My new role, EDGE 3 launch,
and looking to the future
I originally found the prospect of leaving the NHS in which I had spent nearly a decade of my life during my twenties to be extremely daunting, however my passion for research and wanting to deliver change led me joining the EDGE team earlier this year. Within this very short period of time, we have seen the launch of EDGE 3 throughout the UK, which I will admit has kept the entire team very busy the last few months. It has given me the perfect opportunity to speak to and engage with our Users, and to better understand how they use EDGE daily within their roles, whilst also having the opportunity to see the integration of the wider EDGE community, in regards to how everyone shares ideas an common work practices which has been joyous to see.
As a Client Manager, I oversee several accounts within England along with multiple international accounts. This entails a wide range of responsibilities which include account and project management, listening to User feedback which drives our functionality in an ever-changing clinical research environment, along with offering constant support to our Users through our support email. But it is the drive and evolution in system functionality where my curiosity truly lies. I really enjoy looking at the ideas that our Users have presented to us, then trying to work out where they sit within the system, and the potential benefit that they could give the community as a whole. This makes us really excited about eventually being able to share with our Users what we have planned for the future, and helping you be able to deliver high quality research work.
Another part of my role that I have really enjoyed is being able to attend research conferences, which has given me a unique position to see multiple aspects of research in both secondary care and the growing research infrastructure within primary care. Coming from a background of conducting research in surgical oncology for nearly 6 years, these conferences have been eye opening to both the successes and difficulties that the wider research communities in the UK face every week. The conversations that occur at these conferences are also incredibly important to how we see change in the continuously evolving research environment. An example of this has been the substantial uptake in Users wishing to learn more about the finance functionality within EDGE and the benefit this will have for their organisations. I am sure finance will be a big focus at the next EDGE conference next year, which I am really looking forward to. It’s going to be my first experience of being part of such a big event and I can’t wait to hear inspiring talks from our Users. I hope to see you there!