Name: Dr Payal Ganguly
Role: Project Manager (Research Associate)
For Dr Payal Ganguly, working within the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) infrastructure has opened up new perspectives on healthcare research, collaboration and patient impact.
As an NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC): Leeds Project Manager for clinical investigation, Payal has gained valuable insight into how research, innovation, clinical care, regulation and patient involvement work together to improve healthcare outcomes.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr Payal Ganguly said: “As a researcher, I have always been fascinated by the healthcare system as a whole. In my current role as an NIHR-BRC project manager for clinical investigations, I witness first-hand how the other pillars of healthcare function together.”
Funded through NIHR infrastructure, her role has enabled her to explore research and innovation from multiple perspectives — from clinical trials and regulatory processes to patient and public involvement and frontline clinical care.
She said: “This has deepened my understanding of how the different systems work together to enhance patient outcomes, investigate new drugs using trials and see the impact our work has.”
One of the key projects Payal has supported is PMR-PARADOX, delivered in partnership with the charity PMRGCAuk. The project explored inequalities in access to care and support for people living with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), identifying significant regional disparities across the North of England.
The project also highlighted the under-representation of men’s voices within PMR support and research communities, leading the team to consciously improve inclusivity throughout the work.
The impact of PMR-PARADOX extended far beyond research settings. The PMRGCAuk Yorkshire Support Group grew significantly during the project, increasing from just four attendees in 2024 to requiring a larger venue in 2026 after exceeding the previous venue’s capacity.
The project also generated a national increase in PMR awareness through Google Trends activity, gained coverage from the BBC and local media, and was presented at national GP and rheumatology conferences. Its participatory and complexity-informed methods have since been adapted for other clinical guideline projects.
For Payal, one of the most meaningful aspects of working within NIHR research has been its strong commitment to patient inclusion and collaboration.
“NIHR’s emphasis on patient inclusion for all research investigations has encouraged me to switch my approach to any healthcare challenge from the patient’s perspective” she added.
She is also proud of the collaborative networks and partnerships that NIHR research creates.
“In my time as NIHR-BRC project manager for PMR and GCA, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most dedicated scientists, charities, patients, healthcare professionals, researchers and students from across the country and the world, providing us with a community of brilliant minds.”
As NIHR celebrates 20 years, Payal’s story highlights the importance of collaborative, patient-centred research and the role NIHR continues to play in developing people, partnerships and innovations that improve healthcare for everyone.