Clare MacRae, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, and Kieran Sweeney, Clinical Research Fellow, both at the Usher Institute, have been awarded Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) Cross-Sector Experience Awards. The awards will enable Clare and Kieran to spend time working beyond their usual clinical and academic settings, building partnerships between research, policy and practice to explore how evidence can help address major health challenges.Clare MacRae will work with City of Edinburgh Council to explore how research can inform public health policy and decision-making. Her placement will focus on understanding the upstream determinants of health affecting families with children, and developing approaches to research, data linkage and cross-sector ways of working that can improve population health. My goal is to bring a cross-sector, public health approach to primary care that connects with other service sectors to address the real-world needs and priorities of the families I see clinically. The AMS Cross-Sector Experience is the ideal opportunity because it will allow me to be mobile across sectors so that I can maximise real-world impact. Dr Clare MacRae Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Usher Institute Kieran Sweeney will work with the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, focusing on policies to improve care for people living with multiple long-term conditions. During his placement, Kieran will develop policy recommendations to improve coordination across healthcare services and promote relational continuity within primary care, drawing on research evidence and stakeholder engagement. Making healthcare more personalised and joined-up would make a real difference to patients’ lives, while also reducing waste and inefficiency across the health service. This cross-sector experience will be a fantastic opportunity to help shape evidence-based reforms, while learning how research and policy can be more closely aligned. Dr Kieran Sweeney Clinical Research Fellow, Usher Institute The Academy of Medical Sciences Cross-Sector Experience Awards enable researchers and professionals to spend between three and 12 months working in a different sector, helping to build collaborations across academia, healthcare, government, charities and industry. The awards provide up to £100,000 to support placements that encourage new ways of thinking, develop lasting partnerships and accelerate solutions to major health challenges.By embedding researchers within organisations outside academia, the Cross-Sector Experience Awards create opportunities to exchange knowledge, develop new skills and strengthen relationships across sectors. Award holders return to their home organisations with new perspectives, expanded networks and practical experience that can help increase the real-world impact of health research.Further informationClare MacRae | The University of EdinburghKieran Sweeney | The University of EdinburghCross-Sector Experience Awards | The Academy of Medical Sciences This article was published on Monday 10 August 2026
