We are delighted to announce that Dr Hannah Young, Specialist Research Physiotherapist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, is the recipient of the UK Kidney Association’s 2025 Donna Lamping MDT Researcher Award.
This prestigious award recognises her pioneering research on physical activity interventions for elderly patients with kidney disease and multiple long-term conditions, which has reshaped rehabilitation strategies in nephrology.
Hannah is a trailblazer in her field of Physiotherapy. She has recently moved to a joint clinical and academic role between University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester, and is one of very few ‘non doctors’ to have achieved this below professorial level.
“I’m shocked, and of course delighted be chosen to be the 2025 recipient of this prestigious award,” said Hannah.
“The support and encouragement I receive from colleagues at the University, the Trust and the Leicester Diabetes Centre has enabled me to pursue a career in research. Using the evidence we gain from our studies to make a difference to patients’ lives drives me on to continue this work, and I encourage others to pursue research roles in their specialities too.”
About the Donna Lamping MDT Researcher Award
Established to celebrate multidisciplinary research excellence, the award honours the legacy of Professor Donna Lamping, a Canadian-born psychologist whose work revolutionised patient-centred outcome measures in kidney care. Lamping’s research focused on the behavioural impact of chronic illness, particularly how patients perceive and manage their health. Past recipients include pioneers like Professor Nicola Thomas (2018) for patient-involved research and Dr Sharlene Greenwood (2017) for advancing renal exercise science.
Dr Young’s Groundbreaking Contributions
NIHR-Funded Research Leadership
- Awarded an NIHR Advanced Fellowship (2023) to develop tailored exercise programmes for frail patients with complex comorbidities, addressing gaps in single-condition care models.
- Earlier Doctoral Research Fellowship (2021) focused on frailty and falls prevention in haemodialysis patients, leading to practical interventions adopted nationally.
Innovative Clinical Programs
- Spearheaded the Leicester Kidney Lifestyle Team’s exercise initiatives, including in-dialysis cycling programmes, now replicated internationally.
- Established a therapy service within advanced kidney care clinics to integrate physical and mental wellbeing support.
Advocacy for Multidisciplinary Research
- A vocal proponent of Allied Health Professional (AHP) involvement in nephrology, mentoring early-career researchers and promoting mixed-methods approaches.
- Collaborates with the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and Newcastle researchers to bridge gaps between physiotherapy and renal medicine.
Dr Young’s work epitomises the award’s mission: translating research into tangible patient benefits. Her projects emphasise:
- Holistic care: Adapting exercise programmes to fluctuating symptom burdens and caregiver needs.
- Community integration: Partnering with social prescribers to sustain patient engagement beyond clinical settings.
- Policy alignment: Aligning her work with NHS Long-Term Plan priorities and NICE multimorbidity guidelines.
Celebration at UK Kidney Week 2025
Dr Young will receive the award on stage at UK Kidney Week (10–12 June, Bournemouth). The presentation continues the tradition of honoring outstanding multidisciplinary researchers, following 2024 recipient Dr Sharon Huish’s important contributions to the field.
Find out more about the Donna Lamping Award’s history and past winners.