NHS Ayrshire & Arran (National Health Services Scotland)

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:

1. Research Culture – fostering inclusive, collaborative, and impactful research environments.

2. Regional Themes – addressing local health challenges through applied research.

3. Research Capacity – investing in staff development and infrastructure.

4. 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.