Led by
Group overview
The four specific aims of this ‘reflecting-on-research’ group are:
- To exchange knowledge and diagnose the challenges facing researchers conducting inter- and transdisciplinary research across the portfolio of UKPRP projects.
- To review and evaluate steps UKPRP projects are taking to continually improve their inter- and transdisciplinary research practice, whether conducting network development, stakeholder engagement, co-production and impact realisation.
- To enhance the outcomes of UKPRP research by sharing continual improvement know-how generated across the portfolio of participating projects.
- To document findings in a ‘playbook’ of research practice improvement as a knowledge base for future researchers and research funders.
PRN Report Launch: Improving Collaborative Research Practices
What are the foundations for delivering successful inter/transdisciplinary research (ITDR), such as processes, leadership and team-working?
This seminar was held in May 2025. Hosted by Dr Ges Rosenberg and Dr Pablo Newberry, they present insights and findings from a comprehensive study of how to operationalise successful ITDR. It proposes a set of recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of collaborative research projects, with relevance to researchers, project leaders, research consortia and networks, research institutions, and funding bodies.
The recommendations span nine key themes with the aim of improving the processes and structures required to commission, plan and deliver ITDR projects successfully.
These are:
- Enhancing funding models
- Building researcher capabilities
- Creating cohesive teams
- Shaping future leaders
- Mobilising and integrating knowledge
- Increasing research agility
- Driving innovation
- Embedding reflective practice and learning
- Improving stakeholder engagement and coproduction
The study was funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP) and prepared by the Prevention Research Network (PRN) Interest Group for ‘Improving Collaborative Research Practices’. It was delivered through a knowledge exchange process comprising workshops, focus groups and surveys, engaging participants from diverse project roles, and drawing on contributions from UKPRP research networks and consortia, including MatCHNet, PETRA, PHASE, GENIUS, ActEarly, GroundsWell, Kailo, VISION, SIPHER, and TRUUD.
