NIHR Oxford BRC Professor Sarah Walker has received a prestigious national research award.
Professor Walker, Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Medicine and Oxford BRC Theme Lead for Modernising Medical Microbiology and Big Infection Diagnostics, has been reappointed National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator.
The NIHR says Senior Investigators are “leading experts in their fields, recognised for their exceptional contributions to research and their influence in shaping the future of health and care. They receive funding to support their research activities while undertaking a senior leadership role for the NIHR”.
Professor Helen McShane, Director of the Oxford BRC, said: “Being named an NIHR Senior Investigator is a significant honour that reflects both research excellence and leadership. This award is a testament to Professor Walker’s dedication to advancing patient-centred research, and I am delighted to see her contributions recognised in this way”.
NIHR Senior Investigator status is awarded to researchers on the basis of the quality and volume of internationally excellent research, its relevance to patients and the public, and its impact on improvements in healthcare and public health. Other criteria include research leadership, engagement with patients and the public and with healthcare policymakers.
They receive £20,000 per year of appointment to fund activities that support their research.
They hold their award for no more than two terms, to ensure turnover and to create opportunities for new researchers to participate in NIHR at senior level. The college of Senior Investigators is maintained at around 200 researchers in total.
On completion of a second successful term, Senior Investigators are awarded the title Senior Investigator Emeritus, which they hold as long as they are in substantive employment in England.
Senior Investigators are members of the NIHR Academy, and as such, they play an important role in mentoring, training and developing the careers of other researchers.