The Council of Deans of Health is keen to explore and showcase examples of effective collaboration between universities and healthcare organisations that drive innovation and knowledge exchange across the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions. 

We are looking to better understand what types of collaboration are taking place, what successful collaborations look like, and what is needed to further support collaboration. Better understanding about this work will help to demonstrate the additional value of our sector to the UK economy beyond the key roles we play in facilitating health research and in preparing the healthcare workforce. 

Our first Research Month 2025 case study features The Research Capacity and Capability Project.

Who is collaborating on this project?

This project is a collaboration between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Brookes University.

Benita Olivier, Professor of Rehabilitation and clinical-academic at Oxford Brookes University and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, is leading this project with several staff members from both institutions. 

What is the project?

The Research Capacity and Capability Project aims to determine the research interest, engagement, capacity and capability of nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists and psychologists (NMAHPPs) and wider healthcare staff at the individual level and the readiness for research at an organisational level.

What is the purpose and impact of this collaboration?

This collaboration aims to enhance research capacity and capability within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. It highlights key learning points, such as the importance of identifying the problem by the trust or industry partner, with the university supporting through mutually beneficial collaboration. Involving a diverse range of healthcare professionals and partners also enhances the relevance and applicability of the research.

What are the next steps?

The team plans to share the research strategies they developed so that other NHS Trusts can use them too, as well as conduct regular assessments of research capacity and capability to inform continuous improvement.

They are also conducting new studies to explore research interests and skills among NMAHPPs and wider healthcare staff, including a project on barriers and enablers of university-trust collaborations.