Four University of Leeds Professors named in latest round of NIHR Senior Investigator awards

Professor Mark Kearney and Professor David Alldred have been announced in the new line up of NIHR Senior Investigators.

They join Professors Anne-Maree Keenan and Amanda Farrin who have both secured a second term.

Professor Mark Kearney is a cardiologist and has been appointed based on his research into the mechanisms underlying diabetes related heart disease and new treatments for patients with heart failure.

David Alldred is Professor of Medicines Use and Safety and his research focuses on improving the use of medicines, particularly for potentially vulnerable and underserved populations such as older people living with frailty and people whose first language is not English.

This latest round of appointments follows an open competition, with the NIHR appointing 39 new Senior Investigators in this round and reappointing 19 others.

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 his appointment Professor Kearney, who is also Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health said: “Our focus in the faculty is to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals and societies and these awards demonstrate the hard work that is achieved. I work with a great multi-disciplinary team on research that has the potential to affect millions of people with diabetes and this award is recognition of the work we do as a team.”

Commenting on his appointment Professor Alldred said: “I am delighted to receive this award. It’s great to have this recognition for the work of our team on the safety of medicines, particularly for the most vulnerable in society.”

With these two new appointments, Leeds hosts a total of 22 NIHR Senior Investigators, including 15 active and 7 emeritus, with over a third being women and seven from underrepresented specialisms (e.g. methodologists, nurses, allied health professions) 

Read the NIHR announcement in full.