From curious lecturer to public health research leader

Discovering the path to NIHR Fellowship

I first became aware of NIHR when others around me at the University of Birmingham were writing fellowship applications.  I was a fresh-faced lecturer, and I didn’t really know what a fellowship was, but I was curious to find out.  I had always had an interest in research so I started asking questions about what an early-mid career fellowship application might look like for me.  

After a couple of years dilly dallying and wondering whether I was up to the task, I finally submitted an application.  To my delight, in 2009 I was awarded a five-year NIHR Senior Research Fellowship (equivalent to an NIHR Advanced Fellowship today), and this provided a strong foundation to develop my expertise in public health and primary care research.  The fellowship also provided the opportunity to develop new collaborations with public health colleagues in Australia, which are still going strong today.  During my fellowship I was awarded other NIHR awards, which were invaluable in providing funds to start to develop a team in public health and health behaviour research.

Innovation in lifestyle medicine and health behaviour research

After some time out to have a family and do some other things, in 2019 I was successful in my application for an NIHR Research Professorship award, to evaluate public health based lifestyle interventions.  Importantly, my Research Professorship enabled me to develop the Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB) at Loughborough University where I had moved to in 2018.  The aim of the Centre is to identify and evaluate innovative health behaviour interventions and policies to prevent and treat chronic diseases. 

The Centre has several areas of interest, including the prevention of cardiovascular disease, women's health and lifestyle behaviours, brief interventions, and weight loss before surgery.  The Centre also has a specific focus on developing a critical mass of the next generation of health researchers, and on offering opportunities for collaboration.  The Centre has now provided a platform for several team members to gain their own NIHR Advanced Fellowship awards.

Challenges, impact and growth

My Research Professorship award has provided opportunities to begin working in Africa, specifically in Ghana (Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research) and Zimbabwe (The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe).  I have not previously been involved in research outside of the UK so to visit these research centres in Africa has been brilliant and certainly two personal highlights.  We can learn a lot from our research colleagues in Africa, who are often conducting research in difficult environments and circumstances.  

My Research Professorship award resulted in me being nominated to join the Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care REF2021 panel on behalf of Research England. Joining REF2021 expanded my breadth of understanding about the different types of research being conducted across the United Kingdom and I made some great connections with other panel members. I have also had the opportunity for a secondment with the Department of Health and Social Care.  These types of opportunities provide ‘on the ground’ insights that can really help to shape and prioritise future research endeavours. 

Securing an NIHR Research Professorship is a great achievement, but of course the road to success can be bumpy.  For example, as a research leader who is responsible for a team, it can be worrying as to how you are going to continue to pay staff who do not have permanent posts.  Anyone who has ever run a trial will know that slow recruitment can keep you awake at night, and I have certainly had my share of sleepless nights!

NIHR Research Professorships are important because we must invest in the research pipeline, to ensure we continue to have a workforce in the decades to come.  Public health affects every single person, so it is important that policies are based on high quality evidence, conducted by those such as NIHR research professors. 

Advice for aspiring Research Professors

If I were to give advice on applying for a NIHR Research Professorship award, I would say think through your application and don’t rush your ideas.  Don’t be afraid to ask past and current research professors if you can meet to talk through any questions you might have.  It is the responsibility of NIHR research professors to help others get better, so I'm sure if you reach out, they will help.  Every research professor is different so be bold and don’t be afraid of proposing something different in your application.  

The best science is team science -we can achieve so much more by working together to improve health.  Consider carefully who is best placed to be part of your team science support network.  Try not to pick mentors who are going to tell you what you want to hear.  You will need people on your side, but you also need people to challenge you and help you think critically about your research and your role as a leader.  

Amanda Daley is a Professor of Behavioural Medicine and an NIHR Research Professor in Public Health.  She is also the Director of the Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB) at Loughborough University.  

Her work is focused on investigating the effects of lifestyle interventions on health outcomes and she is the chief investigator on several on-going trials that are examining the effectiveness of physical activity and weight management interventions. Amanda is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a Registered Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.  She has published more than 200 academic papers and has been awarded significant grant funding during her career.  

Learn more about Prof Daley's research work to examine role dentists can play in tackling obesity crisis.