A new networking hub designed to bring together academia, industry, the third sector and NHS staff working across life sciences, and help researchers move between the different sectors, has been set up for Scotland.

The Cross-Sector Networking Hub will be hosted by NHS Research Scotland and led by the Chief Scientist for Health at the Scottish government, Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak.

In addition to networking events, access to funding schemes, leadership programmes and support for cross-sector working, the Scotland Hub will aim to enhance the way collaboration is done across life sciences and encourage new and diverse perspectives to solve real world challenges in health innovation.

Dr Rachel Macdonald, Head of Programmes at The Academy of Medical Sciences, said the organisation is “delighted” to have launched the Hub as part of its Cross-Sector Programme, which is designed to facilitate collaboration across the UK:

“This contributes to our goal of providing a truly inclusive, UK-wide network, and maximising opportunities for skills development and fruitful collaborative interactions across the whole country. I look forward to working with the Scotland Hub team on an exciting range of events and supporting inter-Hub working.”   

The Cross-Sector Programme was first launched by the Academy in 2022. It aims to bridge the gap in understanding of working across sectors and tackle the barriers that make it difficult for life sciences researchers to move between industry, NHS and academia.

The launch of the Scotland Hub follows the successful launch of similar Hubs in Wales and Northern Ireland.

The devolved network will soon enable collaborative events, bringing together like-minded colleagues from across the country to collaborate on common healthcare challenges.

Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak said:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Academy of Medical Sciences. Connectivity across the sector is vital, and the Scotland Cross-Sector Hub will add significant value to our continued efforts to develop, drive and deliver health innovation.

“We are fortunate to have fantastic talent here in Scotland, but we must continue to support and encourage researchers, health professionals, regulators, policymakers, patients and the public to work together to solve the major challenges facing healthcare.

“The Scotland Hub will be a key facilitator in this – providing stakeholders across Scotland with a focal point to come together and interact, expand their networks and engage with communities of like-minded individuals.”

The Hub’s first events on entrepreneurship and life sciences industry, development and innovation, precision medicine in Scotland and data and digital approaches to enhance clinical research are planned from early 2025. 

 

Read more: Kidney disease focus of new research partnership; Chief Scientist calls for more research volunteers

 

 

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.