Research projects at BPAS are monitored by BPAS Research and Ethics Committee (REC), a sub-committee of the Clinical Governance Committee.
- The role of the REC is to examine all proposals for research, audits or service evaluation involving clients, or materials derived from clients, which are to be carried out within BPAS units or with BPAS staff, and to ensure that such activities conform to generally accepted ethical principles and standards. The committee also provides advice on ethical issues that affect BPAS. Click to read BPAS’ Research and Ethics Committee Terms of Reference.
- BPAS Research and Ethics Committee is a member of the Association of Research and Ethics Committees (AREC) and the National Research and Ethics Service reference group.
View our ongoing research projects below
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
We are collaborative partners with the University of Kent on the SeNSS PhD project: Communicating the risk of taking medicines to (potentially) pregnant women post-Montgomery: a socio-legal exploration which is being undertaken by Rachel Arkell.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
This research project aims to examine the feasibility of integrating an AI chatbot into the BPAS care pathway to improve service delivery and patient care. To achieve this, we will work with OU researchers to: Explore patient acceptability of introducing an AI chatbot into BPAS' care pathway, Identify the impact of introducing an AI chatbot into our service on staff capacity, organisational risks, and integration challenges, conduct a user-mapping exercise to understand at which points along the care pathway an AI chatbot could enhance.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
Providing the offer of contraceptive advice and options after an abortion is a key part of good abortion care. Since 2020, most medical abortions (abortions with pills) in England and Wales are done via telemedicine, meaning consultations occur over the phone, and pills are sent to patients at home. This has an impact on how post-abortion contraception can be provided and warrants investigation.
We will study contraceptive use after abortion at BPAS, examining contraceptive methods chosen by patients who have abortions up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, both at the time of the abortion and six weeks later. We will compare contraception use between medical and surgical abortions and between those who have had fully remote vs in-clinic care. Additionally, we will gather information from patients who received contraceptive advice and planned to use a specific method to see if they could start using their preferred contraception. This will be done through an online survey sent via email or text message six weeks after the abortion.
The information we find will help design better services, plan budgets, train staff, and improve quality for any organisation around the world that wants to use telemedicine for medical abortions up to 10 weeks’.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
A new VTE risk assessment tool will be added for all patients to assess risk of VTE. Those at risk will be offered low molecular weight heparin. We plan to deliver an evaluation around the implementation of this new service. In the first instance, a rapid evaluation to assess uptake and reasons for decline. This project will be undertaken as a student-supported project, with Rebekah Goodman, pharmacy student, supported by BPAS Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Director of Research & Innovation and the Evaluation Researcher. Findings will support operational planning and research planning of a large of evaluation / research project to determine risk of VTE amongst our population, and those who do/do not take the low molecular weight heparin.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact research@bpas.org.
In addition to these research projects we undertake several internal service evaluations per year, which are sometimes published and shared externally. If you’re interested in discussing these please get in touch: research@bpas.org
Collaborate with us
If you are a student or a researcher with a project you would like to undertake and looking for a host organisation, do get in touch.
We have previously accepted students and fellows from Imperial College London, Kent University, Sussex University, Princeton University, Harvard Law School and Yale Law School.
Awards, grants and prizes
The Heather Trickey Essay Prize
This prize encourages work reflecting the contribution and commitment of Dr Heather Trickey to finding common ground in the field of women’s reproductive health and women’s rights.
By bringing together those of differing perspectives, we’ll develop innovative, practical policy solutions to difficult problems.
Peter Huntingford Memorial Prize
BPAS has endowed the Peter Huntingford Memorial Prize to mark the late Professor Peter Huntingford’s contribution to obstetrics and gynaecology.
