Research Delivery Awards: Celebrating excellence in general practice research

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Delivery Network (NIHR RDN) are proud to announce the winners of their joint awards. These prestigious awards highlight the exceptional contributions of First5 GPs and general practices in delivering NIHR-supported research, recognising innovation, dedication, and outstanding patient care.

The awards are open to current members or Fellows of the RCGP, celebrating research-active practices that excel in integrating research into daily clinical work. The programme also recognises First5 GPs who show emerging interest and promise in conducting research within the primary care setting.

First5 GPs Award Winner: Dr Sophie Reiter

Dr Sophie Reiter was selected as a winner for her exceptional leadership in advancing research delivery within her practice, Wansford Surgery, Peterborough. The judging panel commended her for embedding research as a core component of daily operations, alongside exemplary patient and public involvement efforts. Dr Reiter’s contributions to both commercial and non-commercial clinical research demonstrate her strong commitment to integrating research into primary care.

Her dedication highlights the growing role of early-career GPs in enhancing primary care services through research, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Practice Award Winner St Johns Medical Centre

This year’s Practice Award saw the highest ever number of applications with many exhibiting outstanding achievements. St Johns Medical Centre, Altrincham emerged as the winner. The judging panel praised the centre’s comprehensive and highly effective research strategy, which has resulted in exceptional recruitment numbers. Their collaborative work reflected the seamless integration of research into routine practice. St Johns Medical Centre was also commended for its patient-centred approach, prioritising improvement of patient outcomes and addressing local population need. We are excited to see what this practice achieves next.

Dr Lorna McCune, GP Partner, accepted the award on behalf of the practice, expressing appreciation for her team and specifically acknowledging the efforts of research nurse Naomi Lawson.

We are delighted to celebrate and support the outstanding work of this year’s winners, who exemplify the important role of research in general practice. The awards highlight their dedication and commitment to research in general practice. Congratulations to both Dr Sophie Reiter and the team at St Johns Medical Centre for their exceptional contributions to the field.