We need to make research culture healthier and more inclusive. Last year more than 4,000 researchers shared their experiences of the research environment , and Wellcome has been campaigning for change .

But individual organisations can’t transform culture alone. We need a sector-wide movement to drive progress.

That’s why I’m so pleased to see the UK government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) release their new Research and Development (R&D) People and Culture Strategy.

This strategy lays out the government’s plans to make UK research careers more attractive and sustainable. Targeting everyone in the sector, it aims to attract, retain and develop the diverse and talented people we need for research to thrive.

These ambitions will help steer the R&D sector in a good direction and move all organisations towards supporting open, honest and inclusive environments.

Building a healthier culture means making sure that the system supports the behaviour we want to see. It’s encouraging that the R&D People and Culture Strategy lays out a framework for recognition and incentives for researchers and research institutes to build positive cultures.

Wellcome is working to reduce inequalities in the research we fund. We are also working with our partners to improve how the research we fund is done. We've committed that by 2031,  Wellcome will be an inclusive funder – which means the people we fund will be better supported and more representative of the global population. We’ll also make sure that all Wellcome-funded research is inclusive in both design and practice, to help drive better science and more equitable health solutions.

The UK government playing their part in the research culture system – alongside everyone who makes research happen – is a big step towards making research culture in the UK more inclusive.

Read the full article about supporting inclusive research at Wellcome.