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Miss Martina Svobodova
(she/her)
Teams and roles for Martina Svobodova
Research Associate / Trial Manager
Overview
I am a Research Associate at Cardiff University’s Centre for Trials Research with over a decade of experience in applied health research, specialising in the setup and management of Phase II and III multicentre clinical trials. I have led and supported a range of national and multinational studies, including ESTEEM, CORINTH, PEARL, and ROCS, across diverse areas of healthcare. My research interests focus on inclusive and ethical trial methodology, particularly in improving how trials engage with underserved communities and communicate study information.
I currently lead Talking Trials, a UKRI and Wellcome Trust-funded public involvement project exploring perceptions of clinical trials among communities from minority ethnic and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. This work aims to build trust in research through co-production and culturally grounded engagement approaches. The project has received national recognition, with commendations at the Health and Care Research Wales Public Involvement Awards in 2021 and 2023.
Alongside this, I collaborate on methodological studies such as CONSULT and OPTIMISE which focus on improving the quality and accessibility of participant information materials, particularly for people with impaired capacity to consent.
My work brings together principles from implementation science, qualitative research, public involvement, and creative methods to make trials more inclusive and participant-centred.
I chair the Centre for Trials Reseach Equality and Diversity committee and contribute to the CTR Public Involvement and Engagement Hub. I also serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees at South Riverside Community Development Centre (SRCDC), a community-led organisation supporting racially and ethnically minoritised groups in South Wales.
Earlier in my career, I was involved in the delivery of the Bipolar Education Programme Cymru (BEPC), a co-produced psychoeducation intervention developed in collaboration with mental health service users and carers.
Publication
2025
- Howick, J. et al. 2025. Variation in the extent to which patient information leaflets describe potential benefits and harms of trial interventions: a commentary. Trials 26(1), article number: 132. (10.1186/s13063-025-08824-8)
2024
- Svobodova, M. et al. 2024. Patient and public involvement in the design and protocol development for a platform randomised trial to evaluate diagnostic tests to optimise antimicrobial therapy (PROTECT). NIHR Open Research 4, article number: 52. (10.3310/nihropenres.13591.1)
2023
- Jacob, N. et al. 2023. Co-production of guidance and resources to implement principled participant information leaflets (PrinciPILs) [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. NIHR Open Research 3 (10.3310/nihropenres.13423.1)
- Bridges, S. et al. 2023. Talking Trials: An arts‐based exploration of attitudes to clinical trials amongst minority ethnic members of the South Riverside Community of Cardiff. Health Expectations 26(3), pp. 1236-1245. (10.1111/hex.13740)
2022
- Svobodova, M. et al. 2022. Developing principles for sharing information about potential trial intervention benefits and harms with patients: report of a modified Delphi survey. Trials 23, article number: 863. (10.1186/s13063-022-06780-1)
2021
- Svobodova, M. et al. 2021. Developing core principles for sharing Information about potential intervention benefits and harms in patient information leaflets using a modified Delphi Survey. [Online]. OSF Preprints: OSF. (10.31219/osf.io/upnf4) Available at: https://osf.io/upnf4/
- Adamson, D. et al. 2021. Palliative radiotherapy after oesophageal cancer stenting (ROCS): a multicentre, open-label, phase 3 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology 6(4), pp. 292-303. (10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00004-2)
2018
- Sivarajasingam, V., Read, S., Svobodova, M., Wight, L. and Shepherd, J. 2018. Injury resulting from targeted violence: An emergency department perspective. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health 28(3), pp. 295-308. (10.1002/cbm.2066)
2017
- Svobodova, M., Nixon, L. S., Blazeby, J., Byrne, A. and Adamson, D. 2017. Optimising trial recruitment with well-designed screening log: experiences from the ROCS study [Abstract]. Trials 18(S1), pp. 93-94. (10.1186/s13063-017-1902-y)
2015
- Amor, J. D., Svobodova, M., Jones, I. and James, C. J. 2015. Quantifying bipolar disorder for technology-assisted self-management. Presented at: World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Toronto, ON, Canada, 7-12 June 2015 Presented at Jaffray, D. A. ed.World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, June 7-12, 2015, Toronto, Canada. IFMBE Proceedings, Vol. 51. Springer pp. 1397-1400., (10.1007/978-3-319-19387-8_340)
2013
- Tredget, J. and Svobodova, M. 2013. Group psycho-education for bipolar disorder. Nursing Times 109(5), pp. 21-23.
