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 Dr Young’s 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 patient’s lives drives me on to continue this work, and I encourage others to pursue research roles in their specialities too.”
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 within the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) 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 will receive the award on stage at UK Kidney Week (10–12 June 2025, Bournemouth).
The NIHR Leicester BRC is part of the NIHR and hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group.