Dr Julia Wilson

Director of Innovation and Impact

 
My role is to lead the Innovation and Impact Department for the Institute. In particular, I work in partnership with external organisations including other academic institutes, industry, governments, and funders to enable the Sanger Institute to conduct its world-leading genomics research. My department ensures that the Institute’s science is developed into resources, tools and products that will have a positive impact on health, society and the environment. 

About me

My role is to help the Wellcome Sanger Institute maximise the impact of its world-leading science. I work with researchers across the Institute to shape strategic direction, build partnerships and create the conditions that enable scientific discoveries to deliver real-world benefit.

This means working at the intersection of science, strategy and society. I engage with academia, industry, investors, charities and research funders to identify opportunities that accelerate discovery, influence policy and translate genomics research into improvements for health, the environment and society.

Within the Institute, I lead the Innovation & Impact department, bringing together expertise in strategy, policy, partnerships, innovation, scientific training and operational delivery. Together, we help researchers navigate complexity, remove barriers, develop collaborations, secure opportunities and demonstrate the value and impact of their work. We also manage the Institute’s Conference Centre and Innovation Centre, creating spaces where ideas, partnerships and scientific communities can flourish.

What excites me most about working at the Sanger Institute is the opportunity to help shape the future of science. Genomics is transforming our understanding of biology at an unprecedented pace, opening new possibilities not only for improving human health but also for addressing global environmental challenges and creating a more equitable research ecosystem. I believe we are entering a new era of scientific discovery that will fundamentally change how we understand life and how we use science to improve the world.

The Institute combines scientific ambition with an extraordinary willingness to tackle problems that others consider impossible. Its culture of bold, collaborative and open science creates an environment where researchers can pursue questions at a scale that was unimaginable only a decade ago. It is a privilege to be part of an organisation that continually pushes the boundaries of discovery while remaining committed to ensuring that its science benefits everyone.

Innovation and Impact

Our work focuses on turning scientific excellence into lasting impact. We do this by developing future scientific leaders through world-class training; supporting the translation of discoveries into new technologies, products and companies; shaping national and international policy to create the right environment for science to thrive; building strategic partnerships across academia, healthcare, industry and government; and ensuring that our science, data and tools remain openly available to researchers around the world.

Collaboration sits at the heart of everything we do. The Sanger Institute’s ability to generate and analyse vast genomic datasets creates enormous opportunities, but their full value can only be realised by working with partners across the global research community. Whether collaborating with universities, healthcare systems, technology companies, pharmaceutical organisations or governments, we bring together expertise from different sectors to tackle some of the world’s biggest health and environmental challenges.

One of the aspects of my role that I enjoy most is connecting people, ideas and opportunities. Our department has a unique perspective across strategy, innovation, partnerships and policy, allowing us to identify synergies that individual teams might otherwise miss. We believe that open science and real-world translation are complementary rather than competing goals: openly sharing data, methods and knowledge accelerates discovery, while partnerships help transform those discoveries into practical benefits for patients and society.

Our team combines scientific expertise with experience in strategy, research funding, policy, commercialisation, partnerships and education. This breadth of knowledge enables us to understand the priorities of different organisations, build trusted relationships and bring together the people needed to turn ambitious scientific ideas into meaningful impact.

 

I believe people do their best work when they are trusted, empowered and given the space to succeed. That is the environment I strive to create for my teams.

My role is not to be the expert in every area of the department, but to build exceptional teams, bring together diverse expertise and create the clarity, support and conditions that enable people to do their best work. I want colleagues to feel confident taking ownership, making decisions and bringing forward new ideas, knowing they have my support.

Wherever possible, I involve people in strategic discussions and decision-making so they understand not only what decisions are made, but why. My aim is to help individuals grow into trusted leaders who are equipped to make sound decisions independently.

Ultimately, I measure my success not by the decisions I make, but by the capability, confidence and impact of the people and teams I have helped to develop.

I am an alumna of the Academy of Medical Sciences FLIER Programme, Chair of the Open Targets Governance Board, Former President of the Rising Network.

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