about the awards 

 

Hosted by Health Innovation North West Coast and Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC), the awards attracted more than 100 entries.

The awards will be presented by Roger Johnson, BBC North West Tonight and BBC Breakfast presenter, who will introduce the awards for the third time.

Dr Philip Jennings, Chief Executive - Health Innovation North West Coast, said: “I am delighted we have received so many high-quality applications for the awards. The quality of the submissions underlines the exceptional work being carried out across our region, highlighting the dedication, creativity, and impact of our research and innovation community." 

Professor Mark Gabbay, Director - ARC NWC, said: “These awards are a fantastic opportunity for showcasing the collaborative approaches being utilised to maximise the impact of research findings, all with the aim of reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for patients."  

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 10 April at The Spine in Liverpool.
 

tHE 2025 shortlisted nominees

 

capacity building in research

An award to recognise the best examples of research capacity building, which has improved or enhanced the ability of individuals and/or institutions to conduct, implement and sustain high-quality research within the NHS, Local Authorities and third sector.

Shortlist

Organisation: Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust 
Project: Transforming Social Care: Katy Cleece's Leadership in Research Capacity Building

Organisation: Primary Care 24
Project: PC24: Motivated, Innovative and Passionate about Research

Organisation: Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Project: The Wirral Academic Surgical Programme

 

Industry Collaboration – Primary Care

This award has been introduced to highlight the outstanding achievements between the NHS and industry partners and to illustrate the positive impact that this approach is having on patient and staff care and how effective collaborations are improving the overall health status of the population.

Shortlist

Organisation: NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board & Cancer Alliance; Cyted Health; Health Innovation North West Coast
Project: CYTOPRIME2 Collaboration Delivers Triumph in Early Diagnosis

Organisation: Moreton and Meols Primary Care Network, Marine Lake Medical Practice; Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Health Innovation North West Coast; Cepheid
Project: Acute respiratory infection: a test and treat community pathway

Organisation: Safe Steps Ltd
Project: Reducing Hospital Demand Using Enhanced Falls Prevention in Primary Care

 

Industry Collaboration – Secondary Care

This award has been introduced to highlight the outstanding achievements between the NHS and industry partners and to illustrate the positive impact that this approach is having on patient and staff care and how effective collaborations are improving the overall health status of the population.

Shortlist

Organisation: C2-Ai
Project: Ai-targeted prehabilitation and emergency admission avoidance

Organisation: MerseyBurns
Project: Revolutionising Burns Care for Improved Patient Outcomes

Organisation: University Hospitals of Liverpool Group 
Project: Transforming Dermatology by deploying AI for earlier skin cancer diagnosis 

 

Innovation in Workforce Culture

This award will be presented to a team or organisation that has developed an approach to innovation through the development of a positive and effective workplace culture that has resulted in real changes that have benefitted patients as well as healthcare staff.

Shortlist

Organisation: Bay Medical Group
Project: Evolution of practice for 'happier healthier people'

Organisation: Lancaster Medical Practice
Project: Innovative Primary care Research, Delivered to the heart of a historic city

Organisation: The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Project: Empowering Teams to Innovate  

 

outstanding contribution to patient and public involvement and engagement award

This award is aimed at an individual or group who can demonstrate excellence in the participation of either individual patients, service users or carers within a piece of research or an innovative project. 

Shortlist

Organisation: Cheshire & Merseyside Public Health Collaborate; University of Central Lancashire; Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Project: Being ACTIVE: PPI in a context of alcohol services research and innovation

Organisation: The Creative Influencers and Liverpool Lighthouse
Project: When You Know: Childbirth in the asylum system

Organisation: University of Liverpool
Project: Young Voices, Big Ideas

 

Patient Safety and Care Improvement Award

This award recognises initiatives that have made a real difference to patient safety and care in 2024/25.

Shortlist

Organisation: Alder Hey Children's Hospital; North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network 
Project: PArent co-Designed Drug INformation for parents / Guardians Taking Neonates home

Organisation: Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board; Health Innovation North West Coast
Project: Targeted Fuel Poverty Interventions in Cheshire and Merseyside

Organisation: Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Project: Improving Diabetes Treatment Technology access amongst most deprived Children and Young People

 

RESEARCH STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is aimed at an individual who has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to their research.

Shortlist

Organisation: Edge Hill University 
Student: Lucy Kaluvu 

Organisation: Lancaster University
Student: Donna Shrestha

Organisation: Liverpool John Moores University  
Student: Sarah Stanley

 

Tackling Health Inequalities Award

This award recognises work carried out to tackle health inequalities across the North West Coast.

Shortlist

Organisation: Edge Hill University
Project: Arts4Us: Tackling children's mental health inequalities through the arts  

Organisation: Everton in the Community
Project: BEAT Breathlessness

Organisation: Liverpool Citizens Advice on Prescription 
Project: Evaluating the health impact and cost effectiveness of Citizens Advice on Prescription, a whole system approach to mitigate poverty over the life course

 

THE RUTH YOUNG AWARD FOR RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION / IMPACT

This award is for examples of research initiatives or partner collaborations that have delivered evidence which has been transferred/delivered into practice and can demonstrate outputs that have enhanced or improved frontline delivery to service users in any area.

Shortlist

Organisation: Liverpool John Moores University
Project: MAPSS School-Based Suicide Prevention Programme

Organisation: Level Up Lead Provider Collaborative for Cheshire & Merseyside
Project: Gateway: integrated care for young people with complex unmet needs

Organisation: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Project: Transforming NICE Guidance into Practice: A Regional Implementation Framework 

 

The 2025 Sustainability Award  

This award aims to recognise an individual or team whose work has enabled improvements or efficiencies in services, departments, pathways and patient experience while boosting sustainability.

Shortlist

Organisation: Cheshire & Merseyside Greener Practice; NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board; Central Liverpool Primary Care Network; Vauxhall Primary Health Centre; Brownlow Health
Project: Primary care sustainability achievements of the Central Liverpool team

Organisation: NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Project: Putting Sustainability on the GP Training Schemes in Lancashire and South Cumbria

Organisation: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Project: Clinical Sustainability Group at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust