Researchers from the Nuffield Division of Main Care Well being Sciences (NDPCHS) and the Division of Psychiatry got here collectively final week for a collaborative showcase, held at St Hilda’s Faculty.
The purpose of the occasion was to spark new concepts for collaborative research by connecting colleagues from throughout each departments and figuring out areas of shared curiosity and potential.
The half-day showcase introduced collectively researchers from all ranges throughout each departments, in addition to analysis administration colleagues, for structured discussions utilizing a ‘world café’ format. Attendees moved between themed dialogue tables on matters together with:
Facilitators launched every theme and led transient, structured conversations. These had been designed to assist colleagues trade concepts, study one another’s work, and discover how combining their experience may result in new analysis proposals.
‘There’s a lot potential in connecting major care and psychological well being analysis, however we regularly don’t have the time or house to discover that. This occasion created a actually productive surroundings for these conversations to occur, and helped floor shared pursuits and alternatives throughout disciplines.’
Professor Kam Bhui, Professor of Psychiatry who additionally led the occasion, added:
‘This showcase was about extra than simply networking – it was about recognising that most of the advanced issues we work on can’t be solved in isolation. Bringing collectively our complementary abilities and data opens up thrilling alternatives to co-create revolutionary options for higher affected person care, public well being, and tackling well being inequalities.’
In closing remarks, Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh, Head of Division at NDPCHS, emphasised that this occasion was the place to begin for longer-term collaboration between the departments. ‘We’ve begun to construct new relationships and stimulate early-stage concepts,” he mentioned. “Our alternative now could be to assume extra structurally about how we will help these conversations to develop – for instance by early-stage grant help, joint appointments, and follow-on extra centered occasions that construct on right now’s wonderful discussions’
Professor Belinda Lennox, Head of the Division of Psychiatry, mentioned:
‘It was a pleasure to be a part of this profitable occasion, and witness researchers from each departments taking the chance to satisfy, share concepts and talk about their work. We hope this occasion will enhance collaboration between groups in Psychiatry and Main Well being sooner or later, in order that we will work collectively to search out options for a number of the most urgent mind and psychological well being challenges.’
With networking drinks on the river garden and lunch on the rooftop overlooking the Oxford skyline, there was time not just for analysis discussions, however for brand spanking new connections to kind.
