We are proud to announce that two members of staff have been accepted onto the prestigious INSIGHT programme, a master’s in research initiative funded by the NIHR and hosted by the University of Leeds.
INSIGHT supports registered healthcare professionals to pursue a master’s in research degree at one of our region’s universities. The programme is tailored to the research career ambitions of each participant, with opportunities spanning social sciences, health informatics with data science, health research, clinical research, public health and mental health.
Kate Howard is a Band 6 rotational Midwife who will be undertaking a master’s in health research at the University of York. Kate’s academic journey began with a degree in Human Biology at Loughborough University, followed by Midwifery training at the University of Leeds. With a clinical background, research experience and a passion for improving outcomes, she is committed to innovation within maternity services.
Kate said: “This opportunity will enable me to expand my knowledge and understanding of research alongside my clinical practice, with the aim of deepening my interest and hopefully one day contributing to evidence-based maternity care.”
Also joining the programme is Elizabeth Wilson, a Band 6 Dietitian specialising in Gastroenterology, who has secured a place on the MSc Health Research course at the University of Leeds.
Elizabeth said: “I am delighted to share that I have been successful in my application to the NIHR INSIGHT Programme. This opportunity will allow me to build my skills in conducting high-quality research and pursue my passion for strengthening the evidence base for supporting Neurodiverse populations; a large but under-researched group we work with every day.”
Participants are awarded funding to help cover the cost of backfill for their clinical duties, enabling them to attend university and undertake study leave.
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Research and Innovation team provides ongoing support to successful applicants and their managers throughout the process. This includes guidance on applications, workplace-based study, research ethics, governance, data management and project delivery. Importantly, support will also continue beyond the completion of this award, helping staff to develop their research careers within the Trust and beyond.
This is the first time that Kate and Elizabeth will be involved in clinical research and both are commencing the INSIGHT programme in September 2025. This achievement highlights the commitment of Leeds Teaching Hospitals to advancing research and ensuring staff have opportunities to develop skills that ultimately benefit patients, services and the wider NHS.
