An MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis team and Dr Natalie Shenker from the Dept of Surgery and Cancer are finalists in two categories.

Scientists from Imperial – whose work ranges from supporting the extensive use of mathematical modelling during the UK’s COVID-19 response to reducing infant mortality with a national milk bank service – have been recognised for their far-reaching impact on health research.

A team at the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis led by Dr Richard Fitzjohn, and Dr Natalie Shenker from the Department of Surgery and Cancer, are in the running for MRC Impact Prizes.

Launched in 2022 by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the MRC Impact Prize recognises individuals or teams who have made outstanding contributions in medical research. Specifically, the prize rewards impact in three areas: open science impact; outstanding team impact; early career impact. 

Dr Natalie Shenker: Early Career Impact finalist 

Also shortlisted for the award in the category of Open Science Impact are members of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis team.

The team, comprising software engineers and analysts, researchers and communications specialists, has been nominated for ‘Enabling Rapid Communication, Dissemination and Uptake of COVID-19 Mathematical Modelling’. Their work supported the extensive use of mathematical modelling during the UK’s COVID-19 response by reporting outputs in the public interest in accessible formats and outlets, and in multiple languages. 

Led Dr Richard Fitzjohn, Principal Architect from the Research Software Engineering Group, the team shortlisted for the award includes Dr Wes Hinsley, Dr Natsuko Imai (now based at Wellcome Trust) and Dr Sabine van Elsland. 

Speaking on behalf of the nominated team, Dr Richard Fitzjohn said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this MRC award, and it’s great that that work has been recognised.  

“A key lesson to emerge early in the pandemic was that it's not enough just to do the science and publish it in journals. To this end, Sabine and Natsuko worked in real time to translate complex research, making it accessible to everyone from public health agencies and policymakers, to the wider public. 

“On the analysis side, the software that myself and Wes wrote to underpin the modelling work meant that the researchers could spend more time focusing on the epidemiology, knowing their calculations could be scaled up when needed.” 

The winners will be announced at a dedicated MRC awards ceremony in spring 2023, and will be awarded up to £20,000 to widen the outreach or impact of their work, or to advance their learning and development.