Two Lancaster University Professors are among a Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Data Science team which has won an award from Health Data Research UK (HDR UK).

HDR UK is the UK's national institute for health data science and the award celebrates achievement through collaborative endeavours by groups of researchers, innovators, and technologists.

The award winners were presented with their prizes during the 2024 HDR UK Conference in Leeds by Chair of the Board Dame Julie Moore who said: “The HDR UK awards and recognitions highlight the achievements of the people behind progress in health data research. Congratulations to all of the shortlisted entrants and the winners.”

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Data Science team is led by Honorary Clinical Chair at Lancaster Medical School Professor Vishnu Chandrabalan and includes Professor in Applied Data Science at Lancaster Medical School Jo Knight with Dale Kirkwood, Quinta Ashcroft and Tim Howcroft from the Trust.

Professor Chandrabalan is also Director and Chief Clinical Information Officer: Lancashire and South Cumbria Secure Data Environment, Head of Data Science and Consultant Surgeon in General and Colorectal Surgery at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He leads Lancashire and South Cumbria's Secure Data Environment program which promises to bring together a range of data with the aim of improving health outcomes in the region.

He said: “This work has resulted in a significantly better understanding of the data we hold for our patients and how best to make it more accessible for research, improving care and efficiency. A research-active health care system has been shown to deliver better outcomes for patients. This can only be a good thing for the people we serve. “

Professor Knight said: “Research using routinely collected data can be used to ensure that we improve health outcomes for everyone which aligns with the Lancaster University vision of doing research that has real world impact. We are privileged to be part of this small but powerful team.”

Quinta Ashcroft said: “Even though we’re a small and relatively new team it feels great to receive the recognition and makes me very proud of the work we do.”

Dale Kirkwood said: “I wrote the application as a Christmas gift and a piece of thanks to my boss and teammates. They are truly wonderful and exceptionally skilled. I couldn't be happier for them in recognition of their effort and dedication. Being as busy and focused as they are, they need people to shout from the roof tops for them!”

Stephen Dobson Chief Information Officer from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “This team punches way above its weight and is rapidly gaining national and international recognition with collaborations up and down the country.”