Health minister Jenni Minto supports Glasgow Caledonian University ‘Power of Partnership’ event

Scotland's Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto

Scotland's Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto has praised Glasgow Caledonian University’s “breadth of research and its impact” ahead of its Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) ‘Power of Partnership’ event on Tuesday, April 23.

Ms Minto, who has recorded a powerful message for the University event, said there were many examples of great partnership working at ReaCH. The free event in Glasgow Caledonian’s Annie Lennox Building runs from 9.30am-2pm. Register here through Eventbrite. Registration closes at midnight on Thursday, April 18.

Ms Minto will highlight the University’s incredible prevention work on HIV, diabetic foot ulceration, alcohol and drugs addiction, and stroke rehabilitation, and its “clear commitment to collaboration and partnership working”, which is aiming to help people in Scotland live longer and healthier lives.

Ms Minto said: “I am always heartened when I hear about the research being done in Scottish universities and the highly collaborative approaches that are often being taken to work in multi-disciplinary ways and across organisations and sectors. The Research Centre for Health at Glasgow Caledonian University is a fantastic example of this.

“I'm impressed by the breadth of the research activities at ReaCH and their clear commitment to collaboration and partnership working. I know they are working with a wide range of organisations, and with diverse groups of patients and the public to address some difficult health challenges.

“There are many examples of this, some of which I am pleased to note have been with funding support from the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office.”

Ms Minto is one of the key speakers at the ‘Power of Partnership’ event, along with Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) Director Elinor Jayne, and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) representative Caroline Sincock, who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The event, showcasing the importance of partnership working in turning research into action, will be opened by Professor Steve Decent, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).

Professor Decent said: "I have been impressed by the world leading health research within the School of Health and Life Sciences which results in tangible improvements to people’s lives.

"What is clear to me is that we could not achieve this without the valuable contribution and support of our many partners.

"Our researchers work closely with the public, people with lived experience of health conditions, the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, NHS Scotland and many charities.

"The most important research questions are co-created with our partners, as they know best what matters most to the members of the communities they serve. What makes GCU different from many other universities is that we bake impact into our research projects right from the start."

ReaCH Co-Directors Professors Frederike van Wijck and Carol Emslie are delighted to have such a great line-up of high-profile partners supporting the event.

Professors van Wijck and Emslie said it was so important to have the voices of their key partners highlighting the amazing collaborative work that goes on at ReaCH and they “wholeheartedly” want to thank Jenni Minto, Elinor Jayne, Caroline Sincock and all their partners for their continued support.