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Five research leaders awarded flagship NIHR career development awards

Published: 15 December 2020

The NIHR has announced its latest cohort of NIHR Research Professors and NIHR Global Research Professors.

Five outstanding researchers will now join the prestigious group of leading health and care researchers, taking the total to 54 who have been successful in gaining the highly competitive award.

These awards aim to fund research leaders of the future to promote effective translation of research and to strengthen health, public health and care research leadership at the highest academic levels. For the Global Research Professorships, the research must be for the primary and direct benefit of people in low and middle income countries.

The latest cohort of awardees are:

NIHR Research Professorship

  • Professor Sandra Bucci, a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Manchester. Her research topic is ‘Digital solutions for people with severe mental health problems’
  • Professor Emma Frew, a Professor in Health Economics based at the University of Birmingham. Her research topic is ‘Economic evaluation of multi-sector obesity policy’
  • Professor Veronica Kinsler, Professor of Paediatric Dermatology and Dermatogenetics based at University College London. Her research topic is ‘Targeted therapies for congenital melanocytic naevi and melanoma’

NIHR Global Research Professorship

  • Professor Susanna Dunachie, Associate Professor at the University of Oxford and Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. Her research topic is ‘Developing a vaccine to prevent death from melioidosis in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in low and middle income countries’
  • Professor David Lissauer, a Professor of Global Maternal and Fetal Health at the University of Liverpool. His research topic is ‘Stopping mothers dying from sepsis in Africa’

Professor Dave Jones, Dean for NIHR Academy, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming our latest cohort of NIHR Research Professors and NIHR Global Research Professors. These outstanding individuals will play a key role in leading and improving the health and care of people not only in the UK but around the world.”

The awards are open to researchers from any professional background and this has been shown with awards made to health economists, statisticians, engineers and psychologists in the last two competitions.

Worth up to £2million over five years, successful applicants will benefit from a package of extensive support, including three support post appointments and a leadership and development programme including the opportunity to request a sabbatical.

Read more about the latest Research Professorship awardees and their research.

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