Strategy Actions of The Health Science Institute

Goal 1

Increased number of research grants to SHS

Actions

• Increased support with grant opportunity searches and applications for research funds.
• Explore the lowering of teaching- and administrative/service duties to increase the time that can be allocated to applications to international research funds.

Goal 2

Increased service for research projects

Actions

• Centralized purchase of research in partnership with other institutions.
• Simplify research account audits.
• Increased support for running and closing of research projects.
• More visible collaboration with Auðna – The National Technology and Knowledge Transfer Centre.
• Ensure centralized service for maintenance and updating of equipment .
• Increase support services for questionnaire design.
• Assist with registration and management of research approvals for scientific research.

Goal 1

More articles in high impact journals

Actions

• Increase international relations to increase quality research e.g., by increasing sample sizes in clinical research and to ensure best practices .
• Find new ways to encourage high impact publishing e.g., by awarding more publishing points for publications in the top 25% of journals in each discipline.
• Explore the possibility to pay for open access publications in the top 25% of journals in each discipline.

Goal 2

Increased budget allocation for Health Science research 

Actions

• Work with the government to establish a Health Sciences Fund.
• Continue to give active researchers leeway to conduct research.

Goal 3

Increased cooperation

Actions

• Encourage researchers to use their sabbaticals to expand their contact network in international research.
• Continue to offer opportunities for cross-disciplinary cooperation in research and international cooperation at The Icelandic Health Science Institute. 

Goal 1

Powerful digital infrastructure

Actions

• Continue to implement research management systems, including systems that increase data safety and data storage (i.e. cooperation with The Division of IT and the Icelandic e-Research Infrastructure.
• Establishments of healthcare database systems, without any identifying information, for research use.

Goal 2

Laboratories / Centres / Networks

Actions

• Hiring of core infrastructure experts with professional ties to units within the School of Health.
• Placing the Icelandic Health Science Institute in appropriate housing.
• Ensure researchers’ access to research infrastructure.
• Strengthen the cooperative network on big data and clinical research.
• Seek solutions regarding lab animal facilities in collaboration with The Science Park.
• Explore the feasibility of establishing a DNA sequencing center.

Goal 3

Better organization of research infrastructure

Actions

• Map the currently available infrastructure and make them visible for researchers.
• Establish a clear procedures, pricing, and collection system for access to equipment and clinical lab work.

Goal

Increase the number of researchers working in health science

Actions

• Increase the number of research grants and find ways to increase the possibilities of grants for doctoral students, with an emphasis on newly hired faculty advisers and more experienced teaching staff with a medium number of research points.
• Emphasize academic growth by increasing the number of academic positions, both teaching and research.
• Increase the emphasis on international hires.

Goal 1

Increase sustainability and minimize waste

Actions

• Emphasize sustainable research and contributes to sustainability, and research that have a positive impact on health and environment.

Goal 2

Connection to society

Actions

• Cooperation with health care providers and companies in health care.
• Work with the government to improve the health care system, national health, and to increase innovation.
• Support postdocs in various ways, e.g., by increasing dialogue with industry.

Goal 1

Increase the quality of graduate studies

Actions

• Continue to strengthen the framework for master’s and doctoral studies.
• Increase the number and amount of doctoral grants.
• Organize doctoral studies in such a way that all doctoral students present their results abroad.
• Increase cross disciplinary doctoral projects across departments.
• All doctoral students participate in regular doctoral seminars.

Goal 2

Service to graduate students

Actions

• Graduate students be made aware of available infrastructure.
• Graduate students have better access to assistance with statistical analysis.

Goal 3

Diverse student group

Actions

• More courses in English.
• Increase the number of students with a degree outside of the health sciences.