First published on RCPCH website on 10 May 2021
Written by RCPCH Research & Evidence team

After receiving many excellent applications, the winners of the RCPCH and NHIR’s Paediatrics Involvement and Engagement in Research (PIER) prize are the team behind the PERFORM project, including Dr Emma Lim, Professor Marieke Emonts, Dr Jo Ball, Dr Jethro Herberg and Young Person's Advisory Group North East (YPAG-ne).

The PERFORM study aims to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for childhood fevers, to help differentiate the cause of fevers and identify which children are at risk of serious invasive infections. Children and young people (CYP) were involved in the study from the very beginning, helping shape the resources and the consent process, in addition to inspiring many initiatives such as a pop-up hospital.

‘Emma Lim and her team have been working on co-production of work on molecular diagnostics for childhood fever in order to identify those at most risk of serious infections. At the heart of the PERFORM study is the concept of co-production – working with CYP and parents to develop the study and take it forward. They have developed together innovative approaches to proportionate consent, the use of CYP’s anonymised data, and involved CYP not just in the study itself but also the dissemination of the results, working to create a pro-research culture. This is a model that we can all use in our future research.’
- Professor Nick Bishop, Vice President for Science and Research, RCPCH:

Read the full article here.