Jane Whitehead

My role

I work as a Clinical Trials and Research Assistant in Southampton – I primarily work within the Sexual Health Department but I will also help on trials in other areas if necessary.

My responsibilities

It is my responsibility to work on Clinical Trials within the Sexual Health Department. I am responsible for ensuring the smooth running of our trials within the department and assisting the Clinical Research lead Nurse. I practice Clinical and Administration duties. This includes checking for suitability and recruiting participants, as well as taking blood, height and measurements and general clinical care of the participants. It also involves explaining the trial set up to patients and taking informed consent. When I am not in clinic I am ensuring that the Administration is up to date and running smoothly for us and the study teams.

My background

I have a largely administrative background and spent a few years working as a team leader and co-ordinator within the HR department for the NHS Trust. My love for the clinical aspect of my role started through working for NHS Direct as a Health Information and Medicines advisor for 7 years. It gave me the interest to want to take it further and Research & Improvement seemed the obvious answer.

Why I love my job

I enjoy working in Research very much and I love everything that it stands for. Sexual Health Research is such an interesting and diverse department to work in and I learn something new every day. I love working as a team and meeting new patients daily. I love being part of the research team; we have a team that is full of experience from all different areas. The knowledge and skills our team have is invaluable and I love being part of that.  

More about me

Outside of work I am a busy mum and wife, I have boys who play football so I am very often stood on the side-line of a football pitch in all weathers somewhere in the country, being a dedicated soccer mum. I love to run and I like to participate in occasional 10k and half marathon races. I enjoy socialising with my family and friends and I am often out having fun and a few drinks (when I can).

Current projects/research studies

Safetxt – A randomised controlled trial of an intervention delivered by mobile phone messaging to reduce sexually transmitted infections (STI) by increasing sexual health behaviours in young people.

PRECISE – A point of care antimicrobial resistance test for Neisseria gonorrhoea and Mycoplasma genitalium infection – ensuring accurate therapy and antibiotic stewardship in sexual health medicine.

Home BP – Blood Pressure monitoring

PrEP IMPACT – A pragmatic health technology assessment of PrEP implementation.