Published: 13 September 2021
The National Institute for Health Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) and Royal College of Physicians (RCP) run an award in partnership to recognise outstanding contributions of NHS consultants and trainees who are active in research.
The nominations have now been reviewed and the NIHR is delighted to announce the winners.
Winners
Consultants
- Dr Andrew Ustianowski, Honorary Professor of Infectious Disease, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
- Abdul Ashish, Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust
- David Tucker, Consultant Haematologist, Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust, Truro
- Professor Amit Patel, Consultant in Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplantation, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Hermione Price, Consultant Diabetologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton
- Richard Balasubramaniam, Consultant Cardiologist, University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth
Trainees
- Nuru Noor, Specialist Trainee in Gastroenterology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Jennifer Vidler, Haematology Registrar, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Lavanya Athithan, Cardiology Registrar, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Samuel Hey, Internal Medical Trainee, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Applicants were required to outline their contribution to the leadership of several NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio studies with a particular focus on:
- how they demonstrate clinical leadership enabling their organisation to increase its participation in clinical studies
- how they engaged with patients to inform them of new opportunities to participate in clinical research
- their contribution to successful delivery of clinical research studies, with a particular emphasis on industry (commercial contract) studies.
On the award winners, Royal College of Physicians academic vice president, Professor Ramesh Arasaradnam said:
“It’s been a real privilege to witness the high level of research set by my colleagues and RCP is proud to be supporting them. Truly it’s a testament of how to embed research within clinical practice. Many congratulations.”
Since its inception in 2006, the NIHR has significantly increased the scale of clinical research in the NHS, particularly through the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The engagement of NHS physicians and trainees in research is essential for sustaining and building on this success, particularly given the many competing demands on clinician time and resources.
Professor Nick Lemoine, Medical Director of the NIHR Clinical Research Network said:
“‘Clinical leadership is vital for the world-leading performance of the NIHR Clinical Research Network. Each of the consultants and trainees who are prize winners this year have made outstanding contributions to the delivery of research studies in their region and it is wonderful to see the next generation of researchers coming through.”
As part of the application process the applicants had to set out how they would use the prize money to increase their contribution to NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio studies in the future.
Trainee award winners will be invited to attend the Royal College of Physicians’ New Members Ceremony in September 2022. Consultant award winners will be invited to the Harveian Oration on 20 October 2021.