UCLPartners new strategy will deliver large-scale change through life-changing innovation 

 Over the next five years, our partnership will work alongside patients and communities to tackle a core set of health and healthcare system challenges, seeking to identify, implement and evaluate innovations that reduce health inequalities and have life-changing impact.  

These challenges of cardiovascular health, adolescent mental health, cancer detection, vision, respiratory health, dementia, climate and healthcare system design are not unique to the five million people living across our region, stretching from North London to the Essex coast. Indeed, the devastating impact these challenges have is felt across the globe, meaning that whatever home solutions we find will also have international relevance.  

COVID has exacerbated inequalities and stretched our health and care system in ways we are likely still yet to appreciate. However, the pandemic also demonstrated how quickly effective change can be implemented and underlined the importance of being able to innovate and implement at pace to meet our communities’ needs. This mission is core to our new strategy. 

Dele Oladeji, UCLPartners Patient, Public and Carer Advisory Panel member said: “By working with communities we can gather in-depth information, find new voices and connect with new ideas to work together for better health services and healthier lives.” 

We will create a pipeline of innovation, translating research and discovery into solutions for clearly defined problems that we will test and scale. These solutions may be in technology, artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, genetics, precision medicine, diagnostics, therapeutics or new models of care. By harnessing the expertise of academics, industry, clinicians, health and care leaders and patients in a unified effort to find, build and develop solutions, we will create measurable improvements in health. 

Dr Chris Laing, CEO of UCLPartners said: “I am delighted to see the Government’s recent renewed commitment to research and the acknowledgement that innovation is key to transforming our health care services as well as our economic future. 

“Currently £38 billion is invested in research with £8 billion directed at health.  This will only realise value if this investment aligns with the health and care needs of our communities and is supported by a strong research translation and innovation pipeline. 

“In this next phase of our development we will be working to ensure we have a systematic, organised approach to delivering health solutions to our communities, prioritising those most in need.  We will be seeking to maximise the potential of research translation and innovation to have real impact on health.” 

This strategy has been developed by drawing on the views of our NHS and academic partners, regional and national stakeholders, members of our local communities and our staff. It has been informed by insights from our local health and care data, and the broader research and innovation landscape. It is purposefully ambitious and can only be delivered successfully through partnership and collective effort. 

Large-scale change is required to meet the health challenges we are facing, and we believe our health innovation partnership is uniquely positioned to make this change happen. Together, we will change lives for the better. 

You can read our full strategy ‘UCLPartners 2027: Life-changing innovation for better health and care’ here on our website.