From sandpit to system-wide impact
In December 2022, the inaugural BMJ Research Forum brought together 300 participants at the British Medical Association in London, UK. It was there that they were introduced to the Sandpit Methodology: a structured, intensive, multi-day collaborative workshop approach for generating interdisciplinary research ideas.
One attendee from UCLPartners adopted the approach and applied it within the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; an organisation that manages 17 hospitals delivering care to more than six million patients.
The ongoing success of this project illustrates how a single, well designed collaborative method can catalyse meaningful change when implemented at scale within a healthcare system.
Inspiration for interdisciplinary collaboration
At the BMJ Research Forum 2022, attendees had the privilege of hearing Dr Katherine Freeman from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) deliver a thought-provoking presentation on the Sandpit Methodology for awarding research grants.
This innovative approach helps to unleash free thinking and inspire interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle significant challenges.
Among the attendees was the Chief Executive Officer of UCLPartners, Dr Dominique Allwood MBE, who was inspired by the potential of the Sandpit Methodology to encourage collaboration and co-production. Determined to bring about change, she took the concept back to UCLP and applied it to their Climate Collaborative initiative, developed to implement the NHS Green Plan across their hospitals.
Developments since 2022 show that the initial idea brought back from the BMJ Research Forum has moved into funded research, peer collaboration, and formal recognition within the health system.
Emerging research from Sandpit-style collaboration
As a direct outcome of applying the Sandpit Methodology, UCLPartners' Connecting for Change programme generated and funded four applied research projects focused on reducing energy use and carbon emissions across NHS hospital estates and clinical pathways.1
Award recognition
The Connecting for Change programme was highly commended in the Environmental Sustainability Project of the Year category at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2025, recognising collaboration and impact in sustainability work across health systems.
Dissemination of learning
In addition to presenting at the Quality Improvement Forum in Copenhagen for BMJ Group, the methodology and its outcomes have been used in ongoing discussions on healthcare sustainability and system-level change, supporting collaboration with NHS England and external partners.2
"BMJ Group's global reach and convening power enable meaningful knowledge exchange by bringing together diverse leaders and specialists, amplifying important voices, and sharing insights that inspire action across disciplines and borders."
Dr Dominique Allwood MBE
CEO of Imperial College Health Partners, Director of Population Health at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London
The success of the Sandpit Methodology for UCL Partners led to it being presented by Dr Allwood to an audience of over 3,000 attendees at the at the International Quality Forum in Copenhagen.
The potential for these ideas to spread across organisations worldwide is immense; all it takes is one individual to carry them back to their respective institutions.
The impact of BMJ Group events extends far beyond the conference room. By connecting communities, inspiring change, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experiences, these platforms can transform entire sectors and healthcare systems.
The success story of the Sandpit Methodology and its implementation at UCL Trust exemplify how a single idea, shared among passionate individuals, can create global ripples of change.
