RADAR-CNS duo brings research to the people at EU-wide science event

Dr Sara Siddi and Federica Lombardini spoke about the goals and successes of RADAR-CNS in two presentations, as part of Researchers’ Night 2019. The EU-funded event is designed to bring researchers closer to the public, showcase the diversity of research and highlight its impact on our daily lives.

Siddi is a post-doctoral researcher and work coordinator of the RADAR-CNS clinical study in major depressive disorder in Spain. Lombardini is a predoctoral researcher working on recruitment to the study. Both are based at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu near Barcelona, as part of the research centre CIBER.

Siddi gave a presentation in the Historic Building of the University of Barcelona on Friday (27 September). Siddi and Lombardini both spoke in the Sagrada Família-Josep M. Ainaud de Lasarte Public Library the following day.

Siddi said: “At RADAR-CNS, we know that effective healthcare innovation must involve real collaboration with the public. It cannot be something removed from reality, done by isolated scientists hidden away in laboratories. We were therefore delighted to have this opportunity to tell more people about the project.

“I hope that this year’s activities in Barcelona and across Europe have helped to inspire people to study science and to work and participate in research.”

Events for the Nit Europea de la Recerca a Catalunya took place in five cities in Catalonia last week.

Researchers’ Night is overseen by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), a European Commission programme supporting research. According to MSCA, more than 1.5m people attended Researchers’ Night events in 2018.