We are delighted to announce that Phil Macdonald has been recognised in the Individual category at the 2024 PPIE Awards for his exceptional contributions to Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE).
With over a decade of dedication to involving public contributors in his work, Phil has established himself as a leader in integrating public perspectives into the training of healthcare scientists. His approach goes beyond simple engagement; he ensures that public contributors are empowered with the freedom, support, and encouragement needed to make their involvement meaningful and impactful.
Phil’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity has not only enriched teaching practices but also created an environment where public members feel truly valued and integral to the educational process.
Congratulations to Phil Macdonald for this well-deserved recognition! The annual PPIE Celebration Event continues to be a platform for showcasing exceptional initiatives like Phil’s. In 2024, themed “Back to the Future,” the event spotlighted how historical learnings and future aspirations shape impactful engagement in healthcare and science. It brought together faculty, students, and public contributors to recognise the powerful outcomes of collaborative efforts in research and policy development.
The University of Manchester is celebrating a double achievement after receiving two Times Higher Education (THE) awards in recognition of its exceptional support for students and ground-breaking STEM research.
At the award ceremony held on 28 November in Birmingham, the University and its Students’ Union were honoured for their outstanding efforts to support students during the 2022/23 cost of living crisis.
In response to the economic pressures students faced, the University provided a robust support package totalling over £10 million. This included one-off payments of more than £9 million in November 2022, with 90% of students benefiting. Targeted additional support was also rolled out in February 2023, at a time when many other institutions could not afford similar initiatives.
The University’s efforts went beyond financial assistance. Students had access to a variety of support services, including cosy campus spaces and free breakfasts on Wednesdays, alongside holistic well-being initiatives. Kelly-Ann Mallon, Head of Access, Student Employability, Success, and Development, who attended the awards, said: “This recognition is a testament to the incredible teamwork and collaboration across the University that allowed us to respond swiftly and effectively to the cost of living crisis.”
The University’s donors played a pivotal role in making these efforts possible. Initiatives like the Cost of Living Support Fund have provided vital financial assistance to students in need. Additionally, programs such as the Manchester Access Programme and the Undergraduate Access Scholarship are opening doors for more students to access life-changing opportunities.
The impact of these efforts has resonated far beyond the University, influencing national policy and shaping discussions in Westminster. The University continues to advocate for greater financial support for students across the UK, ensuring that all students can reach their full potential.
The University also took home the prestigious award for Research Project of the Year: STEM for its pioneering work on a bedside genetic test to prevent deafness in babies. Developed by researchers at Manchester, this test can identify babies at risk of permanent hearing loss from gentamicin, an antibiotic commonly used in intensive care. The rapid test has been trialled on 751 babies in neonatal units in Manchester and Liverpool, and the NHS is now exploring ways to integrate it into routine clinical care. This innovation has the potential to save the hearing of 180 babies in the UK each year.
Both awards reflect the University’s commitment to making a real-world difference, whether supporting students through times of financial difficulty or pushing the boundaries of medical research to improve lives.
On 13th June 2024, MAHSE held their annual STP Research Day. The STP Research Day gives trainees an opportunity to showcase their research projects to all the cohorts and staff. Invitations were open to third year trainees to give either an oral or poster presentation, invitations were also extended to second year trainees for the poster presentation later.
This year’s event took place in Lecture Theatre B, Engineering Building A. This is the newest building on the UoM campus, which provided ample space for the event. We had attendance from trainees, staff, training officers and members of the National School for Healthcare Science (NSHCS).
The event was hosted by Dr Phil Macdonald, MAHSE Deputy- Director for STP. Presentations throughout the day were interspersed with oral and poster presentations. Posters were up on display near the main entrance area and were presented during refreshments and lunch breaks. Lunch was served in a nice buffet style, with suitable accommodations for a diverse range of dietary requirements. Some quiet rooms were available all day for attendees during the event.
