NHS Lanarkshire’s Director of Pharmacy, Professor Graeme Bryson, has been appointed to an honorary Chair at the University of Strathclyde’s Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences.
The appointment reflects Graeme’s contribution to strengthening links between NHS Lanarkshire and academia, with a particular focus on translating research, innovation and academic collaboration into improvements in patient care.
It comes at a time of increasing research activity across our pharmacy service, including publication of research in peer-reviewed journals, presentation of work at major professional events and growing involvement of pharmacy staff in research and investigation.
Graeme said: “I see the appointment as recognition not simply of an individual contribution, but of the culture and environment we are building within pharmacy and across NHS Lanarkshire.
“Our ambition is to create stronger connections between clinical practice, academic expertise and research methodology so that we can address the problems that matter to patients and services.”
Graeme was encouraged to pursue the honorary appointment through NHS Lanarkshire’s strategic partnership work, supported by Eamonn Brankin, Associate Medical Director for Strategic Partnerships, and Gordon McKay, Director for Research and Innovation.
Since taking up his leadership role in NHS Lanarkshire, Graeme has sought to develop research and innovation as an integral part of the service’s wider vision for improving patient outcomes.
A key element has been building stronger relationships with academic partners and creating opportunities for NHS Lanarkshire staff to participate in research, education and collaborative projects.
Graeme added: “One of the most valuable aspects of the relationship with the university is our ability to bring together different strengths. Academic colleagues can bring ideas and research expertise, while our clinical teams understand the challenges facing patients and services.
“My role is often to make those connections and create the conditions in which good ideas can develop into meaningful research.”
The approach is already supporting collaborative work with the University, including research within respiratory care, an area in which Graeme has a specific interest alongside real-world data, digital healthcare and technology. NHS Lanarkshire has also invested in respiratory posts incorporating research activity within job plans.
Graeme believes research should be seen primarily as a means of improving care rather than solely as a route to professional accreditation.
He explained: “Research should start with a problem we want to solve. If the work is methodologically sound and adds to the evidence base, professional recognition and development can follow, but the starting point should always be the potential benefit for patients.
“That is the research culture I would like us to continue developing within pharmacy.”
He also sees research and academic collaboration as an important part of attracting, developing and retaining the pharmacy workforce.
He concluded: “Giving people the opportunity to contribute to research, publish their work and add to the evidence base makes NHS Lanarkshire an attractive place to develop a career.
“It allows talented people to see that they can improve services and patient care while also developing professionally and academically.”
Graeme is also joint vice-chair of the Scottish Medicines Consortium. The NHS Lanarkshire Pharmacy Service has applied for university status, seeking to build further on its academic and research ambitions.
The honorary Chair will provide another opportunity to strengthen the relationship between NHS Lanarkshire and the University of Strathclyde and to develop research that connects academic expertise with clinical practice and patient need.
