NIHR SPCR Internship at the University of Manchester

Blog post written by Chloe-Nicole Low, Third Year Medical Student, University of Nottingham

When I first came across the opportunity to intern with the School for Primary Care Research (SPCR), I wasn’t sure if it would be for me. Having spent time on GP placements at medical school, I knew I enjoyed primary care, but diving into academic primary care was uncharted territory. Curiosity got the better of me, and now, 18 months later, what began as a 6-week summer internship set me on a path that is continuing to unfold. My internship has not only expanded my understanding of research, but also left me with skills, connections, and a newfound interest in academic primary care. Looking back, it was the perfect stepping stone into the world of research that I never knew I needed.

Admittedly, things didn’t start as planned. Despite the excitement of being shortlisted for interview among 40 applicants for the project, I faced an initial setback when I was not offered a place. A few weeks later, I was invited onto an alternative project with the team, courtesy of additional funding from the SPCR. It was a delightful surprise, and I couldn’t wait to dive in.

At that point, I had just completed my first year of medical school— if you had asked me what a meta-analysis was, I would have been stumped! But I was eager to learn, and the research team I joined gave me the perfect opportunity to do just that.

My Internship

I have been incredibly fortunate to work under the guidance of my supervisors Prof. Maria Panagioti, Dr. Natasha Tyler, and Dr. Sarah Croke from the University of Manchester, who made sure that I felt supported right from the start. We had regular progress meetings, and I was always encouraged to ask questions freely. Their patience made the learning process much smoother, and I quickly gained confidence in my ability to contribute at meetings with the wider mental health and primary care teams.

The project I worked on, titled "Digital Peer Support and Shared Decision-Making Interventions for PTSD in Primary Care," consists of two phases. The first phase, recently completed, involved conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis on digital interventions for individuals with mental illness in primary care. Currently, we are in the second phase, which focuses on improving the functionality of an app (PTSD Hub) through co-production workshops with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.

The project is aimed at individuals awaiting mental health treatment in primary care— a phase characterised by prolonged uncertainty and restricted access to immediate support. The app will offer much-needed reassurance during this critical waiting period. By engaging in peer-support and patient activation features within the app, individuals are empowered to actively participate in decision-making alongside healthcare professionals.

Continued Involvement

18 months on, I have continued my involvement with the project, contributing to drafting manuscripts for publication, attending meetings, and facilitating co-production workshops. It has been exciting to witness how our research is already beginning to impact patient care. I very much look forward to seeing our research translate into refined features in the app, and perhaps even recommend it to my own patients one day!

I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with Prof. Panagioti and another team on a second project, this time focused on digital patient safety interventions in primary care. Being able to build on the skills acquired during my internship and apply them to another important area of research has been especially rewarding.

Showcasing Our Work

One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was seeing our work being showcased at local and national meetings. Attending the annual SPCR Showcase at the BMA House in London in September 2023 marked the conclusion of my internship and provided a wonderful opportunity to explore the diverse range of projects being undertaken across the SPCR. Several months later, Dr. Tyler presented our work at the SAPC Primary Care Mental Health Conference at Keele University.

The highlight of my internship, however, came when I had the privilege of presenting at the 2024 RCGP Annual Conference in Liverpool in October. Stepping into a national conference of such scale for the first time, I was instantly captivated by the energy that filled the room. There was something engaging happening at every turn, and the undeniable dedication of those working towards advancing general practice was truly inspiring.

To top off the experience, I was thrilled to be awarded the Highly Commended ePoster in the Innovation category and the Highly Commended in the Discover GP category. It felt like a full-circle moment— just a few years ago, during the pandemic, I was an aspiring medical student taking part in RCGP’s “Observe GP” virtual work experience. Now, I found myself learning alongside the very professionals I looked up to.

Looking ahead

What began as a brief internship has become a gateway to opportunities I hadn’t anticipated. Regardless of where my career leads me, I am confident that the skills and experiences gained will continue to shape my future pursuits.

I am incredibly grateful to the SPCR for offering undergraduates like myself with the opportunity to explore research in such a supportive environment. If you are an undergraduate studying medicine and related disciplines, I highly recommend this programme. No prior research experience is required, just plenty of curiosity and enthusiasm!