Our strategy

We have a long and proud history of pioneering research and innovation including the discovery of transcranial brain stimulation, a non-invasive way to ‘switch on’ very small parts of the brain by a series of magnetic pulses, credited to physicist Anthony Barker, following a successful demonstration with colleagues at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. The technique is now used worldwide as a brain therapy.

This is just one of our many research breakthroughs evident in healthcare settings across the globe today – from tiny pill-sized cameras that offer a less intrusive way to diagnose bowel and colon cancers to a mouldable neck collar that makes life more bearable for patients living with motor neurone disease. We lead the way in pioneering stem cell transplantation as a first-line treatment for certain multiple sclerosis patients giving hope to hundreds in the UK and beyond.

Our research has and is continuing to have a global impact and transforms lives. Looking to the future, through innovation and technological advances, we will diagnose, treat, cure and prevent a much wider range of disease than is currently possible. We will take advantage of our national and international research expertise and our excellent collaborative relationships across academia, the NHS, industry and with our patients and members of the public to innovative new healthcare products at pace and at scale.

As a large NHS Trust and anchor NHS institution, we will continue to look to harness the potential of our research as a wider mechanism to benefit the people and communities we serve, further supporting our regional industries and economic development. This in turn is associated with improved health.

We have set out our aspirations in our Research and Innovation strategy 2023-2027 which has six key pillars underpinning our vision:

• Strengthening the Trust’s use of research and innovation to improve outcomee s for patients and the efficient and effective delivery of care
• Increasing international quality, impactful research and innovation activity, output and funding
• Increasing the involvement and participation of patients and the public from all backgrounds in research and innovation
• Broadening and encouraging staff participation in research and innovation
• Using research and innovation to strengthen clinical services that are struggling to thrive.
• Enhancing R&I partnership working to capitalise on our relationships, enhance the reputation of Sheffield and support economic development