Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre recognised by Research England for international collaboration

The Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre has received funding from Research England for innovative collaboration with University of Technology Sydney

Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre at Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull is one of eight partnerships to receive funding from Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation as part of their new International Investment Initiative.  As part of the initiative the Centre will receive £403,510 to boost their international collaboration with the Centre for Improving Palliation and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT) group in the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.

The world population is ageing and, with the growth of multi-morbidities, UK deaths are expected to increase by 40% by 2040. New models of care and treatments are urgently needed to improve quality of life for the significantly increased numbers of people living with life-limiting illnesses. Yet research activity remains extremely limited and neglected, with a severe lack of critical mass of academics and research centres to build the palliative care evidence base.

Since the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre was established it has worked with regional national and international partners to conduct research and provide education and information relevant to the needs of people living with and dying from serious illness, their families and communities. From under researched symptoms and problems, to better methods for assessing and monitoring symptoms, and reducing inequalities in terms of access to care, their work is making a real difference to the patient with advanced disease and their families and communities.

Professor Miriam Johnson, Director of the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre believes the investment will help build capacity for UK and global palliative care research base. She says, 'when the Wolfson Collaborative Research Centre was established we were keen to involve partners from across the globe to develop and facilitate palliative care research. This funding will enable us to increase the extent and scale of our collaboration with IMPACCT through joint research that will contribute to the UKs Grand Challenge of meeting the social and healthcare needs of a rapidly ageing population.'

The Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre brings together patients and families, health and social care professionals and researchers to find and help deliver the best palliative care services and treatments. The Centre works in partnership with a range of regional, national and international partners and has an established collaboration with the IMPACCT group.  It is this collaborative approach to research and dissemination which was recognised by Research England.

Professor Jane Phillips, Director of IMPACCT, UTS Sydney stated that 'International collaborations like the one being forged as part of the i3funding are critical to building the next generation of international palliative care researchers and to creating teams with the capability of tackling the grand challenge of ensuring everyone with palliative care needs has access to the services and supports they need to live the best life possible.

'Investment in the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre will enable the development of an academic exchange programme and will enable the sharing of knowledge between the partners and facilitate future collaboration, benefitting patients and their carers.'

Research England worked with Universities UK International (UUKi) in the delivery of I3 scheme, which supports existing, strategically-significant and excellent partnerships. UUKi advised on the development of the fund and provided advice and support to the assessment and panel process.

Research England’s Director of Research, Steven Hill, said:

'Research England’s mission is to create and sustain the conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and knowledge exchange system in English universities.

'One way Research England seeks to accomplish this mission is by providing performance-based, institution-focused funding to deliver excellent research and high-performance knowledge exchange, unlocking potential, generating economic and social impact, and meeting national priorities and global challenges.

'Global collaboration is an increasingly important factor in research and innovation success, supporting access to talent, resources and markets that are not available nationally, and the I3 scheme is one of a range of existing and new policy measures that support Research England in achieving this goal.'

This exchange programme will run for five years, starting in August 2019.