Is research something far away, for specialists? Or is it an everyday process, driven by curiosity, that underpins professional growth and patient care?

In this episode, we explore the value, purpose, and accessibility of research in pharmacy with guests Michelle Styles (regional manager at CPPE, and doctoral researcher) and James Higgerson (research fellow at CPPE). Together they unpack what research really means in day-to-day pharmacy practice, and how pharmacy professionals can get involved at any stage of their careers.

Michelle and James reflect also on their own journeys into research, the CPPE programmes they’ve evaluated and the practical impact their findings have had on training pathways and service development. They offer top tips for getting started, demystify common misconceptions and highlight useful resources to support pharmacy professionals in developing their confidence as researchers.

Resources

• CPPE, Research learning gateway
• CPPE, Optimise programmes

• NIHR research, e-Learning for pharmacy professionals

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Learning outcomes

By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

• Describe the purpose of research in pharmacy and its connection to the pillars of practice.
• Reflect on how research skills can be applied within their own practice setting to evaluate or improve services.
• Identify practical ways to engage with research, including small-scale evaluations, collaborative opportunities, and available training resources.