Universities in Glasgow and NHS Trusts today announce the launch of the University/NHS Partnership Agreement, building upon the existing working relationship between researchers and practitioners that will ultimately lead to better health care for Glasgow and Scotland.

The Research Governance Framework for Health and Community Care highlights the need for collaboration between NHS Trusts and universities in the creation of a shared strategy which builds upon the previous successful collaborations undertaken with the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde and Caledonian.

Stephen Smith, Executive Dean of the University of Glasgow's Medical Faculty said: "Through the formalisation of our working partnership with the NHS, our clinicians and researchers can work closer together and at an earlier stage in research and trials. This will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the volume of clinical trials in the West of Scotland as our combined expertise and facilities will attract interest on a national and international level."

NHS Greater Glasgow's Board Chairman, Professor Sir John Arbuthnott, said: "This partnership agreement is great news ﾖ it will allow us to further develop our work in attracting and undertaking groundbreaking research ﾖ bringing benefit not only to the people of Glasgow and the West of Scotland but to people from across the globe."

Barbara Blaney Director of BioIndustry Association (Scotland) said: 'One of the key recommendations of the BIA-led BioScience Innovation & Growth Team, whose report was launched by the Prime Minister in November 2003, was to build a mutually advantageous collaboration between the NHS and industry for patient benefit. The Chancellor's announcement last week of a rise in the combined budget for medical research and R&D within the NHS to around £1.2 billion a year by 2007-08 is a step in the right direction. Today's announcement regarding a co-ordinated approach in Glasgow is to be welcomed and provides the opportunity for integration for the benefit of patient care in Scotland as a whole.'

The West of Scotland has a thriving biomedical research base, one of the largest in Europe. In excess of 2600 researchers in our universities and research institutes, work in interdisciplinary science/clinical collaborative networks. This partnership agreement cements the already strong links with NHS Trust hospitals and will facilitate faster transformation of fundamental research to patient benefits.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

The Partnership Launch will be held on Friday 26 March. To attend please RSVP, please contact Gillian Cay, Manager, Nexxus (the West of Scotland Bioscience Network) on 0141 330 4812 or g.cay@nexxusscotland.com.

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, Greater Glasgow Primary Care Trust, Yorkhill NHS Trust and Greater NHS Board are working together for the University / NHS Research Partnership.

Nexxus, the West of Scotland Bioscience Network provides a means of connection across all elements of the bioscience community in the West of Scotland, facilitating communication, knowledge sharing and collaboration between organisations involved in bioscience related activities.

Led by researchers at the University of Glasgow, the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS) was a landmark in clinical trials. The research showed that prevention of heart attacks in men at risk from coronary disease was possible through the use of drugs known as ?statins?. The recently completed Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) trial examined 5804 men and women aged 70 plus demonstrating the benefits of these drugs extended to later life.

First published: 25 March 2004