‘ Incredible’ uni work in focus
A CITY university’s “incredible” work in helping patients with challenging health conditions will be showcased at a special event next week.
The seminar, organised by Glasgow Caledonian University’s Research Centre for Health ( ReaCH), aims to highlight the importance of partnership working in “turning research into action”.
Scotland’s public health minister Jenni Minto, who has recorded a powerful message for the event on April 23, has praised the university’s “breadth of research and its impact”.
She will highlight the university’s prevention work on HIV, diabetic foot ulceration, alcohol and drug addiction and stroke rehabilitation, and its “clear commitment to collaboration and partnership working”, which is aiming to help people in Scotland live longer and healthier lives.
Ms Minto added: “I am always heartened when I hear about the research being done in Scottish universities and the highly collaborative approaches that are often being taken to work
in multi- disciplinary ways and across organisations and sectors.
“The Research Centre for Health at Glasgow Caledonian University is a fantastic example of this.”
She added: “I’m impressed by the breadth of the research
activities at ReaCH and their clear commitment to collaboration and partnership working. I know they are working with a wide range of organisations, and with diverse groups of patients and the public to address some difficult health
challenges.”
Other key speakers at the event include Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems director Elinor Jayne, and Patient and Public Involvement representative Caroline Sincock, who lives with multiple sclerosis.
The event will be opened by Professor Steve Decent, principal and vice- chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Professor Decent said: “Our researchers work closely with the public, people with lived experience of health conditions, the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, NHS Scotland and many charities.
“The most important research questions are co- created with our partners, as they know best what matters most to the members of the communities they serve. What makes GCU different from many other universities is that we bake impact into our research projects right from the start.”
ReaCH co- directors professors Frederike van Wijck and Carol Emslie said it was “so important” to have the voices of their key partners highlighting the “amazing collaborative work that goes on at ReaCH”.