PICSTAR

Paediatric Critical Care Society Trainee Audit and Research Network

Mission Statement

PICSTAR Network is the trainee-led arm of PCCS-SG. It aims to connect early career researchers and those with a research interest or idea within the Paediatric Critical Care MDT - including Medical, Nursing, AHP and student members - to educational and mentorship resources to facilitate high quality research. It supports the work of PCCS-SG and undertakes its own independent research projects with support and guidance from experienced researchers within the PCCS-SG network. 

Current Network

We currently have active representation across 19 Paediatric Intensive Care Units and 7 Paediatric Critical Care Transport teams. Out aim is to develop a long lasting network of early career researchers across the UK and provide opportunities for collaborative involvement in audit, quality improvement and research alongside experienced researchers. 

We have a central national committee which manages network membership, activity and governance, and aim to have a unit representative from the medical, nursing and AHP teams. The role of the unit representatives is to act as a liaison with the national committee and support the connection of those in local units with project opportunities advertised, as well as the dissemination of surveys and publications. 

  • PICSTAR National Project Proposal Competition

    Are you a Non-Consultant Medic / Nurse / AHP within a PICU / HDU / Retrieval Service? 

    Do you have an idea for a national multicentre audit or service evaluation that could help shape Paediatric Critical Care Practice within the UK? 

    Submit your project proposal to compete for the chance to present it to the PICSTAR panel at the PCCS Conference in London in October 2026 - the winning presenter will then receive support from PICSTAR to deliver their national project and present the project in full at PCCS 2027. 

    • Outline your project proposal via the PCCS 2026 Abstracts Portal by 31.05.2026

    • PICSTAR Committee will review all applications and shortlist three finalists to present their proposal to a panel at PCCS 2026 

    • The winning project will be delivered supported by PICSTAR, and the winner will be invited to present their final work at an oral presentation slot at PCCS 2027. 

    Full project guidance: 

    https://cloud-1de12d.becdn.net/customfile/212661f4420cd03e60d91a1a9ca546f930f7bacb793643f5ad4792d95386babd/PCCS-Abstracts-and-Proposals-Guidance-02042026.pdf

    PCCS 2026 Abstracts Portal: 

    https://www.pccslondon2026.co.uk/abstracts

    PICSTAR @ DFTB

    We have been invited to take the stage hosting a research skills workshop at the Don’t Forget the Bubbles international Conference in Glasgow in June. Our session - Know your Platforms from your Wedges; current trends in trial design - will focus on the basics of understanding innovative trial design and an introduction to utilising some of the many critical appraisal tools out there for evaluating publications. 

  • TRIC-Block

    PICSTAR has been collaborating with the TRIC (Trainee Research in Intensive Care) network in the adult ICM world to deliver a national service evaluation project investigating the use of continuous neuromuscular blockade in both adult and paediatric intensive care units across the UK. This project is now in its data analysis phase and has involved data collection from a number of PICUs by members of the PICSTAR network, with the inclusion of over 240 paediatric patients. 

    PIC-Block

    PICSTAR-led national service evaluation project following on from TRIC-Block exploring the use of neuromuscular blockade during paediatric critical care transfers. This work is being supported by the PCCS Acute Transport Group and is awaiting final protocol approval. 

    Complex Critical Illness

    PICSTAR members are supporting the PCCS Complex Critical Illness Special Interest Group with the promotion and distribution of a survey evaluating unit practice caring for children with Complex Critical Illness. Our members will also be involved in the publication of the results of this work. 

    High Dependency Care for Congenital Heart Disease Patients

    PICSTAR members are supporting a project exploring the delivery of Level 1 and 2 critical care to patients with Congenital Heart Disease. These members were selected via a competitive application process from across the UK, via a PICSTAR project opportunity call.

  • Coming soon.....

    RIBits is an educational blog series focusing on the fundamentals for those new to research, aiming to build a bank of resources from the various projects we get involved with. 

    If you would like to suggest a topic, or write a blog yourself, please get in touch with the PICSTAR team via our email: picstar.network@gmail.com

  • ‍PICSTAR holds a writing partnership with Don’t Forget the Bubbles - the internationally renowned Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAMed) platform, and publishes key articles focusing on aspects of paediatric emergency medicine and critical care. 

    We have a network of writers, and can offer the opportunity to contribute peer-reviewed articles on a range of topics. If you are interested in writing with us, please email picstar.dftb@gmail.com

  • Join our network to be the first to hear of new calls for opportunities to be involved in national audit, service evaluation and research projects. 

    https://forms.gle/K7kZio1PoZUdJMWa7 

    If you have a proposal for a project that you think that PICSTAR could support - either with design and development, or delivery - please complete a Project Proposal Form using the link below, and this will be reviewed at an upcoming committee meeting

    https://forms.gle/a6nhyedVpfcGy1ba7 

    If you are interested in becoming a PICSTAR Network Link, please complete the following form. Our goal is to have a Consultant, Medical and Nursing/AHP Link for each PICU in the UK, and we hope to look to expand the network to encompass our High Dependency Units across the coming year. 

    https://forms.gle/R1M8eZR2oYvNiLxn7

Committee 2025-2027

Our committee is made up of a diverse group of enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about utilising audit, QI and research to contribute to developments in Paediatric Critical Care. 

We aim to represent the whole of the MDT, with Grid and non-Grid trainees, Nursing, AHP and Academic representation throughout the committee. We hope in future to expand our reach to include our HDU colleagues and continue to strengthen the network!