The opening of the Southern Trust’s new Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) at Craigavon Area Hospital marked an important milestone for research. It also celebrated the contribution of service users, carers and staff who helped shape the identity and environment of the new facility.
The Trust’s first dedicated facility for commercial clinical research will support innovative studies and provide more opportunities for people to take part in research.
Working alongside the Trust’s User Involvement Team and the Research, Development and Innovation Team, people with lived experience helped create both the centre’s logo and a permanent artwork that now takes pride of place within the building.
As part of this work, service users Susannah and Tina worked alongside staff to co-design the CRDC logo, ensuring lived experience helped shape the identity of the new centre from the outset.
A second strand of the project, delivered in partnership with the Arts in Health Programme, brought together 10 service users and carers alongside members of the Research, Development and Innovation Team to create a collaborative artwork for the centre.
Led by Arts Care Artist in Residence Jill McKeown, participants took part in six workshops exploring the relationship between nature and medicine. Together they explored the stories behind plants and fungi that have contributed to discoveries and treatments that continue to improve lives today.
The resulting artwork, ‘Discovering Nature’s Medicine’, combines botanical imagery with scientific themes inspired by species including foxglove, snowdrop, Pacific yew and psilocybin fungi.
The workshops were about much more than creating artwork. They created opportunities for people to share experiences, learn from one another and contribute to a project that will leave a lasting mark on the new facility.
One participant reflected:
“There were no barriers with respect to patients, carers, artists, R&D staff and PPIE staff. It was great to hear everyone's lived experiences, their knowledge and their personal stories.”
Another participant said:
“Rediscovering my artistic side and I have started to paint again, which I find helps with stress management.”
An accompanying digital archive is also being developed to capture the story behind the artwork and the experiences of those involved. Accessible through a QR code within the centre, it will allow visitors to learn more about the people, ideas and inspiration behind the piece.
Kathleen O’Hare, User Involvement Development Officer, said:
“This project is a wonderful example of involvement and co-production in action. Staff, service users and carers worked together as equal partners, sharing ideas and shaping the final piece.
“Meaningful involvement takes time, but the outcomes are often well worth it. The artwork and logo demonstrate how people with lived experience can make a valuable contribution and help create an environment that reflects the spirit of the new centre.”
Together, the logo and artwork reflect the centre’s commitment to patient and public involvement. They are a lasting reminder of the value of bringing lived experience into research and of what can be achieved when people help shape something from the very beginning.
Picture caption:
Jill McKeown, Arts Care Facilitator, and participants from the creative arts group proudly pictured with their completed artwork, Discovering Nature’s Medicine, at the official opening of the Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC).