The National Institute for Health and Care Research has announced the winners of its inaugural Impact Prizes, celebrating some of the nation’s most promising researchers and the significant impact of their work.
These awards recognise major improvements in health over the last two decades, driven by research and scientific advances.
Established last year, the NIHR Impact Prizes honour researchers whose groundbreaking work has improved lives or promoted economic growth, both in the UK and globally. The first winners were announced at a ceremony in Birmingham by Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department of Health and Social Care and CEO of the NIHR.
NIHR CEO Professor Lucy Chappell commented:
"I am delighted to announce the first winners of these prizes. These teams showcase the exceptional work across the range of research that NIHR funds and supports. Collectively, this incredible group of researchers - and many more across the system - have strived to drive meaningful change and used research to make a real difference to people’s lives, help build a health and care service fit for the future and drive growth."
In total, 136 entries were submitted, with 10 winners announced. Five awards went to research teams and five to early-career researchers.
Early-Career Researcher Awards
These awards celebrate the contributions of early-career researchers to impactful research:
- Dr Nurulamin Noor, University of Cambridge: For research showing early drug treatment improves outcomes for Crohn’s disease patients.
- Dr Charlotte Hall, University of Nottingham: For research demonstrating how the QbTest computer assessment tool speeds up ADHD diagnosis.
- Dr Davara Bennett, Liverpool and Lancaster Universities: For research improving understanding of inequalities in children entering care.
- Dr Sarah Diver, University of Leicester: For research testing the benefits of tezepelumab for severe asthma.
- Imperial Critical Care Research Team, Imperial College London: For research improving care for severely ill patients with sepsis and COVID-19.
Established Investigator Awards
These awards celebrate teams who have maximised the impact of their research:
- Safewards Team, King’s College London: For research on interventions to increase safety in mental health wards.
- Capsule Sponge Testing Team, University of Cambridge: For developing a device to detect oesophageal cancer precursors.
- STAMPEDE Trial Team, University College London: For research improving outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.
- RESPIRE Team, University of Edinburgh: For research improving respiratory health in Asia.
- RECOVERY Trial Team, University of Oxford: For discovering new therapies to treat severe COVID-19.
Image credit: NIHR
