HEE supports the search for research champions

The 2017 Advancing Healthcare Awards is now open for entries. This year there is a new Research Champions category sponsored by Health Education England (HEE) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

The awards for allied health professionals (AHPs), healthcare scientists and those who work with them in support roles celebrates projects and professionals that lead innovative health and social care practice and make a positive difference to patients’ lives. The awards are unique in that they are UK-wide and cover all these professional and specialist groups whose achievements often go unnoticed.

The NIHR/HEE award aims to find research champions among AHPs and healthcare scientists who are currently on the HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) programme or its predecessors, or have recently completed their awards within the last 12 months.  

Nicki Latham, Executive Director of Performance and Development, HEE, said:

We want to recognise AHPs and healthcare scientists that can demonstrate how they are championing their field of research - not just by undertaking their own projects, but inspiring others to become involved and by doing so increase research capacity.

Supporting research, innovation and growth is a key objective for HEE and I am looking forward to hearing how our HEE/NIHR ICA trainees are championing the benefits with their peers and within networks.

Lisa Cotterill, Director at the NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre added:

The AHPs and healthcare scientists we fund are already achieving notable things in their fields of research. What we hope this award will recognise HEE/NIHR trainees who are going above and beyond to champion research in their environments - not only undertaking their own research projects but inspiring others to become involved and to increase research capacity.

We expect that examples to include innovative ways of disseminating results locally or to a wider audience, fresh approaches to getting AHPs and healthcare scientists involved in research and the effective engagement of patients and service users.

The closing date to enter the awards is 13 January 2017. Winners will be announced on 31 March 2017.

For more information on all the categories, eligibility and details of how to enter visit: www.AHPandHSawards.co.uk.