Dr Victoria Shepherd
Name:
Victoria Shepherd
Job Title:
Senior Research Fellow (Nurse)
Place of work / study:
Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University [1]
Area of research:
Clinical trials, care home research, inclusivity in research, research involving adults with impaired capacity to consent.
How is your work funded?
Research grants as PI and Co-I and an NIHR Advanced Fellowship funded by Health and Care Research Wales
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a registered nurse and Senior Research Fellow based at the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) where I have a special interest in research involving under-served populations with a particular focus on people with cognitive impairment. I lead a programme of methodological research exploring the ethical, legal and practical issues around research involving adults who lack capacity consent. This research programme includes the development of complex interventions to address the ethical and methodological barriers to conducting trials with adults who lack capacity. I also Chair the ENRICH Cymru Advisory Group and am involved in a number of national and international care home studies and am an expert member of an NHS REC.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I have a passion for cocktail making (which I perfected during COVID lockdowns!)
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
My research exploring the ethical and practical challenges around capacity and consent to research includes people living with more advanced dementia who are often excluded from research. Addressing their exclusion is essential in order to ensure these groups receive evidence-based care, and that they have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from research at all stages of dementia.
What single piece of advice would you give to an Early Career Researcher?
Build inter-disciplinary networks – the greatest and most exciting insights often come from outside of your own area of work and existing collaborations.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
‘Spider Woman’ [2] about the life of Baroness Hale who was President of the Supreme Court – an interesting read for anyone interested the law and inspirational female role models