Kingston University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust with the aim of strengthening mutually beneficial relations.

The agreement was signed by Dean of the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education and Pro Vice-Chancellor and the Deputy Chief Executive of Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.

Through this strategic partnership the two organisations will identify collaborative activities in research, knowledge exchange, education and culture.

Following the signing of the memorandum, a Collaborative Steering Group has been established between the organisations jointly chaired by Dean of the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education and Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathy Curtis, and Dr William Oldfield, Chief Medical Officer, Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.

This strategic partnership combines a shared passion for research and knowledge exchange and will identify the Trust's research needs and map expertise in the organisations with the aim of securing external research funding.

It will facilitate the sharing of resources to support research collaborations as well as create opportunities for collaboration for the Trust's staff workforce development, PhD opportunities and support the graduate pipeline into the Trust's workforce.

Professor Curtis explained how the collaboration provides mutual benefit, saying "This strategic partnership will help identify regional and national NHS research needs and map this to grant opportunities and expertise at Kingston University.

"This close working partnership aligns with Kingston University's Town House Strategy and our ambitions to create sought after staff and students."

Dr Oldfield reinforced the importance of the partnership.

She said: "This memorandum signifies a real commitment to build on the excellent work carried out between our organisations to date, with a reinvigorated focus on research in our places; pursuing research opportunities meaningful to our patients and staff across the whole patient pathway, bringing together academic and clinical minds, supporting research to improve our services and tackling local health inequalities."