Newcastle University.

I am also a co-lead for the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) cardiovascular specialty group in the North East and North Cumbria.

Dr David Austin's research experience

I undertook undergraduate medical training at the University of Aberdeen. I completed early professional training in medicine at the North Glasgow Medical rotation, leading to MRCP. Subsequently a dedicated research period at the University of Glasgow led to the award of a research MD.

I moved to the Northern Deanery to train in cardiology at both Freeman Hospital, Newcastle and The James Cook University Hospital. I completed my interventional cardiology training at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2013-14.