As in previous years, the selection process was a coordinated effort by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and its partners in the NIHR Oxford Health BRC and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) for Oxford and the Thames Valley. This is the fourth cohort of Senior Research Fellows to be appointed since the scheme was launched in 2019.
Dr Matthias Friedrich is a Group leader in NDM’s Experimental Medicine Division. He investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms of chronic inflammation and fibrosis (Oxford BRC Inflammation Theme). The Senior Fellows, who were selected by an expert panel, will receive an award of £5,000 a year for two years that may be used flexibly to facilitate their translational research programme and career development.
The fellowship offers them mentoring, coaching and networking opportunities, as well as supporting them to advance an independent research area which will enhance NIHR research in Oxford and strengthen future funding applications.
Dr Friedrich said: ‘I am delighted to be awarded a NIHR senior research fellowship, which will mean a huge boost to my professional development. The NIHR SRF represents a unique source of flexible funding in addition to conventional research funding, enabling me to enhance key skills and infrastructure. I am planning to use the fellowship to train in leadership, management, and trial design and to strengthen my national and international links. This training will impact many aspects of my translational research programme and will allow me to further build and improve my team of researchers and collaborators. I’m looking forward to being part of the NIHR family!’
Along with Dr Friedrich, the other appointed Senior Research Fellows are Dr Nicola Curry from the Radcliffe Department of Medicine; Dr Dimitrios Koutoukidis from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences; Dr Katy Vincent from the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health; Dr Ludovica Griffanti from the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN); Dr Lucy Foulkes from the Department of Experimental Psychology; and Dr Jiedi Lei from the Oxford Health BRC Mental Health in Development Theme.
For more details read the NIHR news.