Save the date: SMHRN Annual Scientific Meeting 2013

Date:	12th December 2013
Venue:	Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Further information will follow in due course.

Save the date: SMHRN Research Training Day 2013

Date:	27th August 2013
Venue:	Wolfson Medical Centre, University of Glasgow

Further information will follow in due course.

Charity fundraiser in aid of the Mental Health Foundation

The SMHRN team recently completed a charity stair climb in aid of the Mental Health Foundation (Scotland). This was an incredible success. The team managed to climb from the very bottom of the Mariana Trench (the deepest part of the world's oceans) to the top of Mount Everest (world's highest mountain). Over 24 hours during 21st to 22nd March, a staggering 19,881m was climbed by the team; this is the equivalent of 740 asents/descents or 130,240 steps of the Kennedy Tower where the event was held. We have raised over £1300 for the Mental Health Foundation and would like to thank everyone who has supported us. Donations can still be made on our dedicated JustGiving page.

SMHRN Newsletter

The newsletter will be available to download on our website and will be sent out electronically every quarter to our mailing list. If you have not already done so, please join our mailing list.

New GMC guidelines for doctors involved with research

The General Medical Council (GMC) has published new guidance for doctors, Good practice in research and Consent to research. This replaces the guidance booklet, Research: The role and responsibilities of doctors (2002) and comes into effect on 4 May 2010.

Research is essential to maintaining and improving healthcare but it can be a difficult area for doctors to navigate. The pieces of guidance provide a framework to guide doctors’ decisions throughout all stages of a research project. They include specific advice on:

• The law and governance arrangements that apply to research in the UK
• Good research design and practice, including the importance of promoting equality and preventing discrimination at all stages of research
• Avoiding conflicts of interest and protecting participants from harm
• The process of seeking participant consent
• Involving adults who lack capacity in research
• The considerations about involving children or young people in research