Leading health researchers in Oxford have been recognised in a prestigious national competition.
Eight professors have been named National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigators in recognition of their “outstanding contribution to clinical and applied health and social care research”.
The successful candidates are all prominent researchers in the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.
Two other professors had their NIHR Senior Investigator awards renewed, while eight more who have previously held awards have now been designated Emeritus NIHR Senior Investigators.
“Congratulations to the colleagues whose outstanding research leadership has been recognised. The NIHR Senior Investigator award is a major achievement,” said Prof Keith Channon, Director of the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
“These awards are also a great endorsement of the clinical research work done in Oxford through the partnership between the University of Oxford and the two NHS trusts, embodied by our BRCs.”
“Oxford NIHR Senior Investigator awards accounted for eight of the 43 new awards and two of the 12 renewals made by the NIHR nationally – more than any of the other University-Hospitals partnerships in England,” he added.
Prof John Geddes, Director of the NIHR Oxford Health BRC, said: “Our Oxford colleagues have done wonderfully well in this highly prestigious and very competitive round.
“Senior Investigators form the intellectual heart of the NIHR and Oxford’s success demonstrates our enormous commitment to – and contribution to – this national treasure.”
The new NIHR Senior Investigators are:
- Prof Paul Aveyard, Professor of Behavioural Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
- Prof Eleanor Barnes, Professor of Hepatology and Experimental Medicine, Nuffield department of Medicine
- Prof Anke Ehlers, Professor of Experimental Psychopathology, Department of Experimental Psychology
- Prof Carl Heneghan, Professor of Evidence-based Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
- Prof Susan Jebb, Professor of Diet and Population Health, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
- Prof Graham Ogg, Professor of Dermatology, Radcliffe Department of Medicine
- Prof Andrew Pollard, Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, Department of Paediatrics
- Prof Paresh Vyas, Professor of Haematology, Radcliffe Department of Medicine
The NIHR Senior Investigators whose award was renewed are:
- Prof Andrew Farmer, Professor of General Practice, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
- Prof Mark McCarthy, Professor of Diabetic Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine and Radcliffe Department of Medicine
The new Emeritus NIHR Senior Investigators are:
- Prof Guy Goodwin, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry
- Prof Trisha Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
- Prof Freddie Hamdy, Professor of Surgery, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences
- Prof Adrian Hill, Professor of Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine
- Prof David Mant, Emeritus Professor of General Practice, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
- Prof Tim Peto, Professor of Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine
- Prof Peter Rothwell, Professor of Clinical Neurology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences
- Prof John Todd, Professor of Precision Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Senior Investigators are appointed from NIHR Investigators through annual competitions, informed by the advice of an international panel of experts. In total, more than 300 Senior Investigators have now been appointed, with the number of active Senior Investigator awards maintained at around 200. They form part of the NIHR Faculty.
Senior Investigators are each awarded a discretionary fund of £15k per year. In addition, NHS institutions with whom Senior Investigators are associated and which are eligible for Research Capability Funding (RCF) attract an additional amount for each of their Senior Investigators.
The role of the NIHR Senior Investigator includes contributing significantly to the NIHR as a senior leader; leading in the training and development of staff; acting as an ambassador for the NIHR in the wider healthcare system; maintaining and developing a track record of excellence in clinical and applied research; contributing to economic growth; and integrating patient and public involvement and engagement into research.