Two consultants from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have been awarded prestigious national research leadership prizes.
Dr Louise Savic, a Consultant in Anaesthesia, has been awarded one of 20 NIHR20 Rising Research Leaders prizes. Dr Caroline Thomas is also a Consultant in Anaesthesia and has been awarded one of 20 NIHR20 Research Delivery Leaders prizes. As prize winners, they will receive a £10,000 professional development award, paid to Leeds Teaching Hospitals, alongside access to tailored leadership and development opportunities.
The NIHR is a national funding body awarding grants for research into health and social care. The Research Leaders Prizes were developed as part of the organisation’s 20-year anniversary celebrations and aim to recognise exceptional research leadership, inclusion and impact.
Dr Savic has made an outstanding contribution to health and care research with her work focussing on improving the safety and effectiveness of care for people affected by drug allergies. This is an issue affecting an estimated nine million people across the UK. Recently completing a fellowship with the BRC, she now supports other researchers as an emerging research capacity development lead.
She has developed practical, evidence-based solutions that can be used in the NHS including research showing that non-specialists can safely remove incorrect penicillin allergy labels. This work is helping to shape national policy and contributes to the UK’s long-term allergy strategy.
Dr Savic has also led major improvements for patients who experience life-threatening allergy during surgery. She chairs the first UK multidisciplinary network of specialists involved in the care of these patients, and much of her research is around the diagnosis and prevention of such reactions. She helped to build a high-performing peri-operative research team in the Trust which recruits thousands of patients into NIHR studies. Through training, mentorship, and national collaboration, she is helping grow research capability across clinical teams while actively encouraging patients to take part in research.
Dr Louise Savic said: “I am thrilled to receive this award and grateful to the NIHR for its sustained commitment to supporting research and research leadership. The NIHR has been fundamental to my research journey, providing the infrastructure, partnerships and opportunities needed to translate research into improvements in patient care.
“I am particularly pleased that research into drug allergy is being recognised in this way, as this is a public health issue affecting millions of people in the UK and impacting every area of healthcare. I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues and patients to improve the diagnosis, prevention and management of drug allergies, translating research into meaningful improvements in care and outcomes.”
The award reflects NIHR’s commitment to supporting talented leaders across the full breadth of health and care research careers, improving outcomes for patients, tackling inequalities and driving economic growth across the country.
Winners will receive their prizes at an awards ceremony at the NIHR Academy Members Conference in Leeds on 6 October.