CIDER – Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research

Enhancing the care of people with intellectual disability through research and service development
Girl with disabilities in a wheelchair and carer or parent happy in a park
CIDER logo

 
Formally launched in October 2018 and led by Professor Rohit Shankar, The Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER), is a partnership between the University of Plymouth and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) focusing on people with intellectual disabilities.

 

 Evidence of impact

  • The SUDEP checklist has been adopted clinically throughout the UK.
  • The SUDEP checklist has been adopted internationally including in Australia.
  • EpsMon has been downloaded by over 3000 people with epilepsy for self-management of their epilepsy.
  • The Ep-ID register has collected data on 800 people with epilepsy throughout the UK.
  • There is evidence that the Ep-ID register has changed prescribing in epilepsy in people with ID- anti epileptics are more slowly increased in dosage.
  • Professor Shankar is now a member of the NICE Expert Panel on epilepsy and the National Confidential Inquiry.
  • NHS Rightcare toolkit (PDF)
  • Oversaw the development of the national guidance for basic epilepsy training via ESNA, ILAE British chapter and RCPsych ID faculty.

Awards

  • Professor Shankar shortlisted for the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s Academic Researcher of the Year Award (2022).
  • BMJ awards – Mental health category (2020), Education (2019), innovation (2017 – highly commended), Neurology (2016).
  • Dr Shankar was awarded an MBE for services to people with Developmental Disabilities in Cornwall in 2018.
  • Epileptic Disorders ILAE Educational Prize for best paper (2018).
  • ILEA (International League Against Epilepsy) Research Paper of the Year 2017.
  • Health Business Awards (2016), National Innovation Accelerator (NIA) Fellowships (2017), HSJ Patient Safety Awards – Education and Training in Patient Safety (2016) HSJ Patient Safety Awards – Patient Safety in Mental Health (2016), Epilepsy Foundation USA – SUDEP Challenge (2016), NIHR commercial principal investigators Award (2016).

Projects

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EpSMon: Epilepsy Self-Monitoring
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BioEP – a novel digital biomarker of epilepsy
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SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
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Brain in Hand

The team

  • Professor Rohit Shankar

    Professor Rohit Shankar MBE FRCPsych

    Professor of Neuropsychiatry at University of Plymouth and Consultant Psychiatrist in Neurodevelopment at CFT – Director of CIDER
  • Dr Richard Laugharne

    Dr Richard Laugharne FRCPsych

    Consultant Psychiatrist at CFT – Director of Mental Health Research in Cornwall and Deputy Director of CIDER
  • Sarah Lennard

    Sarah Lennard

    CIDER Lead and Assistant Research Manager, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research & Innovation Team Honorary University Fellow - University of Plymouth, Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)
  • Jon Allard

    Dr Jon Allard

    Senior Clinical Studies Officer | Academic Lead, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research & Innovation Team Honorary University Fellow - University of Plymouth, Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)
  • Ben Hyams

    Ben Hyams

    Research Manager Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research & Innovation Team
  • Ruth Bishop

    Ruth Bishop

    Clinical Studies Officer/Occupational Therapist Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust Research & Innovation Team
  • Sarah Mitchell, Medical Administrative Facilitator, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

    Sarah Mitchell

    Assistant Research Practitioner, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research & Innovation Team | Honorary University Fellow - University of Plymouth, Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)
  • Ashley Beaumont

    Ashley Beaumont

    Research Secretary to Professor Rohit Shankar
  • Samantha Pye

    Samantha Pye

    Research Team Administrator
  • Paula McGowan

    Paula McGowan OBE

    Multi-award-winning activist campaigning for equality of health and social care for people with an intellectual disability and/or autism, early years educator specialising in children who have additional needs, ambassador, speaker and author
  • Professor Lance Watkins

    Professor Lance Watkins

    Associate Professor (Hon), University of Plymouth | Visiting Professor, University of South Wales | Clinical Lead for Learning Disability Research, NCMH, Cardiff | Consultant Psychiatrist and Epilepsy Pathway Lead, Swansea Bay University Health Board
  • Bojana Daw Srdanovic

    Bojana Daw Srdanovic

    Researcher
  • Dr Hannah Newman

    Dr Hannah Newman

    Psychiatry CT1 | Academic Clinical Fellow
  • Danielle Bilkey, Clinical Studies Officer, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research and Innovation Team

    Danielle Bilkey

    Clinical Studies Officer, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research and Innovation Team

Collaborators

University of Plymouth collaborators
External collaborators – academic:
  • University of Exeter Medical School: Professor Jonathan Mill and Professor William Henley
  • Falmouth University: Mr Brian Clark
  • UCL Institute of Neurology: Professor Matthew Walker and Professor Ley Sander
  • University of Birmingham – Professor John Terry
  • University of Sheffield – Professor Dan Goodley
  • University of Cardiff – Professor Ian Jones and Dr Lance Watkins
National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)
  • Southwest Peninsula Clinical Research Network (CRN)
  • Southwest Peninsula Academic Health Science Network (AHSN)
  • Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration (PenARC)
Life Science Industry:
  • Eisai Co. Ltd
  • UCB Inc.
  • Bial Pharmaceutical Co
  • Liva Nova
  • Desitin
  • UN EEG medical
  • GW pharma
  • Arvelle
Charities and clinical networks:
SMEs:
  • Neuronostics Ltd
  • Psychoanalytica Community interest Company (CiC)

Research and innovation – Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 

Our research team deliver clinical research throughout Cornwall. Research is a vital component of NHS care to determine the best treatments and services for improving the nation's mental and physical wellbeing. 
Our Trust is a research-active NHS trust, meaning that research and adding to the evidence base for healthcare form a key element of our services.
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
The Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre, Truro

Contact the Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER)

CIDER office
Professor Rohit Shankar

Health & Wellbeing Innovation Centre, Treliske, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3FF