Congratulations are in order for three Moorfields clinicians that have been awarded places on the NIHR Senior Research Leader (SLR) Programme.
Clinical educator Tendai Gwenhure, research orthoptist Vijay Tailor-Hamblin and nurse consultant Nicola Dunlop were all successful through the competitive national application process for the highly regarded programme. The NIHR SLR Programme supports nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to develop as research leaders and drive improvements in health and social care through research.
The three-year programme provides protected research time for two days a week, enabling participants to lead initiatives that strengthen research activity within their organisations and professions.
As part of the programme, Senior Research Leaders work with NIHR colleagues and fellow SRLs to develop initiatives aligned with national research priorities, build partnerships with universities, and support the development of future clinical researchers.
Read what the awardees have said about receiving the award:
Tendai Gwenhure
““Being recognised as a Senior Research Leader is a huge milestone on three key levels that converge to symbolise a step towards a positive research culture. Personally, it will strengthen my ability to develop and influence local research strategies and champion nursing perspectives in research; at the organisational level, it will enable me to contribute towards building research capacity and capabilities; professionally, it will raise the visibility of nurses’ engagement in research. This will translate into evidence-based practice and meaningful improvements in patient care, inclusion, and workforce development.””
Vijay Tailor-Hamblin
“”To be recognised as a Senior Research Leader means so much because Orthoptics is a small but powerful profession, it’s a privilege to help shape its future. Research in Orthoptics is about growing our people, strengthening our voice, and ultimately improving the care we give to patients. This funding will enable me to embed an inclusive, research-ready culture at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust by widening access to research opportunities for AHPs and nurses. It will also support the development of a national Orthoptic research support hub, embedding research into clinical practice and strengthening visibility, accessibility, collaboration, and leadership across the profession.””
Nicola Dunlop
““Nursing is an underrepresented profession within research. Therefore, I am determined to utilise the opportunities afforded by the SRL award to identify gaps, recognise talent, provide mentorship and cultivate future nurse researchers, thereby making a substantial and lasting contribution to strengthening research capacity and capability within Moorfields.””
The appointments highlight the growing role of nurses and allied health professionals in research at Moorfields and the importance of supporting clinicians to develop research alongside their clinical work.