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Round Up

3 February 2025 

PEOPLE AND CULTURE
VOLUNTARY SEVERANCE (VS) SCHEME: OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS UNTIL FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY

The VS scheme will enable some eligible staff to leave Queen's in return for a monetary payment – provided their duties can be reconfigured – as this reduces operating costs.

  • Eligible staff can choose to apply or not, without any pressure or obligation.
  • The University has no plans for compulsory redundancies as part of this scheme.

The deadline for applications is Friday 14 February at 5.00pm.

Further information, including FAQs and how to apply.

Queen's University Belfast staff in red Queen's-branded t-shirts posing with a mannequin at an exhibition stand at the 2024 Balmoral Show
SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITY
SHOWCASE YOUR RESEARCH AT THIS YEAR'S BALMORAL SHOW

Queen's is delighted to be returning to Balmoral 2025. Renowned as Northern Ireland's largest agri-food event, the Balmoral show attracts over 100,000 visitors annually and is scheduled to take place from the 14 to 17 May.

Faculty or School staff with any hands-on, interactive activities and research they would like to showcase at the Queen's stand at the Balmoral Show are invited to contact c.forster@qub.ac.uk for further information.

Why exhibit at the Queen's stand?

Visitors to this year’s show will be able to engage with a range of cutting-edge research and technology at the Queen's University Exhibition Stand.

Exhibiting at the Queen's stand is a fantastic opportunity to:

  • connect with industry professionals and the general public;
  • raise the profile of your research and its impact;
  • engage with potential collaborators and funders.
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STAFF BLOG
CELEBRATING OUR TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES

As part of NI Apprenticeship Week 2025, running this week from Monday 3 to Friday 7 February, we are showcasing some of Queen’s Technician Apprentices in a special staff blog series:

More information

Led by the Department for the Economy, this week-long programme of events raises awareness of apprenticeship opportunities, promotes participation, and showcases the vital contributions apprentices make across diverse sectors.

Technician Apprentices are vital to Queen’s as a world-class university. Their developing expertise is key to achieving the university’s strategic objectives in education, research, innovation, and impact. This strengthens local partnerships, expands global collaborations, and reinforces Queen’s positive contribution to society.

With around 270 technicians, making up 5.7 per cent of the university’s staff across three Faculties and two Directorates, their contributions are integral to Queen’s ongoing success.

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sporting students and staff standing outside the Physical Education Centre holding a Queens 5K plaque
SPORT AND WELLBEING
ENTER QUEEN'S 3K OR 5K RUN

Staff are invited to enter Queen's 3k or 5k run in the Deep RiverRock Queen's 5K 'Race Round the River', taking place on Wednesday 2 April. There are 20 free places for staff available

Find out more on Queen's 5K 2025 here.

Applications will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis. Read the full story.

Queen’s Sport and Staff Wellbeing are encouraging staff to look after their health and wellbeing with a number of incentives already in place through Active Campus, discounted Gym Membership and Physiotherapy, Physical Activity Classes and Cycle+ Scheme.

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Queen's Sport - Winter courses 2025. Image shows two smiling young girls holding pom-poms and tree adults lifting weights
QUEEN'S SPORT
WINTER 2025 COURSES – TERM TWO

Enrolment is now open for Queen's Sport's Winter 2025 Term Two Courses. Adult and Children's courses are available, including yoga, strength training and the opportunity to learn new skills.

Find out more here.

An image of a metallic suitcase sitting alone in a corridor with sun streaming through a window above
BOOKING TRAVEL
TRAVEL INFORMATION

Please note that travel information, previously located on the Finance section of the external website, has now moved to the People and Culture SharePoint site. The section provides detailed advice, guidance, and support on booking business travel for individuals and groups, as well as travel approval procedures.

More information

Staff can access travel content on the visitors area of the external website, which will redirect staff to the People and Culture SharePoint where Travel is now located.

