A North Shields care home has won up to £9,000 in funding to run cutting edge research projects over the next two years.

Clare Leonard, manager at Larchwood Care’s Appleby Care Home, has won a National Institute for Health and Care Research Award, which is part of the Greenshoots Principal Investigator Scheme.

Following the award, the home can now fund team members to take part in innovative trials including the installation of air filtration systems in care homes, helping to shape future developments in infection control.

Leonard said: “I’m very excited to work with members of the Appleby team on a wide range of research projects.

“The extra funding will see an increase in clinical training our colleagues and will put Appleby on the map for its leading research projects.

“We are particularly keen to recruit nurses and develop their skills and knowledge.”

NIHR Clinical Research Network Northeast and North Cumbria runs the scheme, which is open to all care professionals who work within the region.

On completion of the two-year programme, successful applicants will receive a certificate confirming their Greenshoots training completion.