Linzy Houchen Wolloff’s story
As the NIHR celebrates 20 years, it also marks a special milestone for Leicester’s Linzy Houchen-Wolloff too. Linzy is a Senior Research Physiotherapist within the BRC’s Respiratory and Infection theme.
Her career in the NHS has grown alongside the NIHR, showing just how much impact long-term investment in people and research can have.
Linzy said: “I qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2006, so I’m celebrating my 20th career birthday alongside the NIHR celebrations!”
Starting out when research opportunities were limited
When Linzy first qualified as a physiotherapist in 2006, research wasn’t an obvious or easy path for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).
“At the time of graduating, there were few opportunities for allied health professionals to get involved in research within the NIHR and beyond,” she explains.
Despite this, she found a way to combine clinical practice with research, completing her PhD part-time while working as a Band 5 physiotherapist. An opportunity for a funded study within Pulmonary Rehabilitation came up, under the supervision of Professors Sally Singh and Michael Steiner.
This experience helped shape her future as a clinical academic and set the foundation for the work she does today.
How the NIHR has opened doors for AHPs
Over the years, Linzy has seen big changes – especially in the opportunities available to AHPs through the NIHR.
“Since then, funding opportunities for AHPs within the NIHR have increased rapidly from those wanting to do research delivery, through to clinical academic pathways at pre and post-doctoral level,” she says. “These AHP-specific calls have been particularly welcomed by the community, and many of my colleagues have taken these opportunities.”
Linzy’s own career reflects these changes.
She’s led NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) research, contributed as a co-applicant on multiple studies, and is currently supported by aSenior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award (SCPRA).
“I have personally benefitted from attracting RfPB funding as a lead applicant, several funding streams as a co-applicant and I am currently enjoying the SCPRA award. My RfPB project focussed on a self-management programme for people living with chronic lung disease following pulmonary rehabilitation. – Research that improved patient quality of life and also reduced GP visits at 12 months.
Growing as a leader
Alongside her research, Linzy has taken on leadership roles and focused on building research capacity for other AHPs at UHL.
“I’ve maintained this portfolio of research alongside building research capacity and leadership skills,” she explains.
This has led to roles such as Assistant Training Lead within the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Leicester, and Research Lead for Therapies within UHL.
Mentorship has also played an important part in her development.
“I have also joined the NIHR mentoring scheme as a mentee in the last 12 months, alongside my SCPRA award. I was perfectly matched with an AHP professor who is supporting my development, giving me an external perspective on AHP research leadership and I have enjoyed the group-based CPD sessions.”
Why the NIHR matters
Looking back over 20 years, Linzy is clear about the biggest impact the NIHR has had.
“I’d like to say thank you to the NIHR for investing in AHP research careers in general and my own development over the last 20 years,” she says. “The biggest impact for me is that the NIHR has enabled me to have a clinical academic career which not only benefits myself but also improves the lives of the patients and communities we serve, and the staff we employ.”
As both Linzy and the NIHR mark 20 years, her journey highlights just how powerful that investment can be – for individuals, teams, and patients alike.
Read more about our Respiratory and Infection theme here: