We’re thrilled to share that Linzy Houchen-Wolloff, Physiotherapy Research Lead, has been awarded the NIHR Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award (SCPRA) in recognition of her inspiring vision to transform research culture across allied health professionals (AHPs) at UHL.
Linzy’s winning proposal sets out a bold and practical roadmap for embedding research into everyday clinical practice—especially among AHPs—through initiatives that include group journal clubs, research taster sessions for novice researchers and creating clear development pathways to grow the next generation of research leaders.
At the heart of her plan is a commitment to patient-centred research, using a James Lind Alliance-style approach to shape meaningful research priorities for local communities.
Linzy shared: “I am delighted to receive this award for the next three years from the NIHR. I aim to build on the existing research culture and PPIE work that I’ve already started within the Leicester BRC and UHL therapy; but extend this more widely to the whole AHP workforce at UHL.”
The award also supports Linzy’s ongoing leadership role within the NIHR Leicester BRC and the newly launched Institute for Excellence in Healthcare, a joint initiative between UHL and the University of Leicester.
As part of her development, Linzy will complete leadership and coaching training, attend the RDF (Research development forum) Summit 2025, and receive mentorship from leading academics in the field. She also plans to strengthen her skills in PPIE (Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement) through specialist training hosted by other BRC, further supporting her efforts to deliver inclusive and community-informed research.
Congratulations Linzy for your dedication, leadership and vision for a more inclusive and research-active AHP workforce at UHL.