The last round of trainee talks concluded after lunch. The final coffee and networking break was followed by our key note speaker, Allan Pacey, MBE PhD FRCOG, Deputy Vice-President & Deputy Dean, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester. Allan gave a very interesting talk to delegates about utilising social media in research.
We had the pleasure of having some of our academics and our lead lay representatives, getting involved in judging oral and poster presentations. Afterwards, Phil and Professor Carol Ainley, MAHSE Director, announced prize winners. MAHSE would like to thank everyone for taking part in one of our proudest days. There was a short talk from Carol, recognising all the hard work that our STP trainees put in for the duration of their course.
We are very much looking forward to Research Day 2025!
On 15th June 2023, MAHSE held their annual STP Research Day. The STP Research Day gives trainees an opportunity to showcase their research projects to their cohort and staff. Invitations were open to third year trainees to give either an oral or poster presentation invitations were also extended to second year trainees for the latter.
Etc venues hosted the event this year and whilst we experienced one of the hottest weeks of the year, the air conditioning was something to be grateful for on that particular day! We had attendance from trainees, staff, training officers and members of the National School for Healthcare Science (NSHCS).
Hosted by Dr Phil Macdonald, MAHSE Deputy- Director for STP, the day kicked off with our first two trainee presentations followed by our key note speaker, Professor Joyce Harper, author, academic, scientist, educator and podcaster. Her field is Reproductive Science based at University College London.
Posters were up on display in one of the syndicate rooms and were presented during refreshment breaks. The last round of trainee talks concluded after lunch. Lunch saw us enjoy a lovely continental bento box meal.
We had the pleasure of having some of our academic colleagues and our lead lay representatives, getting involved in judging oral and poster presentations. Afterwards, Phil and Professor Carol Ainley, MAHSE Director, announced prize winners. MAHSE would like to thank everyone for taking part in one of our proudest days. There was a short talk from Carol, recognising all the hard work that our STP trainees put in for the duration of their course.
We are very much looking forward to Research Day 2024!
A new ebook has been published on Open Access about Collaboration in Higher Education. We are thrilled to see a case study within the book about MAHSE, published by MAHSE director, Professor Carol Ainley.
The ebook is available to all and can be accessed here
Two of our MAHSE Lay Representatives, Maggie Stubbs and Manoj Mistry, have won an award at our Annual PPIE (Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement) award celebration for the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health 2023. Both winners were recognised for their Exceptional Service. Maggie and Manoj have both worked with the MAHSE programmes since 2014. As founding MAHSE Lay Representatives, the also worked with their fellow lay reps to develop the MAHSE Patient Forum from an admin/academic led Forum to a Public Contributor led Forum.
Manoj was elected as one of two lead lay representatives in 2015 and he helped us write the draft for the MAHSE Guiding Principles ahead of it being circulated to the Forum. Manoj has continued to embrace his role, representing the Forum at wider meetings and ensuring that we are listening to the Patient/Public voice.
Maggie was the Public Contributor lead on a project that the University of Manchester undertook with Newcastle University in 2014-15. The report created from the project is still used by the National School of Healthcare Science to aid Universities in ensuring that PPIE is a key part of the programmes (link including in supporting evidence).
In 2016 the Patient Forum looked at succession planning. At this point the Lay Representatives had a discussion around term length and how we ensured that the work that was done on the programmes continued to grow and develop. It was decided that terms should be 3 years in length with an option at the end of the initial term to stay on for a further 3 years. Due to COVID Maggie and Manoj both kindly continued to contribute to their programmes and MAHSE their second term, and we’re very sad to see their terms come to an end in July 2023.
Thank you both for all of your commitment to MAHSE, and congratulations on your awards!
Zara Musker, a talented women’s futsal player and trainee in the Scientist Training Programme (STP) at the University of Manchester, has emerged triumphant as the recipient of the esteemed Deaf Sports Personality of the Year award. Zara’s remarkable achievements and dedication to her sport have earned her this prestigious recognition within the deaf sports community. As a member of the England team, Zara played a vital role in their historic victory at the European Deaf Futsal Championships, where they secured their first-ever title. Zara’s exceptional skills and prowess on the field led her to become the tournament’s top scorer, netting an impressive 10 goals.
