Research
Research is a vital pillar of practice for the pharmacy professions, underpinning innovation, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening the evidence base that informs practice. Whether working in community pharmacy, hospital services, primary care, academia, industry, or policy, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play an essential role in generating and applying research that advances healthcare.
COPED recognises that research should be embedded throughout professional development, beginning in initial education and training and continuing across the full professional career pathway.
As practitioners progress through their careers, research capability remains central to the development of advanced and specialist practice. Postgraduate Pharmacy Curricula, developed by the Royal College of Pharmacy emphasise the importance of enquiry, quality improvement, scholarship, evidence-based decision making, and the ability to evaluate and implement innovation within healthcare systems. Developing these capabilities enables the pharmacy workforce to contribute not only to service delivery, but also to service improvement and transformation.
Clinical academic careers offer a unique opportunity to combine patient care, education, leadership, and research. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are increasingly contributing to multidisciplinary research programmes, shaping healthcare policy, educating future professionals, and generating evidence that improves medicines use and patient outcomes. These careers demonstrate how research can be integrated into professional practice at every stage of development
Clinical Academic Training and Careers Hub (CATCH)
CoPED encourages colleagues with an interest in research and clinical academia to explore the Clinical Academic Training and Careers Hub (CATCH), a UK-wide resource designed to support healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, in understanding and navigating clinical academic career pathways. The hub provides information on career routes, training opportunities, funding schemes, case studies, and practical guidance for developing a clinical academic career.