Health and Care Research Wales’ Senior Research Leaders to join NIHR Senior Investigator community

Health and Care Research Wales’ Senior Research Leaders will be invited to join the NIHR Senior Investigator community, maximising opportunities for them to collaborate, engage with policymakers, spark new partnerships and influence the future of research across the health, social care and public health system.

The NIHR has this week announced an expansion of its Senior Investigator scheme to include researchers working in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

NIHR Senior Investigators help shape the direction of health, and social care and public health research in the UK. You can view all current NIHR Senior Investigators via the Senior Investigator Directory. As part of the community, they will:

• influence national research plans
• act as mentors and role models for early-career researchers
• lead impactful health, and social care and public health research
• act as ambassadors across health, public health, and social care and public health systems
• help develop research capacity and talent in underrepresented groups, specialities and areas geographies.

Professor Lucy Chappell, NIHR Chief Executive and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Health and Social Care, said: 

“I am pleased to welcome new voices into the Senior Investigator community reflecting the full diversity and expertise of the UK’s health and care research landscape. 

By recognising senior research leaders in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, NIHR is promoting a visible, co-ordinated UK-wide community of researcher leaders. It will maximise opportunities for them to collaborate, engage with policymakers, spark new partnerships and influence the future of research across the health, social care and public health system.’

Gareth Cross, co-Director of Health and Care Research Wales, said: 

“I really welcome this fantastic opportunity for our Senior Research Leaders to become part of the NIHR’s Senior Investigator community and to benefit from the opportunities available. They have all demonstrated research leadership, excellence and impact both in Wales and internationally. By working together they can maximise their experience to help achieve our collective goals in driving research and quality."