We are delighted to announce The Academy of Medical Sciences’ Cross-Sector Programme to promote health innovation continues to grow, with the launch of a new networking hub in Northern Ireland to join one already set up in Wales, with HIRANI as the hub host for NI.
“HIRANI is delighted to be working in partnership with The Academy of Medical Sciences on this life sciences, cross sector programme that will provide meaningful opportunities to connect researchers, across career stages, from academia, industry, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland and local policy makers.” said HIRANI Chief Operations Manager, Dr. Siobhan McGrath who will be the hub lead.
Throughout 2024 and into 2025, HIRANI will host a series of workshops focusing on three key areas: Clinical Research Translation in metabolic disease; Data driven innovation for real world impact and Technologies in mental health.
“Our aims are to facilitate conversations to expose new and diverse perspectives in Northern Ireland on ‘real-world’ challenges which impact health equity, and health outcomes, and building through access to funding programmes and partnership with The Academy of Medical Sciences expertise, strong consortia who can find solutions to upskill the workforce to translate medical breakthroughs,” said Dr McGrath.
The first event will take place in December 2024 and further details will be published on the HIRANI website www.hira-ni.com, where you can also sign up for our weekly newsletter, and across the HIRANI social channels.
The Cross-Sector Programme brings together participants through networking hub events, to collaborate and develop ideas on how to deal with health challenges.
Dr Rachel Macdonald, Head of Programmes at the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “With partner hubs in Northern Ireland and Wales, we look forward to developing thriving networks of people, organisations and community groups interested in medical research from across the UK, centrally connected through the Academy and with each other.”
In addition to the programme, the Academy’s Cross-Sector Experience Awards scheme provides the opportunity for people to gain experience, develop news skills and build collaborations outside of their own sector. It does this by funding up to £100,000 for people whose work has a clear link to the improvement of human health to work in a different sector for up to a year.
Launched in November 2023, the awards aim to help break down barriers and address a lack of movement between sectors, with applications for the next round due to open in November 2024. They are supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and Wellcome.