Staff are encouraged to update their bookmarks by removing links to the old web page and saving the new SharePoint page for easy access.

For additional queries, please email: travel@qub.ac.uk.

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screengrab of Queen's Finance intranet site
FINANCE
NEW FINANCE INTRANET SITE

Finance has recently migrated all staff-facing online content to its new SharePoint intranet site. Staff should now make this their first port of call for policies, procedures and guidance on finance and procurement matters.

This intranet site replaces the Staff Section of the Finance content on the external website.

Please note that financial information for students and visitors will remain on the external website.

For additional queries, please email: finance.dept@qub.ac.uk.

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Microsoft Office background of a breakout session showing seated man with glasses talking and being listened to by a standing woman and another seated man
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT
LEADING LIVE BREAKFAST EVENTS

Staff in formal or informal leadership roles are invited to register now for the next series of 'Leading Live' – three stand-alone, short breakfast events giving leaders the opportunity to share experience and knowledge through conversation. These events will take place on Thursday 3 April, Wednesday 2 July and Wednesday 1 October.

Please register for any or all events here, as soon as possible.

Leading Live takes place from 9.30am to 11.00am, with breakfast available from 9.15am. The venue, based on Queen's main campus, will be confirmed following registration. Please note this event is capped at 40 participants.

  • Thursday 3 April – Theme: 'The role of Self-Awareness in Leadership - why does it matter?'
  • Wednesday 2 July – Theme: 'The significance of understanding others - how important is this for leaders in developing relationships?'
  • Wednesday 1 October – The theme for this date will build on the previous two sessions and so will be agreed and communicated in July.

More information

In the ever changing world that we now work in, how do you practice and demonstrate effective leadership?

Recent research (Hybrid Higher, Advance HE, June 2021) shows that an effective way for leaders and managers to learn and develop in challenging times is to create time and space to think about and share experience through conversation.

With some light touch facilitation by Dr Louise O’Meara (Clinton Leadership Institute), Queen's 'Leading Live' events focus on fostering collaboration, sharing experiences and deepening knowledge through conversation and discussion.

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ESTATES
STUDENTS AND CORPORATE SERVICES OFFICE RELOCATION 

From today, Monday 3 February, the Students and Corporate Services (SCS) Vice-President’s Office, the Directorate Offices for Academic Services, Queen’s Global, and Student and Campus Experience, and their Commercial Management Accounts team are operating from the first floor of 89-95 University Road (formerly known as the Student Guidance Centre).

This move will support change, enable innovation and drive efficiencies. The departure of SCS staff from Lanyon North Ground Floor will also allow for the complete consolidation of full-service provision for student information in One Elmwood, and enable the university to repurpose a central space within the Lanyon building for other institutional use.

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Female professional wearing cycling helmet and riding and bike. Image includes text 'Save the date'.
SUSTAINABILITY
CYCLESCHEME WEBINARS

Cyclescheme will host the following live events, open to the public, on Thursdays from 11.30am in February.

  • 13 February
  • 27 February

To register, navigate to 'Join a Cyclescheme Webinar' on the Cyclescheme Webinars webpage and select your preferred date (the registration link is the same for each event).

Please note: anyone who wishes to attend will need to register their own interest so we can share the link individually and are able to gather attendance details.

More information

These 30-45-minute events will provide a run-through of the benefits of Cyclescheme, Cycling to Work, how much money you can save through the scheme, where you can get a bike, how to apply, additional Cyclescheme offerings, and will host a live Q&A session at the end where the organisers will answer as many questions as possible.

This is a fantastic period for staff to consider purchasing a new commuting bike following on from last year's opening of the university’s new ebike facility and PEC shelter, encompassing 80 new secure bike parking spaces.

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group of people framed by Chinese dragon dancers standing outside the red-illuminated Queen's University Belfast Lanyon Building, 29 January 2025
CHINESE NEW YEAR
HAPPY YEAR OF THE SNAKE 蛇年快乐!

Queen’s iconic Lanyon Building was officially illuminated in red to mark the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations on Wednesday 29 January. Staff and students gathered for the celebrations with a spectacular Lion Dance outside the Lanyon – a traditional performance symbolising good luck, fortune, and prosperity for the year ahead. Read more about the celebrations so far here.

View the full programme of CNY events here.

QUB Student Survey and National Student Survey logos
STUDENT SURVEYS
QUEEN'S STUDENT SURVEY AND NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY

The Queen's Student Survey for first years and all pre-final year students closes on Sunday 16 February. All staff are encouraged to take every opportunity to urge students to complete the survey here before the closing date.

National Student Survey opening this week

The National Student Survey (NSS) goes live in Queen’s this week. Students will receive their invitation emails from Ipsos from Thursday 6 February. Further information and marketing materials are available on our SharePoint site and response rate reports will be shared with relevant staff in due course.

More information

Students can find more information about the surveys and student feedback on the My Queen's website

Student feedback given in the QSS and NSS is used by Queen's to enhance the quality of courses and improve the wider student experience.

The continued support of all staff is fundamental to the success of the surveys, so we welcome your help.

For any queries, please email the Student Surveys Team at surveys@qub.ac.uk.

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group of young people in sports gear posing for a photo outside the Titanic Centre building, Belfast
EVENT
VARSITY 2025

From Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 February, Queen’s Students’ Union is hosting the first-ever inter-university sporting tournament between Queen's University and Ulster University.

All students, staff, alumni, family and friends are welcome to attend any fixture, including the Women's Rugby Final on Thursday 6 February.

Find out more, including the schedule of events and how you can get involved in supporting Team Queen’s, on the Students' Union website.

More information

In Varsity 2025, students will go head-to-head in a variety of sports like badminton, swimming, football and rugby. The university with the most overall points becomes the Varsity winner, securing a coveted trophy and most importantly, bragging rights over their rivals!

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Policy Engagement logo
POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
QUEEN'S POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND RESEARCH BLOG

Recent posts from Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol):

To contribute an article to Queen's Policy Engagement, please email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.

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RESEARCH COMMUNICATION
THE CONVERSATION

The Conversation is a news website featuring articles by academics, often republished to global media outlets. Articles by Queen's academics published in The Conversation have been read by 12.5 million people internationally. Read the latest:

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RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE
LATEST EDITION: RESEARCH AND INNOVATION MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Staff are invited to view the latest edition of the Research and Innovation Newsletter.

Subscribe here.

This newsletter provides the entire research community at Queen’s with information on the latest news, announcements and events related to their researcher journey and on Research and Innovation activities at Queen’s.

In this month’s edition:

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promo graphic for Bernard Crossland Lecture 2025, showing thumbnail of guest speaker Sir Warren East
EVENT
SIR BERNARD CROSSLAND LECTURE 2025

Staff are warmly invited to the Sir Bernard Crossland Annual Lecture 2025, ‘Climate Change and the Engineer’, with Guest Speaker, Sir Warren East, President of The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

This lecture will take place on Tuesday 18 February at 5.30pm in The Great Hall, Lanyon Building as part of the NI Science Festival. Pre-lecture refreshments will be served.

Please register here.

This year’s lecture will explore the challenges and opportunities in tackling climate change from an engineer’s perspective. Sir Warren East is a distinguished engineer and business leader, renowned for his transformative impact on the technology and engineering sectors. Sir Warren will share insights from his previous leadership roles, offering an optimistic approach to shaping a sustainable future.

Now in its 23rd year, Business Engagement at Queen’s and Engineers Ireland host this prestigious lecture series, in association with The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

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promotional graphic for Mitchell Institute Events, showing Beacon of Hope sculpture in Belfast
MITCHELL INSTITUTE
MITCHELL INSTITUTE NEWS AND EVENTS

The Mitchell Institute invites staff to the following events.

