Does a bad night's sleep really fuel anxiety? And should we really be banning smartphones in schools?

This week we’ve ventured across campus to the Department of Psychology to talk to Emma Sullivan all about the complex science of sleep, screens, and stress.

Join us as Emma walks us through two bold projects. The first plunges participants into an unnerving virtual environment to reveal how a sleepless night traps the brain in a state of hypervigilance. The other tracks a Channel 4 documentary-inspired experiment where teenagers attempt a total smartphone ban.

We hear about the reality of sleep research: from watching brainwaves in the Sleep Lab and using Virtual Reality to test emotional recovery, to the hurdles of convincing teenagers to hand in their smartphones. Plus, we find out why the digital detox might not be the silver bullet for mental health that the headlines suggest.

Resources from this episode:

• Find out more about Emma's research: https://sites.google.com/york.ac.uk/emmasullivan-com/home
• Follow Emma on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/emmacsullivan.bsky.social
• Channel 4 Documentary: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/swiped-the-school-that-banned-smartphones
• Get involved in psychology research at York: https://www.york.ac.uk/psychology/research/participate/

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Get in touch and learn more about The Research Room at https://www.theresearchroompodcast.com/

Music by Matthew Bailey

How can we design research that actually benefits people and the planet? This week we welcome back Karen Glerum-Brooks to the Research Room, and this time she's brought along her colleague Andrew Mott to talk about the Valuing Voices project.

Listen as Karen and Andrew share lessons learnt from clinical trials, the small design choices that can massively reduce research waste, and the qualitative interviews that are shaping their guidance for trials across the UK. If you’re writing a grant, planning a trial, or simply curious about how we can all do research better, this episode is definitely for you!

Don't forget to like and follow so you never miss an episode!

Find out more about the project here: https://valuing-voices.ac.uk/

Check out the researcher tool here: https://valuing-voices.ac.uk/dashboard/

Get in touch with the team at valuing-voices@york.ac.uk

Music by Matthew Bailey

What's the best way to heal an open surgical wound? This week we're chatting with the SWHSI-II team, Catherine Arundel, Sam Swan and Sabeen Zahra, all about the SWHSI-2 trial, the award winning study which compared Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with traditional standard dressings to answer this question.

We go behind-the-scenes to hear about the trial’s highs and hurdles: blinded photo assessments, COVID interruptions, and smart solutions to recruitment challenges. Plus we find out the team's top tips for researchers undertaking similar projects.

Resources from this episode:

Find out more abou the SWHSI-II Trial here: https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/trials/swhsi-2/#tab-2

Clinical Results paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00143-6 Trial Learning paper: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-025-01658-w

Cost effectiveness paper: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znaf077 Bluebelle (patient reported infection questionnaire) validation paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtv.2025.100889

Music by Matthew Bailey

It’s not every day you get to hear from a mother and daughter who are shaping clinical research together!

This week we had the privilege of speaking with a Emma and Toni Wakefield who both took on the crucial role of chairing Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panels for the BAY trial. We learn how their input led to practical changes in the study, from making materials more inclusive to ensuring the perspectives of young people and carers were properly heard.

Plus, hear how leading the panels was a real confidence booster for them, and get Toni and Emma's top tips for anyone wanting to get involved in research, too.

Find out more about the BAY project here: https://bayresearchstudy.co.uk/about-our-research

Get in touch with the BAY team: bay-project@york.ac.uk

Learn more about Patient & Public Involvement here: https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving-research/best-practice/public-involvement/

Music by Matthew Bailey

Can we change the future for young people at risk of bipolar disorder? We're joined by Dr. Rebekah Carney and Prof. Sophie Parker to discuss the Bipolar At-Risk Trial (BART 2). The research aims to spot early signs of bipolar risk in 16–25 year olds and to evaluate a tailored Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based support that could change the course of young lives.

Plus, we find out what the study's unofficial theme song would be! 🎵

Learn more about the BART study here or get in touch with the team at GMMH-BART2@gmmh.nhs.uk

Music by Matthew Bailey

It's time for part 2 of the DISC trial, and the big reveal of the results! We're back with Charlie Welch and Dr Puvan Tharmanathan to talk about the Dupuytren's Interventions: Surgery vs Collagenase Trial (DISC), PLUS Chief Investigator Professor Joseph Dias joins us to discuss the results and what they mean.

How do clinicians and patients choose the right path for treating Dupuytren's contracture? For a long time, the answer wasn't straightforward. We're taking a close look at the DISC trial and how its important findings are making that choice clearer.

For more information about the DISC study visit https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/trials/disc/

Read Charlie's Monograph here

Read the DISC clinical effectiveness findings paper here and cost effectiveness findings here

Music by Matthew Bailey

This week in the Research Room, we kick off a special two-part episode! We're joined by Charlie Welch and Dr Puvan Tharmanathan who walk us through the Dupuytren's Interventions: Surgery vs Collagenase Trial (DISC).

Dupuytren’s contracture is the fourth most common problem affecting the hand in the UK, but the most suitable course of treatment is often unclear. Join us to learn all about how the DISC trial aimed to tackle this issue, and the challenges they faced along the way.

Don't forget to join us next time for part 2 where Charlie and Puvan reveal the all important results!

For more information about the DISC study visit https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/trials/disc/

Music by Matthew Bailey

Welcome back to the Research Room for a super special bonus episode! Today, we're thrilled to introduce Dr. Jihong Zhu from the Institute for Safe Autonomy here at the University of York. Ever wondered how robotics can get involved with assisted living? Dr. Zhu's work on robotic arms is not just science fiction; it's happening right now and it's fascinating!

We chat about his incredible Robot-Assisted Living Lab (RALLA), where he's developing robotic arms that mimic human dexterity. From tackling the challenges of dressing assistance to pioneering advancements in breast screening for those with mobility issues, Dr. Zhu's projects are a testament to the potential for robotics to enhance human care. So get comfy and join us for an exciting journey into the world of robotics and how they're set to make a significant difference in our lives!

Learn more about the Institute for Safe Autonomy and the Robot Assisted Living Laboratory

Find out more about Dr. Jihong Zhu and his projects here or get in touch jihong.zhu@york.ac.uk

Music by Matthew Bailey