Prestigious Royal College of Physicians’ research award win for East of England NHS doctor
A doctor at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (ENH) has won a prestigious national award honouring the enormous contribution they have made in delivering research to find new treatments and care pathways for NHS patients.
Dr Oscar Swift, Nephrology Specialist Trainee and Clinical Research Fellow at the Trust, has been announced as a winner in this year's Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP) Awards, run jointly with the NIHR. The awards recognise NHS consultants and trainees who are active in NIHR research.
Applicants were required to outline their contribution to the leadership of several NIHR CRN Portfolio studies, with a particular focus on
- how they demonstrate clinical leadership enabling their organisation to increase its participation in clinical studies
- how they engaged with patients to inform them of new opportunities to participate in clinical research
- their contribution to successful delivery of clinical research studies, with a particular emphasis on industry (commercial contract) studies.
On winning this prestigious award, Dr Swift said:
“I am very grateful for this award but would really like to recognise that successful clinical research is a team effort and is only possible thanks to the hard work of colleagues and the generosity of patients participating in research.”
Since its inception in 2006, the NIHR has significantly increased the scale of clinical research in the NHS and social care, particularly through the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The engagement of NHS physicians and trainees is essential for sustaining and building on this success, particularly given the many competing demands on clinician time and resources.
Dr Helen Macdonald, Chief Operating Officer for the NIHR’s Clinical Research Network in the East of England region, said:
“We send our huge congratulations to Dr Swift and his fellow deserving winners. Our region’s research community is extremely privileged to include such dedicated clinicians who inspire and lead research to improve treatments and care for patients.”
On the award winners, Royal College of Physicians Academic Vice President, Professor Ramesh Arasaradnam said:
“Our winners are some of the most skilled and talented researchers in their field. It’s a true privilege to be able to reward them for the fantastic work they’ve done.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of clinical research, making the recognition of achievements such as those made by our winners all the more important. I hope this will also serve as yet further evidence of the need to embed research within clinical practice.”
Nick Lemoine, NIHR Clinical Research Network Medical Director:
"Clinical leadership is vital for the world-leading performance of the NIHR Clinical Research Network. Each of the consultants and trainees who are prize winners this year have made outstanding contributions to the delivery of research studies in their region, and it is wonderful to see the next generation of researchers coming through."
