Katy Cleece, Social Work Research Lead at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT), has been named one of 20 Rising Research Leaders. making an outstanding contribution to health and care research.
The prizes, which mark the 20th anniversary of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), celebrate talented leaders who are making an exceptional contribution to health and care research across the UK, improving outcomes for patients, tackling inequalities and driving economic growth across the country.
Katy was recognised for her work to examine the barriers and facilitators of effective multi agency work with mothers who have a diagnosis of personality disorder(s) and or complex posttraumatic stress disorder, who have had their children removed from their care.
Katy’s aim is to identify missed opportunities for earlier intervention, and provide an evidence base for an alternative pathway, one that can support mothers to improve mental health and reduce the number of children removed from biological families.
As a prize winner, Katy will receive a £10,000 professional development award, paid to LSCFT, alongside access to tailored leadership and development opportunities.
Katy said:
“I am thrilled to have my research activities recognised in this way. I always thought research happened either in a laboratory or a university. Research can take place anywhere, and can be led by anyone! Inclusive research values the expertise of people who have lived experience of the issues or who aren’t connected to academic or clinical pathways. I believe I can be both a researcher and a social worker and that I can change things from within through my unique position.
"For the last 23 years in various roles I have been questioning why women who have experienced trauma in childhood overwhelmingly face further adversity through homelessness, domestic abuse, substance use, poverty, child removal, criminal justice involvement and health inequalities. NIHR awards have made it possible for me to start researching this, which I am so passionate about.”
Katy will use the funding to undertake some formal training and learning to fit alongside the career development awards, and to attend some research conferences allowing her to increase her networks as well as learn from the presentations there.
James Frith, Health Innovation Minister, said:
“Patients benefit most when our world-leading research delivers the latest innovations to those who need them, when they need them. That’s why we’re recognising 40 research leaders across England for their life-changing work transforming the care patients receive.
“This is our 10-Year Health Plan in action, bringing together the brilliance of British science with the power of our NHS.”
The award reflects NIHR's commitment to supporting talented leaders across the full breadth of health and care research careers, improving outcomes for patients, tackling inequalities and driving economic growth across the country.
A formal prize-giving ceremony will take place at the 2026 NIHR Academy Conference in October.
Find out more about the NIHR20 Research Leaders Prizes.
