Welcome to the GW4 Newsletter: your digest of GW4 news, funding and development opportunities.
Director's Update:
It's with a mixture of emotions that I share with you that I will be stepping down from my role as Director of the GW4 Alliance in June and heading on to a new position as Director of Research and Development Policy at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry; making this my final GW4 Newsletter update as Director.
Leading the GW4 Alliance across the last four years has been one of my greatest professional pleasures. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, making us greater together than the sum of our parts, and I am immensely proud of everything that we have achieved as an Alliance and of the impact that we've had during my time as Director.
From launching our Strategic Vision in 2023, to leading on schemes which help PGRs and ECRs to progress their research careers, and supporting researchers from across the Alliance to come together to develop projects addressing major societal and research challenges, there have been some standout achievements which clearly demonstrate the power of what can be achieved when we work together across our institutions.
We've seen major funding successes across a host of projects, including the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations programme, GW-SHIFT, and the UK Brain and Genomics Mental Health Research Hub. There's also been investment in a number of critical GW4 facilities, including the installation of the region’s first cryo-focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (cryo-FIB-SEM), which enhances the world-leading £2.3million GW4 Facility for High-Resolution Electron Cryo-Microscopy, which provides access to cutting-edge cryo-microscopy for researchers in the South West and South Wales.
To date, through our GW4 Building Communities programmes, GW4 has invested over £3.5million in over 100 research communities. This investment, involving over 750 GW4 academics, more than 400 non-academic partnerships, and collaborations with 130 institutions across 42 different countries, has resulted in a substantial grant income of over £89million - meaning that our return on investment current stands at an incredible £25 for every £1 invested. Our Development Awards are also open if you are looking for a small amount of funding to support collaboration across the institutions.
GW4 Crucible, our flagship leadership programme, continues to develop the research leaders of the future - with several of our Crucible alumni going on to achieve notable successes. Some of my favourite moments have been from Crucible alumni thanking the team for the skills which helped them secure a new position or a fellowship. And, through initiatives such as GW4 Open Research Week and GW4 Connect, our peer-support programmes for PGRs and ECRs from marginalised and underrepresented communities, we are continuously seeking to enhance research culture across our institutions.
Whilst I recognise that this is an extremely challenging time across the higher education sector, it is my strong and firm belief that the power of collaboration can be part of the solution for our institutions during the coming era; I hope that you will continue to work with the GW4 Alliance to leverage the power of our collective skills, knowledge and expertise.
I know that I leave you in safe hands and have full confidence that my brilliant team will continue to support our universities, and the many exciting cross-alliance activities that are underway, whilst we await the appointment of the new GW4 Alliance Director. Please stay tuned for further updates on this.
For now, though, please enjoy the latest edition of the Newsletter, which is filled with a host of exciting updates, opportunities and upcoming events. Read the full newsletter.
With very best wishes,
Jo Jenkinson
GW4 Alliance Director
