The RSTN is a research network set up by the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons and The British Society for Surgery of the Hand as part of the Royal College of Surgeons clinical trials initiative.

The main aim is to support the development of prospective, multicentre clinical research in the UK and engage international partners.

Medical students through to consultants can join the RSTN. The principal investigator for a trial has to be a consultant to lead ethics and funding applications.

There is no application process, you just need to join our mailing list to receive project updates and alerts.

The RSTN is not a grant awarding body. To date the RSTN has received a total of £3600 from BAPRAS and BSSH to support the scientific meetings and administrative costs.

The RSTN will be able to support your application for research funding from organisations such as BAPRAS, BSSH, NIHR, RCS and charities. In recent years our success rate has been good owing to the improved methodology and size of the studies.

NO.

The RSTN will provide advice and support but you will be in charge and responsible for leading the project.

The rules of engagement are decided at the start by each project team.
There is usually a defined contribution i.e. number of patients to be recruited. If this is reached, you will be a Pubmed cited collaborator on the resulting publication(s) and be a collaborator on the presentations.

There is potential to make a great difference to patient care by contributing to evidence based medicine through a high quality trial.

What you put in, is what you get out. Each collaborator will receive a certificate of participation documenting the contribution. Along with future presentations and publications, the studies can be used for WBAs, ARCP purposes and are a good talking point for interviews.