James Lind Objectives

The JLA receives funding from the Department of Health and Medical Research Council – against agreed objectives and performance metrics

The JLA is guided by a Strategy and Development Group which meets three times a year

The JLA is managed by a Monitoring and Implementation Group which meets on a monthly basis

Operational Objectives 2008 – 2009

Support the delivery of the maximum number of priority setting partnerships that resources will allow
Produce a Tool-kit for use by future Partnerships based on a variety of worked models
Work closely with DUETs to ensure that maximum leverage can be obtained from both JLA and DUETs opportunities
Develop and manage a communications strategy to ensure that accepted JLA ethos and aspirations are embedded in the wider research world
Capture and publish evidence based learning from Partnerships in order that all added value benefits of the process can be shared
Maintain effective strategic relationships with existing (and evolving) structures and organisations to ensure the various JLA models of partnership are fit for purpose
Develop a strategy for sustaining JLA philosophy past 2010 (when core DH / MRC funding ceases)

Influencing objectives

To increase the impact of research priorities shared by patients and clinicians on the therapeutic research agenda, and encourage research funding bodies to take account of these shared priorities when funding research.
To increase the potential for patients and clinicians to work in partnership throughout the whole process of therapeutic research.
To help re-orientate the therapeutic research agenda towards questions and priorities shared by patients and clinicians about the effects of treatments.
To promote and demonstrate the value of priority setting partnerships and collaborations between patients and clinicians.
To increase public and professional knowledge about therapeutic research.
To increase public and professional acknowledgement that recognition of uncertainty about the effects of treatments can be the first step towards improving healthcare.

The James Lind Alliance will:

establish a network of affiliate organisations and individuals who support and wish actively to promote the principles set out above.
help to develop a Database of Uncertainties about the Effects of Treatments (DUETs) containing questions about the effects of treatments being asked by patients and clinicians which cannot currently be answered confidently.
foster the evolution of priority setting partnerships of patients and clinicians, to identify and prioritise their shared uncertainties about the effects of treatments, and then to press for systematic reviews of existing evidence in areas where these are needed, or to influence priorities for additional research.
provide a setting as free as possible from major biases (distorting factors) and competing interests, in which patients and clinicians can meet to identify and promote shared priorities for addressing uncertainties about the effects of treatments