Nomination details - please ensure you include a lead person for contact and email address.

This award recognises those in the early stage of their health or social care research career who are already making an outstanding contribution to their field and/or developing as emerging leaders of the future. 

In the context of this award, an early career researcher (ECR) is defined as someone currently at one of the following ECR stages: 

A. Doctoral

B. Immediately post doctorate

C. Transition to independent researcher 

Your written submission must include: 

• What research you are working on right now 

• How has it contributed to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies or knowledge

• Describe how you have developed others and maintained effective working relationships

• Your contribution to the wider research community

• What contribution have you made to research - users and audiences, and towards wider societal benefit

• How have or will you and your work make an impact in Wales and beyond 

• What you have achieved so far in your research career (e.g. a completed project, an important finding, an impressive award based on your research, a prestigious fellowship award) 

• How people have helped shape your research 

• What you hope to achieve through your research in future years

This award recognises the difference Welsh research is making to people’s everyday lives and the difference people can make to that research.

The judging panel will be looking for examples of real value for the public and patients, and/or impact on the NHS and social care services in Wales, including if appropriate financial, social and environmental sustainability have been considered. 

To be eligible you must tell us about a project that was either active or completed in 2024-25 or that demonstrated impact during this time period.

Your written submission must include:

• The topic – why it is important, what the research need or knowledge gap was, were members of the public involved in the choice?

• The research – who did it, how it came about, who funded it, who was involved

• The impact – how the research has been used (or could be used) to change policy/practice and improve health and care and/or improve environmental, social, or financial impacts compared to standard practice

• Public Involvement – how the inclusive involvement of the public (patients, carers, service users etc.) has affected the impact of your research

This award recognises the very best use of public involvement in a health or social care research study, using the UK Standards for Public Involvement as a measure. 

The judging panel will be looking for examples where members of the public are involved in a research project, this could be:

• identifying and prioritising research, 

• helping write funding applications, 

• designing and managing the study, 

• undertaking research, 

• disseminating findings, 

• implementing the findings

• evaluating the impact. 

To be eligible you must be able to tell us about a project that was either active or completed in 2024-25.

Your submission must include: 

• A description of how the UK Standards for Public Involvement informed the way the public involvement was planned and managed. 

• How many people you involved and what lived experiences they had which was relevant to the research. 

• How members of the public were involved in meaningful and relevant ways, including the tasks, meetings and activities people were asked to do. 

• Evidence of the impact and difference of public involvement made to the research study and to the member(s) of the public involved.

This award recognises the achievements of individuals or teams within their field of practice, where as a result of their achievements, research is embraced, integrated into services, and is a core part of the organisation’s culture.

The judging panel will be looking for examples of where individuals or teams have contributed to their organisation embracing research by raising awareness of research amongst staff, supporting the development of research skills, raising the profile of research in the organisation and demonstrating the value and importance of research to particular groups of staff or senior leadership.

To be eligible you must tell us about an example that took place during 2024-25. 

Your written submission must include:

1. The role(s) – who was involved? Individuals or teams? Professional and/or lay roles?

2. Describe the activity which contributed to the organisation embracing research, including how this was developed and implemented

3. Explain how this has led to research becoming integrated into everyday ways of working

4. Describe the difference this has made, or it will make, to the organisation’s research culture

5. Explain how the learning is generalisable to other practice settings