The region’s top innovators and researchers in healthcare have been recognised at the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards.
Winning projects included: a hub for learning, recovery, health and wellbeing in Liverpool; a partnership in Halton including Widnes Vikings rugby league team, Runcorn Shopping Centre, Runcorn Veterans Association and local NHS organisations; and rising star Dr Andy Nixon, from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for research helping to promote independence for older people.
The North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards celebrate the excellent work being undertaken in healthcare across the region. They demonstrate the impact of clinical research and innovation on patients and social care.
The awards are a collaboration between the Innovation Agency, NIHR Clinical Research Network: North West Coast (CRN NWC), and NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast (CLAHRC NWC).
Dr Liz Mear, Chief Executive of the Innovation Agency, said: “Talent, innovation and collaboration in healthcare in England’s North West Coast are having a real impact on people’s lives and the quality of care. Each of this year’s winners has gone beyond what might normally be expected of them in their roles, and they are all pioneers in their fields.”
Professor Mark Gabbay, Director of CLAHRC NWC, said: “Working together, members of the public, universities, industry and NHS partners have delivered ground-breaking research and new initiatives which will pave the way for future improvements to healthcare in the region and nationally. I congratulate each of this year’s winners and finalists.”
Jacqueline Pirmohamed, Chief Operating Officer of CRN NWC, said: “I congratulate not only the winners and finalists for this year’s awards, but also the patients, carers and other individuals who have given their time and cooperation to help develop knowledge and understanding of disease. These awards are as much for their contribution as for the tireless work of our healthcare professionals.”
The winners are:
Clinical Research Practitioner of the Year
Professor Simon Harding, St Paul’s Clinical Eye Research Centre, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
Clinical Research Rising Star of the Year
Dr Andy Nixon, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Research Site or Team of the Year
Accelerator Research Clinic: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Culture for Innovation
The Bay Way – a fundamental shift in the way we work and lead: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Excellence in Delivery of Commercial Life Science Research
An observational clinical trial to develop and validate the Cancertain® Test: St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Clyz Labs Limited
Outstanding Contribution to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Research
The Life Rooms: Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Partnership in Innovation
Well Halton: NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group
Patient Safety Innovation
Prevention Made Real – using the SEM Scanner to achieve zero or near zero pressure ulcers: BBI (Europe) Limited
Research Student of the Year
Naoimh McMahon, University of Central Lancashire
Research for Wellbeing
Art and Storytelling in Health Inequalities Research: Lancaster University and CLAHRC NWC
Taking Research into Practice
The WOMAN Trial: Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
Transformation Award
Large-scale implementation of Transfers of Care Around Medicine (TCAM): Merseyside Local Professional Network for Pharmacy
For a gallery of photos and more information about the different categories please visit www.nwcawards.co.uk.