Published: 12 November 2021
The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and NIHR Clinical Research Network Research (NIHR CRN) are pleased to announce the winners of their 2021 Awards - which recognise NHS clinicians who have made outstanding contributions to clinical research, particularly in relation to NIHR CRN portfolio studies.
The awards feature three separate categories to recognise the contributions made by consultants (including SAS doctors), anaesthetists in training (individuals), or anaesthetists in training (network) to anaesthesia, perioperative medicine or pain management research.
This year's winners
Consultant award
- Shiva Tripathi, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Details: Shiva Tripathi's application was outstanding in all the domains assessed as part of the award category criteria, most notably for his tireless ambassadorship in pain research, highlighting its relevance to patients and professionals.
Anaesthetist in training (individual) award
- Jack Cafferkey, ACCS CT2a (Anaesthesia) Trainee
- Details: Jack Cafferkey won this category in recognition of his work with the NIHR CRN to deliver a mechanistic sub-study to understand how the choice of resuscitation fluid in septic patients affects the inflammatory response.
Anaesthetist in training (network) award
- Paediatric Anaesthesia Trainee Research Network (PATRN)
- Details: Since its inception in 2015, the Paediatric Anaesthesia Trainee Research Network (PATRN) has involved over 500 anaesthetic trainees in paediatric anaesthesia research across the UK, and the network recently published a trainee-led multicentre NIHR portfolio study investigating the prevalence of perioperative paediatric obesity (PEACHY).
Showcasing excellent research leadership and practice
Professor Paul Dark, NIHR CRN National Specialty Cluster Lead, King's College London, said: "It has been a very challenging time to maintain care delivery and it is reassuring for patients and services that research delivered by both trainee and consultant colleagues in anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain management has continued to produce such high-quality evidence to drive best patient care. We are delighted to partner with the RCoA to award these prestigious prizes celebrating leadership and professional practice of clinical research by NHS clinicians within their frontline services. "
Ms Sharon Drake, Director of Clinical Quality and Research, Royal College of Anaesthetists said: “The RCoA/NIHR awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase excellent research leadership and practice amongst NHS clinicians. The quality of the applications across all categories was exceptionally high this year and demonstrated the outstanding contributions to clinical research from our anaesthetists in training and consultants. The enthusiastic engagement and leadership shown by each applicant is even more noteworthy when considering what a difficult year it has been for the NHS and they are all to be commended for their achievements.”