An initiative to increase clinical research capacity and build links with industry and other research funders has been launched by Wales’s National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (NISCHR).

The initiative has been established to create an all-Wales collaboration between health boards, NHS trusts and universities to strengthen clinical research.

This underlines Wales’ commitment to creating a dynamic research environment that contributes to the health and wealth of the country.

As well as aiming to increase collaboration with the commercial sector, the initiative will increase cross-working between universities and the NHS in Wales to maximise leading-edge research, innovation in health services and transferability of knowledge into clinical practice.

NISCHR is launching the Academic Health Science Collaboration (AHSC) at an event at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Jewell, will chair the event and speakers include a number of recognised figures in the clinical, commercial and higher education fields.

Further information available from http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/healthandsocialcare/2011/110303collaboration/?lang=en