NIHR announces winners of first-ever Impact Prizes

Brand new National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) awards are celebrating some of the nation’s most promising researchers and the impact their work is making. These recognise major improvements in health over the last two decades, driven by research and scientific advances.

Established last year, the NIHR Impact Prizes celebrate researchers whose groundbreaking work has improved people’s lives or promoted economic growth, both in the UK and globally.

Now, the first winners of these awards have been announced at a ceremony in Birmingham by Professor Lucy Chappell, the chief scientific advisor at the Department of Health and Social Care and chief executive officer of the NIHR.

Professor Lucy Chappell, NIHR CEO, said: "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 sent entries. Of the 10 winners, 5 awards went to research teams and 5 to early-career researchers.

Early-career researcher awards:

These awards celebrate the contribution of an early-career researcher to the impact of research. Early career refers to researchers who, at the time of the study, had either never held a grant as a chief investigator before, or had completed a PhD within the last 5 years.

Dr Nurulamin Noor, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals:  For research to show how early drug treatment leads to better outcomes for people with Crohn’s disease.

This study found that offering early advanced therapy to patients after diagnosis can improve outcomes for people with Crohn's and save costs. It has been implemented across the NHS and globally, improving lives and reducing the number of people who require surgery.

Dr Charlotte Hall, University of Nottingham: For research to show how using a computer assessment tool (QbTest) can increase the speed and efficiency of ADHD assessment for children and young people.

This study found that integrating a computerised assessment tool (QbTest) into the standard ADHD assessment reduced appointments, sped up diagnosis, and was well received by patients and their families. It is now being used across the NHS.

Dr Davara Bennett, Liverpool and Lancaster Universities Collaboration for Public Health Research: For research to improve understanding of inequalities in children entering care in England.

This study identified obstacles to tackling the socioeconomic drivers of care entry at a local level. It proposed strategies for overcoming them and the nominee formed a Children’s Development Network for Children at Risk.

Dr Sarah Diver, University of Leicester: For research to test the benefits of a new treatment for severe asthma.

This study played a central role in trials testing an asthma medication called tezepelumab. This showed that the medication decreases asthma attacks and symptoms, and improves lung function across severe asthma patients. This also helped to reduce dependence on short-term services, which reduces NHS costs.

The Imperial Critical Care Research team, Imperial College London: For research to improve the care of severely ill patients with sepsis in intensive care, including those with Covid-19.

The team led 5 drug trials to improve the care of severely ill patients in intensive care, including during the coronavirus pandemic. Their research into the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs in treating Covid-19 saved hundreds of thousands of lives, reducing time in hospital and helping patients recover faster. These results have been used in the NHS and informed World Health Organization guidelines, ensuring that people around the globe could benefit.

Established investigator awards:

These awards celebrate teams who have maximised the impact of their research.

Team: Safewards, King’s College London and City St George’s, University of London: For research to show the efficacy of ’Safewards’, a package of interventions to increase the safety of patients and staff on mental health wards.

This research led to the development of Safewards, a nurse-led intervention designed to improve conditions in mental health wards. The Safewards model has been shown to create calmer and safer mental health wards for patients and staff, reducing conflict and containment. It has been introduced in hundreds of UK inpatient settings, and included in a number of government policies in the UK and globally.

Team: Capsule sponge testing team, University of Cambridge: For research to improve the detection and prevention of oesophageal cancer by using a swallowable sponge on a string.

The team developed a ‘pill-on-a-string’ device which can reliably detect the precursor to oesophageal cancer called Barrett’s oesophagus. The device is used in clinics and GP surgeries and helps with earlier diagnosis and cost-savings compared to traditional diagnosis.

Team: The STAMPEDE trial, University College London, Christie Hospital Manchester and University of Manchester, Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, Leeds Teaching Hospital, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland: For research to assess different treatment options and improve outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.

The study findings have led to extended survival rates for men with advanced prostate cancer. This has changed global treatment guidelines and shed new light on long-term outcomes, including indicators of treatment response, better targeting of therapies and interventions reducing complications.

Team: The RESPIRE team at the University of Edinburgh and Universiti Malaya: For research to inform and influence local health priorities and practices and improve respiratory health in Asia.

The team tested affordable and scalable solutions to reduce respiratory diseases and deaths in Asia. RESPIRE partners trained healthcare workers in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Pakistan in using pulse oximetry for measuring low levels of oxygen in the blood, childhood pneumonia prevention and management of chronic respiratory diseases. This was well received by service providers and caregivers.

Team: The RECOVERY trial team, University of Oxford: For research to study and discover new therapies to treat people with severe Covid-19.

This team rapidly set up the RECOVERY trial in March 2020,  designed to discover new drug therapies to treat people hospitalised with severe Covid-19. Their work uncovered 4 treatments that reduce the risk of death from Covid-19, one of which was dexamethasone. This finding is estimated to have saved around 1 million lives worldwide by March 2021.