The Shelford Group and the Academy of Medical Sciences (the Academy) have today announced a new partnership to strengthen research careers and accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into patient benefit across the NHS.
Over an initial five-year period, the two organisations will work together on shared priorities, starting with reversing the decline in clinical academic posts, developing practical tools to support research careers, and supporting the Academy’s new Translational Catalyst Programme to speed up the route from bench to bedside.
The partnership brings together the Academy’s policy expertise and convening power with the Shelford Group’s clinical scale and institutional reach to deliver a shared ambition – an NHS that both draws more effectively on UK science and contributes more actively to it.
In its first year, the partnership will focus on strengthening research careers for clinical academics and other medical scientists. The Academy and the Shelford Group will work together to establish a clearer picture of the clinical academic workforce across Shelford trusts and identify practical opportunities to improve recruitment, retention and career progression.
This will include developing tools to help Shelford trusts strengthen their clinical academic pipelines and looking at areas such as protected research time, recognition and support for research careers.
Shelford trusts will also play an active role in the Academy’s Translational Catalyst Programme, providing practical NHS insight to help identify and overcome barriers that can slow the journey from scientific discovery to patient care. This could include reducing administrative barriers and duplication across NHS organisations and exploring opportunities for greater shared assurance.
Jonathan Brotherton, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the Shelford Group, said:
“Our new partnership with the Academy of Medical Sciences will see us work together to create an environment in which research can thrive across the NHS and, ultimately, deliver greater benefits for patients.
“Research is fundamental to improving patient care, but we know there are significant challenges in ensuring clinicians have the time, opportunities and support they need to purse research careers. By bringing together the expertise and influence of the Academy with the scale, clinical leadership and research capability of our Shelford Group Trusts, we have a real opportunity to tackle some of these barriers and help strengthen the pathway from scientific discovery to improvements in care.”
Rosalind Campion, CEO, Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “The NHS does its best work when it is an active partner in research and discovery, and clinical academics are the people who make this happen. Over the next five years, the Academy will be working with the Shelford Group to make research careers in the NHS more attractive and flexible, and to shorten the route from a promising discovery to a patient who benefits from it. Together we can show what good looks like locally and help spread it across the system.”
The partnership will run for an initial five years, with priorities agreed annually and progress reviewed regularly.