Professor Karen Spilsbury announced as NIHR Senior Investigator

Professor Karen Spilsbury at the School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, has been appointed as an NIHR Senior Investigator.

She has been appointed for her work as a nurse, leading research that addresses questions that matter for the care of older people. 

Professor Spilsbury is the Academic Director for NICHE-Leeds, a partnership between care providers and local authority with university scientists, to support care homes to innovate effectively, efficiently and sustainably to enhance quality.  

This latest round of appointments follows an open competition, with the NIHR appointing 56 Senior Investigators in 2023.  

NIHR Senior Investigators are among the most prominent and prestigious researchers funded by the NIHR. They are outstanding leaders of patient and people-based research within the NIHR research community. Senior Investigators receive an award of £20,000 per year of appointment to fund activities that support their research. 

Commenting on her appointment Professor Spilsbury said: “Our work addresses vital areas of interest for those receiving health and social care, and those responsible for organising, commissioning, regulating and providing services. We have done a lot to build a relevant evidence base for care homes but there is still lots to do. This recognition by the NIHR is an opportunity to further develop and translate research for the benefit older people and to enhance the quality of care, life, and work of those living and working in care homes.” 

Professor Julia Brown, Deputy Dean for Faculty of Medicine and Health and NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigator added; “We are delighted that Professor Spilsbury’s high-quality research and the impressive impact that it has had on the health and social care system is recognised through this prestigious NIHR Senior Investigator Award.” 

This round of appointments brings the College of NIHR Senior Investigators to 197 active members. NIHR’s Senior Investigators have diverse professional backgrounds in social care, nursing and midwifery, public health, and include allied health professionals, pharmacists, clinical scientists and methodologists. Full details of all NIHR Senior Investigators are available in the NIHR Senior Investigators Directory, which is updated in April each year. 

We are also pleased to announce that Professor Philip Quirke has been appointed as NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigator, another considerable achievement. 

See full details of the 2023 NIHR Senior Investigator and Senior Investigator Emeritus appointments