We have won the Queen's Anniversary Prize for our health services research!
It is the UK's most prestigious form of national recognition open to a UK academic or vocational institution.
Together with the Health Economics Research Unit, we have received the award for pioneering the combination of clinical and economic research to assess which medical treatments are effective for use in the NHS and worldwide. Our researchers have conducted more than 1000 studies, involving 46,000 participants from 1,500 places worldwide. The work has changed clinical practice, policy, legalisation and academic methods; directly impacting on the lives of millions of people around the world.
Over the last 40 years we have meticulously and rigorously assessed whether interventions and treatments used, or proposed for use, in health services are effective and cost-effective; and identified how services should best be organised to ensure effective and efficient delivery of these interventions – in particular on the evaluation of non-drug technologies (for example, surgical interventions and screening tests), health technology assessments and health economics. This painstaking endeavour has produced genuine depth of innovation with tangible societal benefits.
The award is very much a case of standing on the shoulders of giants for the last few decades. From our first director, Ian Russell, and then Adrian Grant and Marion Campbell, the Unit has been guided by visionary leaders. But they have done only that, guide. The real accomplishments are due to the day to day production of exemplary work, the fun, the tears, the collegiate culture and most importantly the continued drive to undertake health research that makes a real difference to people.
So I thank all past and present members of the Unit; our sister unit HERU; our external supporters and cheerleaders (you know who you are!) and the University and Chief Scientist Office for supporting our endeavours.
Onwards and upwards.
Craig Ramsay
Note:
The Queen’s Anniversary prize is awarded once every two years to recognise world-class excellence and achievement. Established in 1993, the honour is distinctive in being granted to the whole institution. The prize will be presented to a delegation from the University at Buckingham Palace in February 2018.