The University of Nottingham and Boots, said to be the UK’s “leading health, wellness and beauty retailer”, have entered a new strategic partnership aimed at advancing research and innovation across digital and integrated healthcare.
The partnership will reportedly bring together academics and healthcare practitioners to examine how technology-enabled services can improve patient outcomes and widen access to care.
Addressing the future of healthcare delivery
Addressing “some of the most important questions facing the future of healthcare delivery”, Boots and the University of Nottingham report they will initially focus on digital healthcare access, patient engagement, health communication, behavioural science, data-driven innovation, and the safe and equitable rollout of emerging treatments.
“The work will draw on expertise from pharmacy, medicines, psychology, health policy, data science and communication sciences,” says the university in a recently released statement.
According to the statement, the collaboration has a shared ambition to:
- “Improve understanding of how people access and experience digital and integrated healthcare.
- “Generate real-world evidence that supports safer and more effective healthcare services.
- “Address inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes.
- “Support innovation through responsible use of data and technology.
- “Inform future healthcare policy and practice.
- “Develop the next generation of healthcare researchers and innovators.”
“Healthcare is changing rapidly, and it is essential that innovation is underpinned by strong evidence,” says Professor Tracey Thornley from the University of Nottingham.
“By bringing together academic expertise and practical healthcare insight, we have an opportunity to generate knowledge that improves care, informs policy and creates lasting benefits for patients and society.”
Innovation with a high-street footprint
Jamie Kerruish, Chief Healthcare Officer at Boots, says the partnership will help translate research into services people can access locally.
“We’re excited to be partnering with the University of Nottingham, bringing together our strengths in industry to accelerate research, support innovation and enable the development of convenient healthcare solutions available on the high street,” he says.
Over time, the partnership is expected to produce new research publications, shape national healthcare policy discussion, and create educational pathways for students and early-career researchers working across digital and integrated care.
