Trauma meets Mind, Brain & Behaviour: reflections from our latest research cluster meeting
The Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care Research Cluster meeting returned to Wolfson College recently, bringing the team together for an afternoon of discussion, learning and collaboration.
This meeting was a little different as we joined forces with the Mind, Brain & Behaviour Research Cluster for a series of thought-provoking talks exploring the links between physical and mental health.
We heard from Dr Min Gao, who posed the question “Hype or hope?” in a fascinating exploration of the role of a ketogenic diet for improving mental health. The session sparked lively discussion about emerging evidence and the challenges of translating research into practice.
Dr Beth Fordham then presented PROMOTE – Pain Rehabilitation to Optimise Major Orthopaedic Trauma rEcovery, examining ways in which early cognitive behavioural therapy may reduce subsequent chronic pain following major trauma.
To finish, Dr Fordham talked about IRIS‑BEAT, a Behavioural Activation Toolkit designed to improve participant retention in research studies, highlighting the importance of early interventions which promote patient engagement and patient-centred approaches.
Cluster meetings are an important opportunity for the Kadoorie Institute team to come together every few months, share knowledge, and explore new directions. Each meeting is built around a different theme, with invited speakers offering new perspectives and insights, alongside time for questions, discussion and feedback.
Beyond the presentations, the afternoon also provided a chance to reconnect as a team. We were especially pleased to capture a new group photo in the beautiful grounds of Wolfson College — a lovely way to mark another successful gathering.
We look forward to the next meeting and continuing these valuable conversations across the Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care community.