The James Lind Alliance

The James Lind Alliance (JLA) is a non-profit making initiative, which was established in 2004. It brings patients, carers and clinicians together in Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) to identify and prioritise the unanswered questions or evidence uncertainties that they agree are most important for research to address.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds the infrastructure of the JLA to oversee the processes for PSPs, based within a small team at the School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation, University of Southampton. This includes the recruitment, training and supervision of JLA Advisers, management of enquiries, communication activity, and working with JLA Advisers to support and uphold the principles and methodology of the JLA. The NIHR does not normally fund JLA PSPs.

The JLA team at the University of Southampton, together with the JLA Advisers, oversees the JLA methodology as set out in this Guidebook. They also oversee the operational and day-to-day activity of the JLA. The JLA has an Advisory Group that provides ad hoc advice and guidance to the JLA. The JLA Advisory Group is made up of people who have been involved in JLA PSPs and is a mix of patients, carers, health and care professionals, and researchers.