Health and Care Research Wales announces latest round of personal awards

Health and Care Research Wales is pleased to announce the recipients of our latest personal awards to support individuals to advance their careers as researchers and improve health and social care research capacity across Wales.

A total of nine personal awardees will receive funding from the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty under the Researcher Development Awards to the total value of over £562,000.

Professor Monica Busse, Health and Care Research Wales Faculty Director, said:

On behalf of the Faculty, I congratulate all award recipients and hope they will make significant strides in their research journey to become future research leaders in Wales.

“The Faculty is committed to providing holistic support and guidance to researchers from all backgrounds to help them progress along their research career pathway as well as to ensure our research community maintains its competitiveness.”

A full list of the funding awards and recipients is below:

Researcher Development Awards

Advancing Researcher Award

Dr Heather Strange - Centre for Trials Research
Women’s health research.
Start date: 1 October 2024  (£63,243)

Dr Verity Bennett - Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Cardiff University
Research focused on safeguarding children from harm and AI in children’s injury investigations.
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£54,968)

Dr Rhys Bevan-Jones - Cardiff University
Visual and digital media in mental health informs research, teaching and public engagement activities.
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£135,507)

Emerging Researcher Award

Ms Shelly Higgins - Brecon Birth Centre, Brecon War Memorial Hospital, Powys Teaching Health Board
Midwifery-led care, place of birth, peripartum transfers, intrapartum care outside of recommended guidance, continuity and supporting midwives in care outside of the obstetric unit including education and training.
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£79,084)

Dr Ismay Fabre - Vascular Department, University Hospital of Wales, NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership
Peripheral vascular disease and amputation surgery.
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£19,115)

Dr Francis William Barwise Sanders - University Hospital of Wales, NHS Wales Single Lead Employer
Translational research - diabetic retinopathy
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£67,632)

Dr Savita Shanbhag - Hywel Dda University Health Board
Develop impactful research projects in primary care, that make a real difference by leading to early diagnosis, improved outcomes and better patient experience.
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£113,299)

Personal Accelerator Award

Dr Sushmita Mohapatra - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Stroke rehabilitation - protected time to complete funding applications
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£21,123)

Dr Nicola Savory - Cardiff University
Midwifery - protected time to complete funding applications
Start date: 1 April 2024 (£8,501)