2010
- Sivarajasingam, V., Read, S. M., Svobodova, M., Wight, L. and Shepherd, J. P. 2010. Hate violence: emergency department perspective [Abstract]. Injury Prevention 16(Supp.1), pp. A151-A152. (10.1136/ip.2010.029215.543)
Cynadleddau
- Amor, J. D., Svobodova, M., Jones, I. and James, C. J. 2015. Quantifying bipolar disorder for technology-assisted self-management. Presented at: World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Toronto, ON, Canada, 7-12 June 2015 Presented at Jaffray, D. A. ed.World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, June 7-12, 2015, Toronto, Canada. IFMBE Proceedings, Vol. 51. Springer pp. 1397-1400., (10.1007/978-3-319-19387-8_340)
Erthyglau
- Howick, J. et al. 2025. Variation in the extent to which patient information leaflets describe potential benefits and harms of trial interventions: a commentary. Trials 26(1), article number: 132. (10.1186/s13063-025-08824-8)
- Svobodova, M. et al. 2024. Patient and public involvement in the design and protocol development for a platform randomised trial to evaluate diagnostic tests to optimise antimicrobial therapy (PROTECT). NIHR Open Research 4, article number: 52. (10.3310/nihropenres.13591.1)
- Jacob, N. et al. 2023. Co-production of guidance and resources to implement principled participant information leaflets (PrinciPILs) [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. NIHR Open Research 3 (10.3310/nihropenres.13423.1)
- Bridges, S. et al. 2023. Talking Trials: An arts‐based exploration of attitudes to clinical trials amongst minority ethnic members of the South Riverside Community of Cardiff. Health Expectations 26(3), pp. 1236-1245. (10.1111/hex.13740)
- Svobodova, M. et al. 2022. Developing principles for sharing information about potential trial intervention benefits and harms with patients: report of a modified Delphi survey. Trials 23, article number: 863. (10.1186/s13063-022-06780-1)
- Adamson, D. et al. 2021. Palliative radiotherapy after oesophageal cancer stenting (ROCS): a multicentre, open-label, phase 3 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology 6(4), pp. 292-303. (10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00004-2)
- Sivarajasingam, V., Read, S., Svobodova, M., Wight, L. and Shepherd, J. 2018. Injury resulting from targeted violence: An emergency department perspective. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health 28(3), pp. 295-308. (10.1002/cbm.2066)
- Svobodova, M., Nixon, L. S., Blazeby, J., Byrne, A. and Adamson, D. 2017. Optimising trial recruitment with well-designed screening log: experiences from the ROCS study [Abstract]. Trials 18(S1), pp. 93-94. (10.1186/s13063-017-1902-y)
- Tredget, J. and Svobodova, M. 2013. Group psycho-education for bipolar disorder. Nursing Times 109(5), pp. 21-23.
- Sivarajasingam, V., Read, S. M., Svobodova, M., Wight, L. and Shepherd, J. P. 2010. Hate violence: emergency department perspective [Abstract]. Injury Prevention 16(Supp.1), pp. A151-A152. (10.1136/ip.2010.029215.543)
Gwefannau
- Svobodova, M. et al. 2021. Developing core principles for sharing Information about potential intervention benefits and harms in patient information leaflets using a modified Delphi Survey. [Online]. OSF Preprints: OSF. (10.31219/osf.io/upnf4) Available at: https://osf.io/upnf4/
Research
My main research interest is addressing the ethical and methodological challenges around the inclusion of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in research. I currently lead on the Talking Trials project exploring how people from diverse ethnic communities can influence health research. Please get in touch if you wish to collaborate.
