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Research excellence with Tim Doulton

East Kent Hospitals recognised for research excellence

East Kent Hospitals’ staff have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the world of clinical research.

At a recent awards ceremony (inaugural Clinical Research Network, Kent, Surrey and Sussex) the Trust was shortlisted for three of five categories for outstanding research and patient involvement work. 

The Trust won two of the awards outright and was highly commended in other areas too.


Achievements:

Outstanding contribution to commercial research in Kent, Surrey and Sussex 

Winners: East Kent Hospitals Haematological Oncology (blood cancer) team, Kent and Canterbury.

Highly commended: Nishal Patel (Consultant Ophthalmologist, Kent and Canterbury and William Harvey Hospital.

Outstanding Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activity 

Highly commended: East Kent Hospitals PPIE Steering Group

Outstanding contribution to Research in Kent, Surrey and Sussex 

Winner: Dr Tim Doulton (Director of Research and Innovation and Consultant Nephrologist).

Highly commended: Dr David Stephensen (Physiotherapist, Haemophilia Centre, Kent and Canterbury); Dr Ibrahim Balogun (Consultant Stroke Physician, William Harvey). 


The awards, which were supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), recognise hard-working and high-achieving researchers, research teams, R&D departments and other research support functions from across the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region. 

Dr Tim Doulton, Director of Research and Innovation and Consultant Nephrologist, said:“Research is vital for improving care and people’s experience of care. I am immensely proud of this award, which recognises the enormous strides the Trust has made in enhancing opportunities for our patients and local population to participate in research.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to all my colleagues who act as our chief and principal investigators alongside their usual clinical work. I’d also like to thank our dedicated research nursing and delivery teams, pharmacy clinical trials team, support departments, core Research and Innovation team and – most importantly – our patients without whom these achievements would not have been possible. 

“I congratulate highly commended colleagues – Dr David Stephensen, Mr Nishal Patel, Dr Ibrahim Balogun and our Patient and Public Involvement Steering Group led by Ruth Hulbert. The number of awards given to  EKHUFT from across the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region truly reflects the breadth and depth of our research endeavours.”

Lavinia Davey and Jin Lindsay accepted the award for Outstanding Contribution to Commercial Research in Kent, Surrey & Sussex. 

Lavinia said: “The Haemato-oncology clinical trials team were thrilled to receive this award and the recognition for all the hard work and dedication that is required to effectively deliver complex commercial trials within this speciality. 

“We do, however, recognise and appreciate that without the ongoing support from service support departments and very significantly patient participation, our achievements would not have been possible. 

“We’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to our patients and all east Kent service support departments involved in our studies.”