Sustainability Working Group
Championing greener research and decision-making in health and care research
The sustainability working group is committed to advancing environmental sustainability within health and care research. The group aims to embed greener practices into the NHS and wider care settings, influencing both policy and operational decision-making.
“The 2024 UKRD Summit was the second to include a focus on environmental sustainability, with a marked increase in enthusiasm and engagement from delegates, demonstrating the momentum this topic is gathering…”
Read how can we improve the sustainability of clinical trials
Collaboration in practice
Group objectives:
- To promote and facilitate sustainable research practices within the NHS, ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated throughout the research lifecycle.
- To support the NHS in achieving its net zero carbon targets by reducing the environmental footprint of research activities.
- To share best practices, foster innovation, and provide guidance on sustainable research methodologies.
- To work with stakeholders including NHS leaders, funders, regulators, industry, patients, public and staff to align practice and agree models for collaboration to ensure maximum impact.
- To influence national and local decision-makers, ensuring that sustainability is a core component in research funding, design, and delivery.
Group Members
The group is chaired by:
Dr Jenny Rivers
Director of R&D at Barts Health NHS Trust. UKRD members work collaboratively with the R&D Forum Sustainability Working Group which include a diverse mix of motivated colleagues working across R&D, including in clinical and laboratory settings and for funders and regulators, including the NIHR and HRA.
Key Activities
Policy Advocacy
Engaging with NHS leadership, research councils, and funding bodies to ensure environmental sustainability is prioritised in research agendas and funding calls.
Capacity Building
Organising workshops, webinars, and training sessions to build awareness and expertise in sustainable research approaches.
Collaboration and Networking
Facilitating cross-sector partnerships between NHS trusts, universities, industry, and sustainability experts to drive collective action and share learning.
Following workshops at the last three UKRD Summits, and through key activities such as policy advocacy, capacity building and collaboration and networking, UKRD has:
- Worked with funders to shape and influence funding, for example the NIHR Climate, Health and Sustainability agenda.
- Contributed as a stakeholder to the policy report published in September 2025, ‘For people, for planet’ by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine in the US.
- Contributed to panel discussions at international conferences, for example the 2025 Triennial Conference and General Assembly of the InterAcademy Partnership.
- Represented UKRD on Advisory Boards and funded projects, for example the ‘UK Hub for One Health Systems: Creating Sustainable Health and Social Care Pathways’
Sustainability Working Group Resources
Join a Working Group
UKRD brings together leaders in healthcare research and development across the UK.
If you’re interested in learning more about any of our working groups or would like to get involved or contribute – we’d love to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.