Research Grants:
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· Let’s Talk Research: Participatory Approaches in the South Wales Valleys (Principal Investigator, £15k, CU Civic Mission Fund) · Training and Capacity Building Programme: Empowering Marginalised Community Members to Become Research Ambassadors and/or Lay-researchers (Co-applicant, £6000, Welsh Crucible) · OPTIMISE: Inclusive Participant Information for Lower Literacy Groups (Co-applicant, £30,000, MRC Impact Accelerator Account) · CONSULT: Co-producing Informed Consent Materials for People with Dementia (Co-applicant, £30,000, MRC Impact Accelerator Account) · LINC project (LGBTQ+ workshop) (Lead Co-applicant, £2548, HEFCW Research Culture Fund) · School Health Research Network Dashboard Project – Mental Health Data Prize Winner (Co-applicant, £137,000, Wellcome Trust/Health Foundation) · How is pain assessed in the Emergency Department? A focus group study exploring insights from patients (Co-applicant, £9,729.43, Collaborative Innovation Fund 8 (University of Reading/Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust) · Talking Trials: Participatory Approaches to Creating Community Dialogue (Principal Investigator, £59,880, Rethinking Public Dialogue: A UKRI Experimentation Fund) · Talking Trials: Public Involvement in Underserved Communities (Principal Investigator, £9,950, Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Fund)
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Clinical Trial Management Experience
You have extensive experience managing national and multinational phase II and phase III clinical trials, including both NIHR-funded and industry-sponsored studies:
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ESTEEM Trial (Current)
NIHR HTA-funded
Evaluating testosterone therapy for menopausal symptoms in women, addressing a critical evidence gap in women’s health. Responsible for trial delivery across multiple UK sites including site set-up, stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance. -
ROCS Trial
NIHR HTA-funded
Large-scale, multicentre RCT evaluating palliative radiotherapy following oesophageal cancer stenting. Published in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. -
CORINTH Trial
MSD-funded early-phase trial
Phase Ib/II trial of checkpoint inhibitors combined with standard radiotherapy for HPV-induced anal cancer. Managed trial delivery including coordination with pharmaceutical partners. -
PEARL Trial
Multicentre feasibility trial
PET-adaptive radiotherapy for locally advanced HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Involved in site liaison, recruitment strategy, and reporting.
Biography
Education
2003: Master of Arts (Social Anthropology), University of West Bohemia, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, The Czech Republic
2001: BA (Social Anthropology), University of West Bohemia, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, The Czech Republic
Career overview
2015 - present: Trial Manager/Research Associate, Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University
2011 - 2015: Bipolar Education Programme Cymru Project Coordinator, Cardiff University
2010 - 2011: Beacon for Wales Programme Officer, Cardiff University
2009 - 2010: Reseach Assistant (Applied Clinical Research and Public Health), Cardiff University
2007 - 2009 Volunteering Project Manager, BAWSO Women's Aid, Cardiff
Honours and awards
The Talking Trials project was received High commendation in the Health and Care Research Wales Awards of 2021 (Public Involvement Award).
Innnovation in Health Care Award for the Bipolar Education Programme Cymru at the 6th Annual British Medical Journal Awards 2014 (as a member of the Bipolar Education Programme team)
Engagement
Engagement is at the heart of my research practice, particularly in fostering meaningful dialogue between health researchers and communities traditionally underrepresented in research. I lead the Talking Trials programme, a multi-phase initiative that uses participatory and arts-based methods to build trust, improve research literacy, and co-produce guidance with women from ethnically diverse and socioeconomically marginalised communities. This work has received commendation at the Health and Care Research Wales Awards (2021, 2023) and led to a Civic Mission-funded expansion into the South Wales Valleys, where I have established a second advisory group grounded in local lived experience.
My engagement approach centres on co-production, sustained relationship-building, and creative facilitation. I have developed accessible and culturally sensitive tools that support inclusive research participation. I have also collaborated with public contributors as equal partners in project governance, analysis, and dissemination across methodological studies such as CONSULT, OPTIMISE, and PrinciPIL.
As Chair of the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) EDI Committee, I lead institutional conversations around inclusion and equitable research practice, and regularly advise on engagement strategies for research bids and delivery. I represent CTR on the South West Research Hub, where I helped establish and shape a cross-institutional network that hosts annual events sharing best practice around clinical trials, trials methodology and public involvement.
My commitment to inclusive engagement extends beyond academia. As Chair of the Board of Trustees at the South Riverside Community Development Centre (SRCDC), I help steer the work of a long-standing organisation aiming to tackle poverty in South Wales. Through this and other partnerships, I aim to bridge structural gaps between research and real-world health experience—ensuring engagement is reciprocal, respectful, and capable of catalysing systemic change.
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- public involvement
- inclusive research
- Women’s Health
- trial methodolody
- Ethnically Diverse Communities