The NIHR are delighted to unveil the shortlist for the first ever NIHR Impact Prizes.

Every day, NIHR research saves lives and improves the quality of life of the public. The research we support drives improvements to our health and care services, resulting in better wellbeing, better productivity and significant contributions to the wider economy.

The NIHR Impact Prizes celebrate researchers and teams who have had a major impact on the health and wealth of the nation, as well as globally.

The winners will be announced at an in-person award ceremony on 20 March 2025, hosted by Professor Lucy Chappell, the Department of Health and Social Care’s Chief Scientific Advisor and CEO of the NIHR.

In the meantime, find out more about the shortlist on the NIHR news section of the NIHR website.

(March 25)

A 24-year-old woman from York has become one of the first patients in the world to take part in a pioneering research study at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that could switch off the progression of a rare, incurable muscle-weakening disorder called facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). 

FSHD is a devastating muscle-wasting disease caused by the activation of an abnormal gene which increases the toxic build-up of the DUX4 protein in muscle cells, resulting in loss of strength in the face, shoulders, arms, legs and hands. There are currently no approved drug treatments for the condition.   

Lauren Clarke, who can no longer stand for prolonged periods of time and struggles with simple daily activities such as washing her hair, is one of only a relatively small number of patients across the world to take part in the trial, known as FORTITUDE.

The landmark first-in-human trial is investigating if a targeted gene modifying therapy can be safely delivered to the muscle and alter the underlying cause of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Patients either receive the drug or a placebo. 

For more information please visit the news page on the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Website

(February 2025)

A ground-breaking drug screening programme is set to accelerate the development of new MND treatments.

The EXPErimental medicine Route To Success in ALS (EXPERTS-ALS) project is a pioneering study which aims to rapidly screen potential drugs for evidence that they can slow down damage to the nervous system occurring in people motor neuron disease, also known as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

Led by Professor Chris McDermott from the University of Sheffield and Professor Martin Turner from the University of Oxford, the study involves 11 MND centres across the UK and is designed to continually test new drug candidates, with initial funding to cover the next three years. 

For more information please visit the news page on the University of Sheffield's website.

(February 2025)

Our very own Research Sister, Lorenza Nwafor, is featured in the newest blog from the  Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) BMJ on Empowering Underrepresented Voices in Research: An Arts-Based Approach.

To read the blog, visit the EBN BMJ website.

(January 2025)

Dr Kirsty Harkness, who has supported recruitment of hundreds of patients into stroke and dementia research studies over many years, received the esteemed accolade from the British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians.

The award was given in recognition of the leading role she has played in improving future evidenced-based stroke care.

With a focus on strokes caused by bleeding on the brain, small vessel disease and vascular cognitive impairment, Dr Kirsty Harkness has led on recruitment to numerous NIHR portfolio studies, enabling thousands of stroke patients to benefit from health and care research.

She has also played a pivotal role in developing stroke research in Sheffield, including as a key member of the Sheffield-led CognoStroke project which is investigating vascular cognitive impairment in stroke. Her invaluable expertise has also supported the development of CognoSpeak™, a groundbreaking project led by neurologists and computer scientists from the University of Sheffield which is using artificial intelligence and speech technology to aid earlier detection of dementia.

For more information please visit the news page of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals' website.

(January 2025)

The ground breaking TRICEPStrial, which is testing whether a device which delivers electrical pulses to damaged areas of the brain via a connected earpiece can improve hand and arm function in stroke survivors, has featured in the Daily Mail.

The TRICEPS trial, which is being led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield, is investigating if a portable, pacemaker-like device could significantly improve life for the more than 36,500 people in the UK every year left with permanent arm weakness after a stroke.

Featured in the Good Health supplement (Tuesday 7 January 2025), patient Phil Herbert is among the 100+ patients to have joined the innovative nerve stimulation trial so far.

He told the Mail he was “noticing a difference already” and had "more movement..[to]...open and close kitchen cupboards".

For more information please visit the news page of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals' website.

(January 2025)