Shared leadership, shared responsibility.

Walters, Zoë S; Underwood, Timothy J · Cell · 2026

expert_opinion · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

In choosing to merge two independent teams, we stepped into an unconventional model of co-leadership that reshaped our scientific lives. A clinician and a scientist leading together challenged academic norms, dissolved the loneliness of traditional principal investigator roles, and created a shared patient-centered vision for translational research. By embedding patients, carers, and high-performance coaching at our core, we built a culture defined not by individual burden but by collective responsibility, sustainability, and genuine collaboration. This is our story.

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