A number of BRC-supported researchers have been appointed or re-appointed as National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigators in the NIHR’s 2025 round of awards.
New appointments are Professor Jonathan Schott (Neurology) and Professor Sonia Johnson (Mental health).
Re-appointments are Professor Rob Heyderman (Infectious diseases) and Professor Henry Houlden (Neurology).
Senior Investigators are among the most prominent and prestigious researchers funded by the NIHR and the most outstanding leaders of patient and people-based research within the NIHR research community.
Prof Schott said: “As a clinical academic I am committed to translational research that makes a real difference to patients. I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as an NIHR senior investigator and look forward to helping provide research leadership to the NIHR Faculty and to promoting the next generation of researchers.”
Prof Johnson said: “I'm delighted to be appointed as a NIHR Senior Investigator - it's a testimony to the tremendous work of the teams I have worked with over many years at UCL and beyond, including in the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental Health and UCLH BRC Loneliness and Social Isolation and Mental Health Research Network. We aim to make an impact on mental health policy and practice in areas including early intervention, crisis care and loneliness and mental health. Being a Senior Investigator is also a very welcome opportunity to extend my contribution to nurturing and supporting the next generation of leading mental health researchers across a range of disciplines.”
Prof Heyderman said: “Being re-appointed as an NIHR senior investigator is a testament to the exceptional team of talented investigators I have had the privilege of working with in the UK and Africa. This role remains instrumental in advancing my research, mentorship, and policy work in infection, enabling meaningful contributions to health globally.”
Prof Houlden said: “This appointment reflects on work from the entire team in neurology and neurogenetics at UCL/UCLH where we particularly focus on ethnically diverse populations, common disorders such as Parkinson's disease and rare disorders such as ALS and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Thanks also to our patients, families and funders such as the MRC, Wellcome Trust and NIHR UCL/UCLH BRC.”
View all appointments on the NIHR website.