Damian Roland

Professor Damian Roland is an Honorary Professor and Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, with a strong focus on improving care for ill and injured children. He serves as clinical lead for the RCPCH, RCN and NHS England National PEWS Programme, and has significant leadership experience including past membership on the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Council and NHS England's Children and Young Persons Health Outcomes Forum.

Education:

• PhD, University of Leicester (2010-2013)
• BMedSci, BMBS, University of Nottingham (1996-2001)

Professor Roland's research focuses on the development and evaluation of educational resources and e-health technologies in pediatric emergency medicine. He is particularly interested in creating and evaluating interventions that improve the recognition of ill and injured children in emergency and acute care settings. His work spans digital health solutions, clinical decision support tools, and patient safety initiatives, with a special emphasis on knowledge translation through social media (FOAMed). He has considerable experience developing assessment tools like the Paediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS) and educational resources such as "Spotting the Sick Child."

His recent publication trends show a strong focus on respiratory conditions in children (particularly bronchiolitis, asthma, and RSV), diagnostic tools and scoring systems, and the application of digital health technologies in pediatric emergency care. There's also a notable emphasis on global research collaborations through networks like Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN) and International Networks for Pediatric Inpatient Research and Excellence (INSPIRE), with studies spanning multiple countries and healthcare systems.

Scientific Awards:

• Two NICE Shared Learning awards (2011 and 2014)
• Shortlisted for two healthcare technology awards (for POPS)
• Shortlisted for a patient safety award (for POPS)
• Won patient safety award for "Spotting the Sick Child" educational website

Professor Roland has secured substantial research funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), including multiple grants as Principal Investigator. His current projects include studies on bacterial meningitis in babies (BOBBi), acute severe asthma treatments, urine sampling techniques, and respiratory support for infants with bronchiolitis (BACHb). He has previously led projects such as FORCE (a trial on forearm fracture recovery in children), BeArH (factors affecting hospitalization timing), and PUMA (PEWS utilization and mortality avoidance). His work demonstrates a consistent focus on improving pediatric emergency care through evidence-based interventions and innovative assessment tools.

As an inaugural NICE Shared Learning award Scholar and active participant in national and international pediatric emergency medicine networks, Professor Roland plays a significant role in shaping clinical practice guidelines and educational resources. His work with the National PEWS Programme indicates leadership in implementing early warning systems across the UK healthcare system.