Christmas greeting from Jakob Grauslund

Dear all at IRS

Looking back on 2025, it’s hard to believe it’s only nine months since I took up the position as Head of Department. It’s been a year full of new impressions, countless meetings and conversations – and, not least, the pleasure of gradually getting to know nearly 450 skilled and dedicated colleagues. Thank you for the warm welcome and for all the support you’ve shown along the way.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your commitment, professionalism, and the unique IRS spirit that I’ve encountered across the organisation. As a regionally anchored department with strong clinical ties, IRS is shaped by a culture where collaboration, closeness to practice, and a shared ambition to strengthen the healthcare system are at the very core. It makes a lasting impression – every single day. Even though our research environments are spread out – both geographically and organisationally – we’re always pleased to hear from researchers. These conversations give us the opportunity to support you, find solutions, and continue shaping IRS together. We encourage you to keep reaching out – whether it’s about research support, strategic considerations, or new ideas.

One of the real highlights this year was our Department Forum in the autumn, where no fewer than 135 participants took part. It was fantastic to feel the energy, the curiosity, and the enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and perspectives – and it made us both proud and grateful. We’re hoping for even more participants when we meet again in the spring.

2025 also brought an important milestone: the first graduates from the regional medical degree programme in Esbjerg completed their studies. These were proud moments – not only for the new doctors and their families, but also for all of you who, through research, teaching and clinical engagement, have helped create a strong and relevant learning environment in the region.

This autumn, we’ve been working intensively on our new research strategy, which is expected to be adopted before the end of the year. The strategy sets a clear direction for the years ahead and is built around five key themes:

1. Promoting excellent, person-centred and application-oriented research
2. Creating vibrant and sustainable research environments – including strengthening visible, supportive and inspiring leadership In 2026, we will particularly focus on developing and clarifying career pathways for early-career researchers, so that our pool of talent has the best possible conditions to grow, thrive and progress
3. Strengthening cohesion and collaboration across the department – as well as with the regional and national healthcare system
4. Developing a research-based teaching culture that prepares the healthcare professionals of tomorrow
5. Ensuring effective research support and communication – including an increased focus on helping researchers secure external funding

Putting the strategy into practice will be a key priority in 2026, and we’re looking forward to strengthening the frameworks for research support, cross-cutting collaboration, and researcher career development at IRS.

2026 will also be a year of broader change for the department. We’ll be navigating the merger of somatic and psychiatric care in both the Region of Southern Denmark and Region Zealand – a process that will affect many of our partnerships and organisational interfaces.

At the same time, we’ll begin working in earnest with the national Healthcare Reform, which in the coming years will shape tasks, structures and priorities throughout the regional healthcare system. IRS will play an important role in this development – and I’m confident that our strong research environments and close clinical collaborations give us a solid foundation to build on.

Before we head off for the Christmas break and recharge for what promises to be an exciting 2026, I’d like – on behalf of the entire secretariat – to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Thank you for your dedication, your academic curiosity, and your commitment to the continued development of IRS. I’m looking forward to continuing the journey with you in the year ahead.

Warm regards
Jakob Grauslund
Head of Department, Professor, IRS