GW4 Alliance

We are excited to share that The Great Western Clinical Research Alliance, a new Regional Account for Clinical Researchers has been established with £1.4 million in funding from the Medical Research Council. This new consortium brings together our GW4 Alliance universities of University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Exeter, alongside regional partners including the University of the West of England, Swansea University / Prifysgol Abertawe, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and local NHS Trusts and Health Boards. The pilot initiative aims at supporting clinicians at critical stages in their research careers to stay involved in research alongside clinical practice - strengthening the UK’s clinical research workforce, which underpins innovation, improved care and better health outcomes for NHS patients.

Such a buzz in the room! Congratulations to our new GW4 research and innovation communities announced at the GW4 Generator Showcase and Launch Event, bringing together researchers from across the GW4 Alliance of University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Exeter. The event celebrated both the launch of this year’s newly funded GW4 Generator communities and the achievements of previous cohorts, highlighting the continued impact of cross-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing major societal and global challenges. Professor Roger Whitaker, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise for Cardiff University and Chair of the GW4 Board, said: "The quality and ambition of applications to this year’s GW4 Generator Fund reflects the excellence strength of collaborative thinking across our universities. What is particularly encouraging is the way these projects bring together different disciplines and partners, recognising that the most pressing and complex global and societal challenges demand a genuinely cross-institutional, cross-sector approach. "It has also been inspiring to see the energy at this year’s showcase, with opportunities to hear from both established and emerging communities. Bringing these groups together not only highlights the impact already being delivered, but also sparks new ideas and connections that will shape the future of research and innovation across GW4.”

Survey now open for Academic and Administration Members at UK Higher Education Institutions 📝 University of Bristol are conducting research on higher education institutions' (HEI) support provisions for mature and parent carer postgraduate researchers. The project aims to assess what support services are available at HEIs nationally, uncover best practices and potential policy interventions, and share findings with HEIs to improve mature and parent/carer PGR experiences. The project is being led by Dr Helen T. (Principal Investigator) and Dr Alice Beck (Research Associate), in collaboration with GW4 Alliance and UALL Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL). The short anonymous online survey asks questions on the current provisions institutions offer to mature and parent carer PGRs. The survey will close on the 29th of May. Find out more about the project and complete the survey online: https://lnkd.in/eAGBEDp8

Great to see GW4 AMR Alliance’s cross‑institutional mentoring scheme recognised in a new Wellcome Trust report on best practice in academic mentoring 👏 Bringing together researchers from University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Exeter, the scheme is highlighted as an example of how mentoring can be designed to "meet specific regional and disciplinary needs". By pairing mentors and mentees outside traditional line management structures, it creates a confidential, neutral space for open conversations, reflection and career planning. The scheme demonstrated the value of cross‑institutional collaboration helping to build confidence, broaden networks, and support researchers at key stages of their careers. Dr Helen Brown, lecturer in Microbiology at Cardiff University and mentor on the scheme said: “Being involved in the scheme was incredibly valuable to me personally and professionally. The training all participants received has made me approach daily conversations with colleagues and students in a very different way, listening more actively and providing support without trying to give immediate solutions....It led me to think about my own research and challenges, and consider novel solutions which would not have occurred to me without this relationship. The scheme has made me think very differently about what is useful in a mentoring relationship and how to approach and identify my own future mentors.” #Mentoring #ResearchCulture #Collaboration #AMR #GW4 #GW4AMRAlliance Claire Spreadbury, Dr Gözde Doganyilmaz-Burger, Neil Gow, Marcus Munafò, Helen Brown, Alex Tasker, David Sünderhauf, Catherine Tooke Read more: https://lnkd.in/e8XBN5-g

And the winner is… Missed the action? You can now watch the GW4 Open Research Week Prize Awards on our YouTube channel. https://lnkd.in/ewMPBPDA Congratulations to our GW4 Open Research Week Prize winners, who are leading the way in creating more transparent, accessible, reproducible, and visible research across GW4. To highlight the importance of open research at every stage of a research career, this year’s awards featured three distinct prize categories. We received a fantastic 37 submissions, with 12 finalists shortlisted. The judging panel were very impressed with the high standard of submissions including: - The diversity of open research approaches and principles - Strong evidence of embedding open practices - Commitment to community-led and equitable collaboration - Demonstrable impact on transparency, reproducibility and research quality 🏆 2026 Prize Winners 🏆 General Prize Winner: The OpenFlexure Project Team: William Wadsworth, Richard Bowman, Joe Knapper, Julian Stirling for “Microscopy for all: The OpenFlexure Project” Early Career Researcher Winner: Joost de Vries for “The role of calcifying phytoplankton biodiversity in ocean carbon cycling” Research Enabler Prize Winner: Liz Martin-Silverstone for “FAIR and Open Earth Science at the University of Bristol” Well done to all our winners and finalists - all demonstrating outstanding contributions to open research practices across University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Exeter and other organisations. And thank you to our judging panel, award ceremony Chair and organisers for making the 2026 awards such a success. 🎬 Don’t miss the highlights - watch the full recordings now! #GW4ORW #GW4ORP #OpenResearch #GW4 #ResearchImpact #OpenScience #Collaboration

Missed some sessions during GW4 Open Research Week? Don't fret! You can catch them on the GW4 YouTube channel. GW4 Open Research Week 2026 showcased the many ways open research practices make scholarship more accessible, transparent, reproducible and visible. Whether you’re new to open research, already embedding open practices, or simply curious to learn more, explore the sessions and discover what’s possible. #GW4ORW