Corporate report

UKHSA Advisory Board: UKHSA science strategy

Updated 16 November 2022

Date: 16 November 2022

Sponsor: Isabel Oliver

Purpose of the paper

The Advisory Board are requested to provide comment on the revised, draft UK Health Security (UKHSA) science strategy. The initial draft strategy was presented to the Executive Committee in July 2022, and the Science and Research Committee of the Advisory Board in September 2022. Since that time a process of extensive engagement with internal and external partners has been undertaken. The strategy has evolved in response to that process.

We would welcome discussion regarding the scope, scale and ambition of the strategy, alignment with other UKHSA and relevant government strategies and the implementation process including timelines.

Recommendation for the Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is asked to comment on the scope, scale and ambition of UKHSA’s science strategy and alignment with other relevant strategies.

Science strategy

The science strategy is a 10-year vision for UKHSA’s scientific capabilities and capacity that was designed to align with UKHSA’s 3-year corporate strategy.

In response to the initial feedback, the strategy has been presented in a more concise and impactful format, with increased focus on implementation and collaboration across all UKHSA.

The key features of the strategy are to:

• set out the vision and long-term direction of travel for science within UKHSA
• demonstrate alignment and collaboration across UKHSA and other relevant cross-government strategies
• describe the approach to implementation and specific actions that we will adopt

The strategy is forward facing and therefore does not describe the current scientific capabilities of UKHSA, nor does it replace the business plan for the next 12 to 18 months. A full implementation plan will be produced (see Next steps).

Engagement

Since presenting the draft strategy to the Executive Committee we have undertaken extensive internal and external engagement utilising a variety of formats and forums. During over 20 sessions within UKHSA, members of the Science Group Senior Leadership Team have attended and presented to every group within UKHSA, the Chief Scientific Officer has presented to Executive Committee members and to both the Scientific Futures and Research Governance Board and the Science and Research Committee of the Advisory Board. We have presented to the Leadership Group and to UKHSA Live and had a feature on Pulse, including a feedback survey. Additionally, we hosted a science strategy stand at the UKHSA conference. The science strategy co-ordination group have assisted greatly, ensuring collaboration across UKHSA.

Externally we have held 3 sector-based workshops with life sciences industry, academia and health system partners. We have met with key partners including: Chief Medical Officer, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Office for Life Sciences, government, and Chief Scientific Advisors from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Further engagement meetings are scheduled to ensure coherence and implementation success.

The engagement and collaboration process has been highly valuable, shaping and evolving the strategy to ensure it achieves the right scope, scale and ambition and is implementable in the context of other UKHSA and government strategies.

Next steps

We welcome comments from the Advisory Board during November and December 2022. We will conclude our engagement process in December 2022 and update the strategy accordingly. A detailed implementation plan will be drafted, to include metrics and further financial information, risk mitigation and benefits.

In January 2023, the final approved strategy will be disseminated, following this we will present the implementation plan to the board.

Isabel Oliver
Interim Chief Scientific Officer
November 2022