Recognising NUH’s clinical research heroes | Research News and Media

Staff who develop, plan and deliver life-changing clinical research at Nottingham’s hospitals have been recognised for their achievements this month.

Their work has supported more than 73,000 people in taking part in research at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) in 2024/25.

Our winners, nominated by their colleagues, patients and volunteers, have been involved in life-changing research including into new cancer treatments, investigating permanent hearing loss, and research to develop a new vaccine against Paratyphoid A fever.

The awards are held each year by the Research & Innovation (R&I) department at NUH to recognise staff and raise the profile of research which benefits thousands of patients in Nottingham and far beyond.

In 2024-25, 740 research trials took place at NUH, to offer NUH patients access to new treatments and therapies, enhance the care provided, and add to the body of scientific knowledge which will improve healthcare in the future.

Professor Stephen Ryder, Clinical Director of Research & Innovation, said:

“Research continues to make a key contribution to the work we do at NUH, and our annual Research Excellence awards are an important way of celebrating the outstanding efforts of our R&I teams to deliver research studies for our patients.

“It’s important we take the time to celebrate and recognise the efforts of our staff in so many ways, and I never cease to be impressed with the nominations and the achievement of the people behind them.”

Kathryn Fairbrother, Director of Clinical Operations for Research & Innovation, added:

“We have had much to celebrate in Research & Innovation over the last year, with a fresh focus on research within the Trust, incredible research studies and our partnerships with both academia and industry to achieve great results.

“As a research team, we want to continue work more collaboratively than ever before, and I’m delighted we are able to share some of the highlights of 2024/25 through our award nominees and winners - there are some amazing stories behind them.”

Jo Hobbs, Divisional Portfolio Manager in Oncology research for R&I, was the winner of the Andrea Palfreman Award.

The award was established in memory of Andrea, a former NUH Clinical Research Practitioner who passed away in September 2024, and highlights qualities that embodied her - outstanding compassion and care in research delivery.

Jo said:

“It is an honour to receive this award in memory of Andrea Palfreman who meant so much to me. Research was a shared passion for both of us, and we were driven every day by the belief that our work makes a real difference to patients.”

“Andrea was compassionate, dedicated, supportive, and endlessly selfless, even when facing her own challenges. I carry her spirit with me, and on difficult days, her strength reminds me to keep moving forward.”

Nova Mathew won the Early Career Researcher award. Nova, who trained as an audiologist and is working on a PhD research project with supervisors from the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Hearing Theme, said:

“I’m hugely motivated after receiving this award and want to get involved by nominating others for their own research excellence in future.

“I hope the tool I am working on with help investigators produce high quality research and generate better evidence, to benefit of patients living with co-existing dementia and hearing loss – conditions which affects every aspect of these patients’ lives.”

 

The 2025 NUH Research Excellence awards winners and runners- up were:

Category:

Altruism

Laura Kirk – winner

Runners-up:

Liesl Smith

Heather Pritchett

Research Excellence

Jessica Simkin – winner

Runners-up:

Penny Hall

Charlotte Caimino

 

Research Partnership

The BiVista Study Team – winner

Runner-up:

Lucy Morriss

Research Impact

Children's Research Team – winner

Runners-up:

The Neuroms Team

Kebba Konteh

Early Career

Nova Mathew – winner

Runners-up

Noor Altameemi

Hasan Hazim Alsararatee 

People’s Research

Research Delivery Community Team & Involvement and Inclusion Team - winner

Runner-up: Primary Care and Hearing Loss Team

Andrea Palfreman Award

Jo Hobbs - winner

Runners-up:

Liesl Smith

Richard Barks

Directors’ Award 

Winners - Sarah Durnan and

Helen Janiszewski