Together, they make up 208 NIHR Senior Investigators — the NIHR's pre-eminent researchers who are at the cutting edge of health research focusing on the needs of patients and the public.
An independent expert panel, chaired by Professor Sir Alex Markham, advised on the appointments. These are made according to criteria of quality and volume of internationally excellent research; its relevance to patients; and the public; impact on improvements in healthcare and public health; impact of their individual research leadership; engagement of patients and the public and engagement of healthcare policy makers and planners with their research.
The annual 2012 Senior Investigator competition received 177 applications, including many from current Senior Investigators wishing to continue in this role for a second and final term.
The goal of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is to create a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals, working in world-class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public. The NHS reputation for international excellence is growing as it gains recognition for being the preferred host for collaborative and multi-centred research in the public interest in partnership with and for industry. This will benefit patients, society, the NHS and all our stakeholders
The Bristol Heart Institute (BHI) was founded in 1995 and, based on its success, has expanded substantially. The BHI consists of over 200 researchers and clinicians, located in the University of Bristol and across Bristol NHS Trusts, who are united in the mission to translate basic scientific research into novel clinical practice thereby improving patient outcome and care. It brings together internationally respected experts from many disciplines of cardiovascular science and disease. Indeed, the BHI is now an internationally recognised centre of excellence for performing interdisciplinary cardiovascular research that takes basic science discoveries into the clinic.
As well as improving collaboration between scientists and clinicians within the BHI, and improving medical treatment of cardiovascular diseases, it also aims to communicate its research findings to the public.