The Deaf Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony took place on 1st July at Twickenham Stadium in London, where Zara’s exceptional achievements were recognised and celebrated. As Zara continues to shine both in her sporting career and academic pursuits in her second year as an STP trainee in Audiology at the University of Manchester, she exemplifies the values of perseverance, determination, and resilience, making the university proud to have her as part of their academic community.
The MAHSE STP Open Day will be made up of online content taken from the 2022 Open Day. We May also have some live content coming up in January 2023, so watch this space! Please find your specialism further down the page. (Live content will be recorded, please turn off your webcams if you would prefer not to be in the recording)
The application window to apply for the Scientist Training Programme will be announced soon but will most likely open in January 2023. Please view the link below for information and details of NSHCS Open Day Events and Applications: https://nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/programmes/stp/applicants/
If you keep checking this post we will be uploading further content for you to view.
Reconstructive Science
Reconstructive Sciences Talk and Q&A:
Please contact ‘K.Winwood@mmu.ac.uk’ if you have any further questions
Pharmaceutical Science
Pharmaceutical Sciences Talk and Q&A:
Please contact ‘ruth.barnes@manchester.ac.uk’ if you have any further questions
“I think the course overall was a great opportunity to explore the wider aspects of health Informatics which I wouldn’t have necessarily seen at work. It complimented my day to day work really well, and also allowed me to expand my horizons. In terms of career progression, having being exposed to much more, compared to what I had seen at work up until then, it helped me decide what exactly I wanted to achieve with my career and motivated me to pursue it.”
“I completed the Scientific Training Programme (STP) in Clinical Bioinformatics (Physical Sciences specialism) in 2017. I was an in-service trainee, so upon completion, I returned to the position I held before starting the STP in 2014, which was as a Research Scientist in the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Directorate of The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Following completion of the STP, my role involved supporting the directorate’s role as an External Assessment Centre for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme and other projects in the directorate. I led a Trust-wide audit of a new non-invasive coronary artery modelling technology (HeartFlow) using electronic health records for the Innovation and Technology Payment (ITP) programme, delivered by the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs). During this time, I also became an Associate Researcher in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University.
In 2019, I moved into a Clinical Scientist position with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative. I primarily work on the quantitative aspects of a range of different projects, including leading data modelling and statistical analysis activities. I develop R functions/Shiny apps for the group and co-manage the groups’ Shiny app portfolio. Our group have also had an important role in supporting the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where I have led the analysis of a national survey of health and social care professionals for the Department of Health and Social Care and a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of a COVID-19 diagnostic for the COVID-19 National Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Platform. I am also co-applicant on two submitted grants: ‘A machine learning algorithm to support ambulance practitioner identification of non-stroke patients presenting with stroke symptoms’ and ‘GlycoScore: Superior prostate cancer diagnosis using a simple blood test’.”
“In 2015 I started the Scientist Training Program (STP) in Clinical Bioinformatics (Physical Sciences) based at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust (RLBHT). During the 3 year program I joined the Medial Physics and Clinical Engineering group to study computing, statistics and informatics in the clinical environment. After completing the STP at RLBHT I took a 3-month data scientist post at Aintree University Hospital Trust where I was involved in data science projects to help improve clinical pathways. During the data scientist post I applied and was accepted to a Clinical (Computer) Scientist post at University Hospitals Birmingham with Radiotherapy Physics where I had previously visited on my STP Elective. In this post I am involved in supporting and developing clinical computer systems in Radiotherapy. In the near future I am aiming to join the Higher Specialist Scientist Program (HSST) specialising in Clinical Bioinformatics (Physical Sciences).”
CCVRS
We have a recording from 2021 where Clinical Scientists in Cardiac Science, Sleep Science and Clinical Care Science answered questions, along with Academic Leads for each of the disciplines. If you’re interested in CCVRS Sciences but aren’t sure which specialism, or want to know more about the professions this video will help.
