Carolina Borda-Nino-Wildman

NHS Ayrshire & Arran – Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Department The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Department at NHS Ayrshire & Arran is a strategic and operational hub for health research and innovation across the region. It is part of the Medical Directorate and plays a central role in aligning research activities with the priorities of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO), the Scottish Government, and the Caring for Ayrshire (2020–2030) transformation programme. Core Functions and Responsibilities Strategic Leadership: The department leads the development and implementation of the organisation’s RDI strategy, ensuring that research and innovation activities are embedded across all service areas., Operational Oversight: It manages over 200 active and follow-up research projects annually, including clinical trials, public health studies, and service evaluations., Governance and Compliance: The RDI team ensures all research complies with statutory legislation, the Research Governance Framework, and national regulations., Financial Management: The department oversees a budget of approximately £1.2 million per annum, including CSO funds, commercial trial revenue, and non-commercial grants. It also manages intellectual property income streams and supports the protection and exploitation of NHS-generated innovations., Capacity Building: The department runs a Research Mentorship Scheme to support staff across disciplines—including nurses, pharmacists, midwives, and allied health professionals—in developing research careers from entry-level to principal investigator status., Policy and Advisory Roles: The Head of RDI contributes to national policy through advisory roles with the CSO and supports the development of internal policies to foster a culture of research excellence. Strategic Priorities The RDI strategy is built around four pillars: Research Culture – fostering inclusive, collaborative, and impactful research environments., Regional Themes – addressing local health challenges through applied research., Research Capacity – investing in staff development and infrastructure., Strategic Drivers – aligning research with service transformation and health equity goals. Collaborations and Impact The department actively forges partnerships with universities, third-sector organisations, and industry. It supports interdisciplinary and arts-based research as well as clinical research, and promotes knowledge translation to improve health outcomes and service delivery.