The region’s top innovators and researchers in healthcare have been recognised at the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards 2020. Winning projects included:

• a dedicated service providing psychological intervention for self-harm
• a partnership to support people to improve their mental health through access to nature in Lancashire
• a public and patient-led group providing face-to-face feedback, product testing and co-creation of health and care solutions

The North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards celebrate the excellent work taking place in healthcare across the region. They demonstrate the impact of clinical research and innovation on patients and social care.

The event was also an opportunity for colleagues to give their best wishes to Jacqueline Pirmohamed who is leaving her role as Chief Operating Officer for the NIHR Clinical Research Network North West Coast (CRN NWC), one of the organisations hosting the awards. Jacqui has worked in healthcare for over 38 years and was instrumental in setting up the original Cheshire and Merseyside Comprehensive Research Network, formed in 2007.

Award winners were also joined on the evening by NHS England National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis, who congratulated all finalists for their achievements and also paid special thanks to all NHS staff managing the response to COVID 19.

The awards are hosted by the Innovation Agency, NIHR CRN NWC and Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC). Congratulations go out to all those who were shortlisted. The awards winners are:

THE RUTH YOUNG AWARD FOR RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION
University of Liverpool
The Place-based Longitudinal Data Resource (PLDR)

AWARD FOR REDUCING HEALTH INEQUALITIES
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
The Asthma Mapping Project

RESEARCH STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Mandeep Bajwa
University of Liverpool

AWARD FOR RESEARCH CAPACITY BUILDING
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
Clinical academia: the dream team collaboration

TRANSFORMATION AWARD
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Hope therapy service

PARTNERSHIP IN INNOVATION AWARD
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and Lancashire Wildlife Trust
My place: a natural way to wellbeing

PATIENT SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Early detection of deterioration in children in hospital to prevent critical care transfer – the DETECT study

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
PIES: Patient Involvement and Engagement Senate
Patient and public-led involvement in health and care innovation

CULTURE FOR INNOVATION AWARD
FCMS/PDS Medical – Fleetwood Urgent Treatment Centre
Our cultural journey

RESEARCH RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Dr Nichola Manu
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH
St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Commercial gastroenterology research

RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR
Professor Carolyn Young
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

RESEARCH TEAM OF THE YEAR
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North West Coast Research Nurses
Collaborative working: cardiovascular research team

The awards were presented during a ceremony on 28 February at the Park Royal Hotel Warrington.

For more information about the different categories please visit www.nwcawards.co.uk