Academia and clinical practice - working together successfully to develop skin integrity knowledge and skills

Clinicians often find it difficult to devote sufficient time to develop proposals that will investigate issues that enhance the patient experience. Thus, clinicians need to access researchers and academics who can assist in developing research proposals, undertake service evaluation, audit current practice, provide advice on best practice and offer education that maintains clinical knowledge and skills. The University of Huddersfield recognised the challenges faced by clinicians in undertaking research in the specialist area of skin, and in 2011 formed the Skin Interface Sciences (SIS) Research Group. This article outlines its development and achievements to date.