Our Achievements
1. Launch of the JRO 2027 Strategy & Implementation Plan
In March 2025, the JRO unveiled its comprehensive roadmap for the next two years. The plan is a blueprint that outlines the strategic priorities, key performance indicators (KPIs), and deliverables designed to enhance research efficiency and impact. This document is publicly available on the JRO website.
2. Strengthening Governance
The JRO Management and Operations Groups have provided both strategic and operational oversight to optimise delivery. It has been an absolute joy and privilege to work with such talented individuals. Their input and expertise have made the last year both productive and incredibly enjoyable.
The JRO Stakeholder Advisory Group has brought together diverse voices from across King’s and GSTT's translational and clinical research communities, spanning early career to senior investigators who are acting as ‘sense checkers’ and a ‘sounding board’ for everything the JRO does.
3. Strategic Dashboard Implementation
To monitor progress, the JRO has developed a high-level Strategic Dashboard. This tool provides visual insights into the progress of the four workstreams from development to delivery.
4. Launch of the JRO Website and Intranet
The newly launched JRO website and intranet provide a central hub for researchers and research managers alike across the two organisations. It offers resources, professional development tools, and a collaborative space for sharing ideas and celebrating success.
5. Professional Development Initiatives
The JRO website provides a central hub for signposting to Internal and external development opportunities that support not only translational and clinical researchers but also research managers and their teams. The JRO Peer Exchange Programme provides opportunities to foster knowledge, share best practice, build communities and retain research management talent not only within the JRO partnership but also across King’s Health Partners (KHP).
6. Efficiency Programmes
Three Task and Finish Groups have been actively co-developing work plans focused on Research Sponsorship, Contracting, and Research Management Systems. Over the coming months, we will start to see the fruits of their labour.
Forward Focus
As we move into the second year of operations, I believe the focus should be on:
- Sustainability: Embedding the JRO activities into institutional workflows to ensure long-term impact.
- Visibility: Enhancing awareness through newsletters, roadshows, social media and an annual celebration event.
- Enhancing Collaboration & Impact: Exploiting the opportunities the JRO brings to drive efficiency to meet upcoming national targets that enable the partnership to attract new and grow existing talent, and become a magnet for commercial and non-commercial opportunities that will enhance the health and care of our local population and beyond.