The FSRH Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Group (The SRH Research Group) develops and provides guidance for clinical and behavioural science research studies to improve the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of all people.
The role of the SRH Research Group is to develop and oversee an approved portfolio of studies in SRH; propose and develop well-designed studies, including trials; to consider and provide guidance to studies proposed by others and to ensure consumer involvement.
We are interested in ways to promote positive SRH by ensuring that people are able to make informed choices. We are particularly interested in ways to put high-quality research evidence into practice.
The goals of the SRH Research Group are to:
1) Establish a network of researchers and practitioners to bring behavioural and clinical perspectives to reproductive health research
2) Create a critical mass of researchers and practitioners working in the area of fertility-related behaviour to facilitate the ready exchange of ideas and expertise
3) Identify and prioritise emerging needs for empirical investigation in the context of contraceptive policy and practice
4) Strengthen capacity in reproductive health research by providing support and guidance to researchers and practitioners carrying out empirical studies
5) Increase the quality and visibility of contraceptive research, creating a hub for practitioners working in the area
6) Ensure lay representation in the generation, interpretation and implementation of research
7) Position FRSH as a centre of excellence in research into contraceptive and fertility-related behaviour
What services does the SRH Research Group provide?
The SRH Research Group can review research proposals and provide letters of support for research.
Research proposal review
The SRH Research Group will review research proposals that are being submitted for funding. Proposals can be from concept to fully developed stages. To be eligible for review applicants must be members of FSRH. If you would like a proposal reviewed please download the Proposal Review Form and once completed email the form and proposal to Shams Hanieh at shanieh@fsrh.org. We aim to provide reviews within 2-3 weeks.
Please download the Proposal Review Form here.
Letters of support
The SRH Research Group will review proposals of researchers requesting letters of support for UK-based research. If it is decided appropriate to endorse the research this will be done on the basis of the research concept rather than the research team or proposed methodology. This will help reduce potential conflicts of interest or problems when more than one request is submitted for the same research call. A minimum of two weeks is required for the SRH Research Group review.
Essential criteria for letters of support
- A full proposal with abstract has been sent through with details of the proposed funder
- The proposed research fits with the FSRH Strategy
- The proposed research addresses a regional or national clinical, health service or public health need in SRH where good quality evidence is lacking.
- UK-based research
Please email Shams Hanieh at shanieh@fsrh.org with any requests for letters of support.
The SRH Research Group is also working to develop and fund the 10 priorities in contraception research identified by the Contraception Priority Setting Partnership (Contraception PSP) project conducted by the Faculty last year.
The SRH Research Group is chaired by Jill Shawe, Professor of Women's Health and Director of The Institute of Health and Community at The University of Plymouth, and Sexual & Reproductive Health Nurse and Midwife.
FSRH member? Get involved and become an SRH Research Group Ordinary Member
If you are interested in SRH research, you can join the SRH Research Group as an Ordinary Member. Click here to learn more.
Executive membership of the SRH Research Group
Executive members of the SRH Research Group have a track record of participation in research in the relevant field. The following constituencies should ideally be represented in its membership: UK researchers in SRH, Community Sexual and Reproductive Health trainees, international collaborators, consumers, ex officio members, external expertise and funding bodies. Membership of the SRH Research Group is unpaid.
The current Executive Members are:
Bekki Burbidge - lay member
Caroline Free – Professor of Epidemiology, LSHTM
Claire Anderson - Professor of Social Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham
Jane Thomas - Locum Consultant in SRH and Gynaecology Homerton University Hospital; Editor Cochrane Fertility and Gynaecology Group
Jill Shawe - Professor Women’s Health in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Director of the Institute of Health and Community at the University of Plymouth
Kaye Wellings - Professor of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research, LSHTM
Melissa Palmer – Research Fellow, LSHTM
Neha Pathak - Community Sexual and Reproductive Health (CSRH) Trainee member; Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellow at UCL Institute of Health Informatics
Rebecca French - Associate Professor of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Public Health and Policy (PHP), LSHTM
Sharon Cameron - Professor (Hon) University of Edinburgh; Clinical Lead for Sexual Health Services in NHS Lothian; Co- director of Clinical Effectiveness Unit (FSRH CEU)
Sue Mann - Medical Expert Sexual Health & Reproductive Health; PHE Health and Wellbeing Directorate
Wendy Norman - Associate Professor in the Department of Family Practice and Associate Member in both the School of Population and Public Health and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada
Zhong Eric Chen –Researcher, Clinical Effectiveness Unit; Project Manager, Scottish SHBBV Framework Research and Engagement Project, NHS Lothian.
You can access the SRH Research Group's Terms of Reference here.