Throughout the 9 years of the Syrian conflict, humanitarian actors have accumulated enormous experience of dealing with this complex environment and collected substantial data—only a tiny fraction, however, is being used in informing practice and research. Partnering with academic institutions could enable these actors to foster their efforts in data collection, analysis and research production. These partnerships should go beyond the traditional understanding of partnerships to include elements of a two-way capacity strengthening paradigm, and equal benefits and opportunities. Drawing on my personal experience of providing clinical medicine in field hospitals in conflict-affected areas in Syria, as well as my experience in the humanitarian response there working with Save the Children and a number of local organisations, and then moving to policy and research working with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Chatham House and King’s College London, I conclude equal partnerships and effective collaborations between academic institutions and humanitarian actors could provide a concrete and sustainable approach of conducting health research in conflict settings.