Bridging the gap between research and practice

According to dietitian Kelly Lambert, funders find research into allied health ‘unsexy’ despite it having a major impact on patients. She talks to Gerd Winter about her work and the changing health and medical research funding landscape.

Kelly’s top tips

• Clinical researchers seeking funding should start by applying to small, more flexible schemes with a better chance of success.
• Keep a record of students you’ve supervised or innovations you’ve introduced. You may need this information for future applications.
• Share your plans for funding applications with someone you trust. They can help you identify gaps or brainstorm ideas.
• Clinicians should continue to work with patients while doing their research in order to keep their insights relevant.

While publicly funded research is traditionally the domain of academia, understanding and engaging in research improves the competency of professional practitioners in many fields.