Wins for East of England NHS staff at prestigious regional Cancer Research Excellence Awards
NHS staff from around the region have been recognised at this year’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) East of England Cancer Research Excellence Awards.
Awards and Commendations were given in the categories of Early Career Researcher, Team, Medical, and Non-medical and Support Staff, all of which recognise individuals and teams who demonstrate outstanding contributions in delivering NIHR cancer research.
The Cancer Research Excellence Awards were announced at the 2023 CRN East of England Cancer Research Conference, held in Cambridge on Friday 17 November. The Annual CRN East of England Cancer Research Conference gives attendees a chance to hear from key researchers from the region and beyond, showcasing progress being made to improve treatments and care for people with cancer.
This year's conference featured a host of eminent speakers, including Professor Jonathan Wadsley, CRN National Speciality Lead for Cancer Radiotherapy and Imaging Research, and Dr Pippa Corrie, CRN National Specialty Lead for Late Phase and International Trials.
The Award Winners are:
- Early Career Researcher Cancer Research Excellence Award: Dr Farasat Kazmi, Specialist Registrar in Oncology at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Medical Cancer Research Excellence Award (for Doctors and Consultants): Dr Dakshinamoorthy Muthukumar, Consultant Oncologist, Throacic and Urological Malignancies, at East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Non-Medical and Support Staff Cancer Research Excellence Award (for Nurses, Allied Health Professionals and Administrative Staff): Joanna Calder, Lead Research Nurse, and HPB and Head & Neck Cancer Team Lead at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Team Cancer Research Excellence Award: Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre Radiotherapy Research Radiographer Team at Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (CUH)
Dr Farasat Kazmi, who won the Early Career Researcher Award, said:
“It’s been very humbling to win the award. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NIHR and NNUH team for their lovely support. We have an amazing and enthusiastic team here and I am proud to be part of the NNUH family.”
Amy Bates, Radiotherapy Trials Team Lead and Research Radiographer at CUH, said:
“It is wonderful to receive this award, as it’s testament to the hard work and commitment that our team shows every day with regards radiotherapy trials. I could not ask for a better team to lead and work with. I would also like to thank everyone in the radiotherapy department at Addenbrookes hospital, as we would be unable to do this without them. I hope that we will be able to continue to develop our vital work and that we will go from strength to strength in the future.”
Dr Thankamma Ajithkumar, Cancer Lead for CRN East of England and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals, who hosted this year's conference, said:
“We are delighted to be able to recognise our colleagues in the NHS for their exceptional dedication in supporting NIHR cancer research trials. It is thanks to them, and all those who deliver, support, and participate in research, that we are able to help people to be successfully treated for their conditions or are able to live better with them, and we are extremely grateful to all.”
Find out more about the Conference, Awards and Commendations.
For information about wider NIHR research visit www.nihr.ac.uk.
