Preventing harm: turning insight into impact | Research conference 18 November 2025

In person at Coin Street Conference Centre, 108 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH

Provisional timing: 10.00-16.00

The PSA is holding a research conference in partnership with Professor Roberta Fida, Aston Business School, Aston University, and Professor Rosalind Searle, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow.

The theme of the event will be Preventing harm: turning insight into impact. In an evolving health and care landscape there is an increasing recognition of the need to shift from reactive to preventative approaches in regulation. This conference seeks to contribute to that shift by harnessing insights from research to inform policy and practice. The event is for researchers, policy professionals, regulators, register holders, educators, healthcare leaders and anyone interested in improving regulation and registration for patient safety, public protection and public confidence, and how that can be achieved through research.

This collaborative event aims to bridge academic research with regulatory and policy practice to co-produce actionable knowledge. The event will help shape future research agendas, foster collaborations, and inform strategies for embedding prevention across regulatory practice. It will be complementary to the PSA’s current work on refocusing regulation which seeks to articulate what it means to shift the focus more towards preventative approaches, to create conditions in which care is safer and better, and harm less likely to occur.

We are inviting submissions to speak at the conference linked to the theme. This could include: 

1. Research relating to the preventative impact or potential of any regulatory function or process, and how it can be enhanced or amplified; to include standards and guidance, fitness to practise, quality assurance of higher education and registration; or to the benefits of prevention
2. Research which strengthens the evidence base for this shift of focus, such as on the costs and impact of fitness to practise processes, or the benefits of prevention
3. Research demonstrating how collaborative enterprises with stakeholders can successfully address risks of harm.

We would be particularly interested in proposals relating to the use and analysis of data, and new technologies including artificial intelligence; and proposals which show how the application of insights from research can effect positive change in the effectiveness of regulation. 

However, proposals to speak can interpret the theme broadly. Proposals can focus on completed research, research that is in progress, or proposed research focused on addressing gaps in knowledge.

 Please send proposals by email to Douglas Bilton at douglas.bilton@professionalstandards.org.uk by 10.00am on 1 August 2025. Provide a short description of the proposed content and how long a speaking slot you would need.  We would be delighted to receive proposals in thematically linked groups either from a single organisation or a group of stakeholders.

 If you would be interested in attending the conference without a speaking spot, please email engagement@professionalstandards.org.uk