Building research capacity in paediatric emergency medicine: Assistant Research Practitioners (ARP)

Dr Shrouk Messahel, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, provides insights into innovative approaches for building research capacity within the emergency department. She highlights the unique challenges of conducting research in a busy, target-driven environment with unscheduled care and ethical considerations around consent in emergencies. Dr Messahel details how her department transformed research delivery by upskilling permanent nursing and healthcare staff into hybrid roles as Assistant Research Practitioners (ARPs), supported by charity funding and embedded within clinical teams. The model increased patient recruitment for key studies—such as STOP RSV—enabled flexible, round-the-clock research activity, and empowered staff to develop new skills and career pathways. Dr Messahel emphasizes the importance of integrating research and clinical work, demonstrating how this approach improves outcomes for children and supports the advancement of emergency medicine. This interview took place at the RCPCH conference 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland.