Presentation to research group

1. Research Strategy &
Innovation
Engaging with the impact
agenda
Rose-Marie Barbeau
Research Impact Manager
rose-marie.barbeau@glasgow.ac.uk

2. Research Strategy &
Innovation
 Impact is defined as ‘an effect on, change or
benefit to the economy, society, culture, public
policy or services, health, the environment or
quality of life, beyond academia’.
 Support for impact generation will need to be
incorporated into research strategies in future.
 Some people think that impact can be left to
the few, while the many get on with the real
business – research.
What is the ‘impact agenda’?
E = mc2
IMPACT
Key points about impact

3. Research Strategy &
Innovation
What is research impact?
This is the big
picture that the
research
councils have
on their wall…
Research
benefits
What is impact?

4. Research Strategy &
Innovation
What is impact?

5. Research Strategy &
Innovation
 Knowledge exchange (KE): the transfer of
knowledge, expertise and skilled people
between the research environment and user
communities, including the general public.
Effective KE and other forms of external
engagement can influence your research
development, and open up opportunities for
further research or impact.
 KE takes many forms, and can start even
before the submission of a research proposal,
with stakeholder input to the research design.
How do we get there?
Public
engagement
How do we get there?

6. Research Strategy &
Innovation
“Thinking about the impact of research is integral
to an application, and not an afterthought.”
(BBSRC)
• “We do not expect applicants or peer reviewers to be able to predict the economic or
societal impacts that research will achieve.
• “We want to encourage applicants to consider and explore, in ways that are appropriate
given the nature of the research they are proposing to conduct, potential pathways to
impact, for example through engagement or collaboration with partners.”
Planning for impact

7. Research Strategy &
Innovation
Research
focus
Who might
benefit
from or
deliver the
change?
How can
you
engage
effectively
with
them?
What will
they
potentially
gain?
How might
you
document
any
change?
Audiences, beneficiaries,
stakeholders,
KE mechanisms of
collaboration, communication,
consultation…
Potential social, economic,
commercial, policy, cultural
impacts
Evidence: the breadcrumb
trail from research findings &
expertise to the ultimate
influence, change, benefit to
the wider world…
Arriving at an impact plan
Planning for impact

8. Research Strategy &
Innovation
Arriving at a credible impact plan
=
Planning for impact

9. Research Strategy &
Innovation
Arriving at a credible impact plan
Achieving impact requires
engagement with external
‘users’.
When and how that
engagement occurs will
depend on the nature of
your research and whether
you’ve accurately identified
your potential ‘user’
communities.
Planning for impact

10. Research Strategy &
Innovation
EXAMPLE of an impact
case study from:
Psychology, Psychiatry &
Neuroscience
Main impact themes
 Improving treatment & services for patients with psychosis
 Shaping national clinical guidelines and UK-wide implementation
 Informing Scottish government mental health strategy
Summary of research
focus
Whether CBT interventions could lower relapse rates and improve conditions for psychosis patients
What was happening (or not
happening) that was
addressed by the
research?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most widely recommended non-medication-based treatment for common mental
health problems (recognised by both NICE and SIGN guidelines). Psychosis rated 3rd most debilitating condition worldwide by
WHO, and condition is exacerbated by relapses, suffered by 80% of patients within early stages (first five years). Insufficient
attention paid to early-stage interventions/prevention of relapse.
Who would be interested
in, benefit from or help
deliver the change that this
work might address?
 NHS/health care sector overall, mental health practitioners and GP surgeries
 Patients with psychosis
 Families/carers of patients with psychosis
 Third sector organisations supporting and/or advocating for people with mental health issues
How did researchers
engage/communicate with
these user groups?
 Published research findings (e.g. cited in evidence by NICE)
 PI invited onto Expert Reference Group advising NHS scheme overseeing treatment of serious mental health conditions
 Resulting mental health strategy documents circulated to government officials
 PI presentation to Head of Mental Health for Scottish Government
 PI contributed to NHS/Scottish government guidance document (circulated to and used by service planners and providers)
 PI served as advisor to early intervention scheme based in Glasgow that deals directly with patients and provides training for
healthcare staff
What was/is nature and
scale of impact?
 Improved practitioner skills
 Improvements to patient services and wellbeing
 Savings to NHS
 Informed Scottish and UK government policy regarding psychology-based therapies for psychosis patients
What credible evidence
sources would you need to
substantiate?
 NHS data evidencing levels of success in improving patient health
 Verification from Greater Glasgow Health Board re benefits of early intervention scheme
 Citation by NICE, SIGN, Scottish Government and UK Department of Health policy documents
 Testimonials from Scottish Government, Head of Mental Health and Glasgow early intervention scheme lead; national
clinical advisor
Planning for impact

11. Research Strategy &
Innovation
Questions?
What if I’m a ‘fundamentalist’?
There’s no reason why good fundamental research can't address
a wider applied question. The value is in the process as much as
the outputs.
DNA-based tests to determine bird
gender are now used worldwide in
research conservation.
Sequencing and characterisation
of a virus (cytomegalovirus strain
Merlin) has become WHO’s
diagnostic standard.
Very basic research into the
physiology of nephrops (lobsters)
led to a Knowledge Transfer
Partnership with Scotprime.
Nutritionally balanced pizza
came out of a conversation with
a local entrepreneur.

12. Research Strategy &
Innovation
Questions? Resources?
• Impact champions in your Institute / College (www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/researchimpact)
• Public engagement advice (www.gla.ac.uk/services/publicengagement) Jamie Gallagher
• Pathways to Impact guidance (www.rcuk.ac.uk/innovation/impacts) Jonathan Scott
• Researcher Development impact-related modules (see ‘Domain D: Engagement, Influence &
Impact’ in Staff Development Service website)
• KE & Impact conferences and themed workshops for University staff
(www.gla.ac.uk/services/rsio/knowledgeexchange/knowledgeexchangeevents)
• KE funding schemes
• BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account (upcoming call)
• ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (call deadline 25 September 2015)
• Glasgow KE Fund (rolling application mode)
• Research Impact Manager: rose-marie.barbeau@glasgow.ac.uk
• Enlighten repository for recording and evidencing KE activity, impact generation will be launched by
mid-September…