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Computer Science building with trees
EVENT
DLT POLICY PANEL AND LAUNCH OF QUEEN'S BLOCKCHAIN INITIATIVE

The School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is pleased to invite colleagues from across the university to attend the upcoming Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Policy Panel and the official launch of Queen’s Blockchain Initiative on Friday 14 February from 10.00am to 3.00pm in the Computer Science Building, Malone Road.

This event will feature panel discussions with industry and academic experts, Q&A and networking sessions. This is an opportunity for staff working in DLT – or who are simply passionate about this transformative technology –to broaden their horizons and contribute to the study. It would be extremely relevant to Queen's Business School and for staff looking to explore the use cases of DLT for their projects.

Find out more and register here.

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800x533 virtual tour image of Lanyon
ESTATES
ESTATES DIRECTORATE – WEEK AHEAD

Details of ongoing works being carried out across the University campus can be found on the Estates Directorate webpage.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
QFT WHAT'S ON

This week’s new and returning films at Queen’s Film Theatre, your cinema on campus. Staff tickets are priced at £7.50. Staff and students aged 26 and under can join LUMI to get tickets for £5.00 every day, all year round.

SHOWING THIS WEEK: 

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close-up of three handmade silver rings on a display cloth
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
NAUGHTON GALLERY: SILVERSMITHING WORKSHOP

There is one place remaining in The Naughton Gallery's next Silversmithing workshop, taking place on Saturday 8 February from 10.00am to 4.00pm in the Senate Room, Lanyon Building.

To reserve your space, or to be added to the waitlist for a future workshop, and for further information regarding fees and payment, please contact art@qub.ac.uk.

Under the guidance of goldsmith Diane Lyness, each participant will be taught traditional jewellery-making techniques such as piercing, soldering, shaping, texturing, and polishing, to create a beautiful silver knotted ring to take home.

No previous experience is required – just bring an apron and enthusiasm.

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self-portrait-style photographic item entitled 'Holding My Child at Arms Length', from artist Sarah Maple's art exhibition 'Call Me Mother', showing the artist holding her baby at arms length
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
NAUGHTON GALLERY: CURRENT EXHIBITION – 'CALL ME MOTHER'

The Naughton Gallery's current exhibition, Call Me Mother, is a candid exploration of the realities of motherhood, shedding light on its undervalued labour while challenging societal perceptions of women, domesticity and pregnancy.

The Naughton Gallery is open daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm. All are welcome.

Call Me Mother

This exhibition centres around Sarah Maple's Labour of Love (2022), a photographic installation visualising the 650 times the artist's baby was fed over the course of three months. Comprising 650 images of Maple and her child, each photograph includes a hand-finished element concealing the artist’s face.

About the Artist

Sussex-based Maple (born 1985) is an award-winning artist, renowned for her bold and provocative works that challenge societal notions of identity. Drawing inspiration from her mixed religious and cultural upbringing, Maple’s incisive commentary spans the intersections of identity, race, religion, gender, and the art world. Employing a multidisciplinary approach that includes painting, performance, photography, collage, and video, she balances sharp critique with subversive humour, encouraging audiences to confront their biases and rethink preconceptions. Intertwining personal narratives with universal themes, Maple’s work is both deeply resonant and widely accessible.

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three young professionals, one female and two males, looking at a laptop in a bright, open-plan space
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT – FEBRUARY PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Learning and Development's February programme of events is now available to view.

Courses include:

  • Interview Skills for Interviewees
  • Getting ahead: How to advocate for your promotion
  • Writing for Publication
  • Nano tips for increasing your visibility at work

From Learning for all, Leading and Managing and Queen’s, LinkedIn Learning, Nature Masterclasses and Recruitment and Selection Training, the Learning and Development programme of events includes courses to suit everyone.

