Exeter Professors honoured with Senior investigator award
Two Professors at the University of Exeter have been awarded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator status, a prestigious title recognising their outstanding contribution to research.
Chris Fox, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, and Linda Clare Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing and Dementia are the latest academics to be honoured with this title, joining seven other Exeter researchers as a member of the distinguished NIHR Academy and College of Senior Investigators. This is the second term for Professor Clare, having previously won this award, granting her Emeritus status. Previous Exeter recipients of this award include Professors Vicki Goodwin MBE, G.J. Melendez-Torres, Andrew Hattersley, David Richards, Paul Dieppe, Sarah (Sallie) Lamb, Stuart Logan, and the late Professor Ken Stein.
NIHR Senior Investigators are influential researchers who make outstanding leadership contributions to the work of the NIHR. Recipients receive funding for four years to support their research activities while undertaking a senior leadership role for the NIHR.
Professor Fox is a renowned expert in mental health and dementia research. He is co-director of the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Sustainable Innovation, which is a partnership between the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon University Healthcare Foundation Trust and is co-lead of a National Dementia Network Plus, SPIN-D, part of a strategic investment by NIHR, with ESRC and Alzheimer’s Society. His projects, which are aligned to the ARC East of England and PenARC, focus on utilizing AI and technical devices to enhance the delivery and assessment of healthcare. Currently, Professor Fox is leading five national NIHR programmes: TIMES (sleep, dementia, and coexisting conditions), CARECOACH (support for carers), DISCOVERY (recovery colleges), SPLENDID (social prescribing), and INFLAIM (AI diet risk modelling to prevent coexisting conditions).
Professor Fox said: “I’m truly delighted and honoured to become an NIHR Senior Investigator, alongside such a distinguished group of researchers. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the consistent support of the NIHR, and it’s a reflection of the incredible teamwork and dedication of everyone I work with, all striving to improve people’s health and wellbeing.”
Professor Clare is a prominent clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. Her research aims to improve the experience of living with dementia and neurodegenerative conditions by promoting well-being, implementing rehabilitative approaches, supporting family care, and influencing policy development. She leads the University’s Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health (REACH). She is Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration (DeNPRU Exeter), and dementia theme lead for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South-West Peninsula (PenARC).
Professor Clare said: “I’m honoured that NIHR has recognised my contribution to research by conferring this award for the second time. Research in our field is all about teamwork and I see the award as a tribute to the talented and committed team members and colleagues who work so hard to ensure our research makes a difference, and the people affected by dementia and neurodegenerative conditions who so generously share their experiences with us.”
Professor Sallie Lamb, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the University of Exeter’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences said: “Congratulations to both Chris and Linda on winning this prestigious award. It is a well-deserved recognition of their contribution and commitment to research. Such awards are a testament to the quality of research here at Exeter and the strength of our dementia research.”