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sad and anxious looking young woman standing and looking at the ground with blurred, seated group of people looking at her in the background
WELLBEING
BULLYING AND HARASSMENT TRAINING SESSION

The Diversity and Inclusion Unit invites all staff to a Bullying and Harassment training session on Thursday 6 February* from 10.00am to 11.0am via MS Teams. 

Register here. The joining link will be sent the day before the session.

This session will cover the following topics:

  • Key principles of Dignity at Work
  • The Legal Framework
  • QUB and you
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Advice
  • Support available

* NB: This session is in place of the previously advertised session on Tuesday 4 February.

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Image of a digital head with its features linked by lasers. The text depicts AI Support at Queen's.t
AI HUB
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT QUEEN'S

AI Staff Training

Join our AI Building Blocks training series to develop your understanding of AI and explore practical ways to integrate it into your work.

Register here.

Whether you’re new to AI or looking to expand your skills, these workshops will provide guidance and insights tailored for staff at Queen’s.

AI Support for Students

Explore a new Student Support page on the AI Hub. It hosts a range of resources designed to empower students with knowledge and tools to thrive in an AI-enabled academic environment. These resources include an AI Glossary and a 'How to Cite AI' library guide that can support your students to make the most of AI in their studies.

AI Self-help Guides

The AI Self-Help Guides are here to support your journey into AI. These guides are designed to help you use AI to save time and to understand the impact of AI on your assessment.

Find more AI guides and resources on the AI Hub.

How Queen's staff are using AI

Explore a range of case studies that showcase innovative applications of AI across Queen's, to inspire new approaches in your own field of work.

Watch our AI Case Studies here.

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Lanyon with cool sky
TAKE PART
JOIN QUEEN'S NEW EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

Queen's has launched a new Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Community of Practice – a collaborative forum focused on embedding sustainability into teaching and learning across the university.

To get involved, complete this short form and express your interest.

The community of practice is open to all university staff involved in education (academic, administrative, technical staff, and professional services) with an interest in sustainable development in teaching and learning.

More information

This group will meet throughout the year to:

  • share case studies, best practices, and innovative approaches to sustainable education;
  • identify opportunities for professional development and support in integrating sustainability into curricula;
  • strengthen cross-departmental collaboration and communication around teaching and learning for sustainable development.

The group's aim is to create a supportive space for educators to explore challenges, address gaps, and drive meaningful progress toward embedding sustainable development principles into education.

For more information, please contact Natalie Le Seelleur or Dr Alison Calvert.

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home or office desk with laptop keyboard, pen, highlighter, cup of coffee, folded spectacles, and clipboard holding 'work safety' training sheets
UNIVERSITY SAFETY SERVICE
TRAINING PROGRAMME 2024/2025

The Safety Training programme for this academic year is available on the University Safety Service Training webpage. The full range of courses can be booked via iTrent Employee Self-Service.

Available training sessions for February are given below. Please note that additional Event Safety Training courses have been added to the programme. All sessions are in person.

Please feel free to contact the University Safety Service at safety@qub.ac.uk should you have any queries or training requirements.

Training course Date Time Safety Officer
Safety in Student Placement 4 February 9.30am to 11.30am Julie McConkey
AED Defibrillator Training 5 February 11.00am to 12.00pm David Norwood
COSHH Course 5 February 10.00am to 11.00am Dean Cross
Health and Safety Induction 11 February 9.30am to 10.30pm Lindsey Smith
Event Safety Training 12 February 2.00pm to 4.30pm Julie McConkey
Strategic Health and Safety Risk Management 13 February 9.30am to 12.00pm Lindsey Smith
DSE Assessors Training 18 February 9.30am to 12.00pm Julie McConkey
Event Safety Training 19 February 10.00am to 12.30pm Julie McConkey
Manual Handling 27 February 10.00am to 12.30pm Jo McDonagh
Event Safety Training 28 February 10.00am to 3.00pm Julie McConkey
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CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CED)
ADVANCED HE FELLOWSHIP DECISION TOOL

Staff considering or wishing to apply for Advance HE Fellowship but who are unsure which level is appropriate are asked to please complete the Advance HE Decision Tool before contacting the Centre for Educational Development (CED).

To obtain a registration form for your chosen fellowship level, please visit the CED website.

More information

Advance HE Fellowship demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in higher education and provides individuals with recognition of their practice, impact, and leadership of teaching and learning. The Queen's Merit Award is accredited to award four different categories of Fellowship: Associate Fellowship; Fellowship; Senior Fellowship; and Principal Fellowship.

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Canvas graphic
LEARNING AND TEACHING
CANVAS VLE SUPPORT+

Registration is now open for the Semester 2 Small Group Teaching and Lab Demonstration course

Schools should encourage their TAs and Lab Demonstrators to register for the course here by Friday 21 February. Queries can be directed to ced@qub.ac.uk.

This self-paced Canvas course is designed for Teaching Assistants and Lab Demonstrators who are new to teaching. It covers key pedagogical principles to support participants in building their skills and transitioning into these roles effectively.

Find out more.

Training Video Catalogue

A Canvas training video catalogue has been created for staff to access on a self-service basis. Whether you need a refresher or want to learn something new, explore our range of short, on-demand training videos covering Canvas Fundamentals, assignment setup, Turnitin, and more. Check out the Training Catalogue on the DigiHub today.

One-to-one Consultations

Book a 30-minute virtual session with a Digital Learning Developer from your Faculty, School or VLE Pedagogy Support Team (subject to availability).

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A laptop sitting on a desk surrounded by books and plants
TRAINING
DIGITAL LEARNING EVENTS

Staff training delivered by CED, Digital and Information Services and various Digital Learning teams across Faculties is now available to book via the Training Events calendar.

Upcoming training sessions:

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man wearing glasses in clean, bright office space engaged in online training or meeting
DIGITAL AND INFORMATION SERVICES
IT TRAINING: NEW PROGRAMME OF COURSES

The IT Training Unit's new programme of courses is now available to book on iTrent, with more courses to be added in the coming weeks. View the programme and additional training materials on the IT Training Unit SharePoint site.

If your School or Directorate requires IT training for staff, geared towards a specific area or set of tasks, email itcourses@qub.ac.uk and the team will arrange a consultation.

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Patrick G Johnston Centre exterior
TAKE PART
PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH STUDY

Queen's Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence is inviting participation for a research study involving a 90-minute to two-hour focus group.

To find out more, please contact Jade Dorrian: jdorrian03@qub.ac.uk / 07598808454.

Those eligible to take part:

  • Male, aged 50 or over
  • Those with a family history of prostate cancer
  • Those who do not have an existing prostate cancer diagnosis

Participation offers the opportunity to contribute to research and meet others. Financial reimbursement is included.

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Zoomed in eye showing pupil
TAKE PART
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN EYE IMAGING STUDY

Researchers at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast are investigating how the structures of the eye could indicate early Alzheimer’s disease changes. The following volunteers are encouraged to participate:

  • People with Down Syndrome, aged 6-50 years.
  • People aged 50-80 years, diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment from a memory clinic.

If you, or your friends or family, would like to take part or hear more about the research, please contact Dr Aoife Hunter: a.hunter@ulster.ac.uk / 028 7012 3416.

More information

Individuals will be invited to come to the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility (Belfast City Hospital) for some vision tests and photographs of the eye, along with some straightforward memory and behavioural tests. With their consent, tear, saliva, and blood samples may also be collected. Travel expenses will be reimbursed, and support will be provided for the study visit.

This study is funded by Alzheimer's Society.

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To submit an item for Round Up, please email details to roundup@qub.ac.uk by 1.00pm on the Thursday before the Monday edition in which they are to appear.

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