Congratulations to Grant Stewart, NIHR Cambridge BRC researcher, Head of Department of Surgery, Professor of Surgical Oncology and Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon, who has been newly appointed as an NIHR Senior Investigator.

Each year the NIHR invites applications to decide who is awarded this prestigious research role, based on outstanding contributions to research. This year 43 researchers have been newly appointed to the NIHR Senior Investigator role.

Professor Stewart’s work focusses on novel ways for early detection and screening for kidney cancer. He is also researching innovative surgical clinical trials to improve treatment options and outcomes for patients with kidney cancer. His significant contributions to research have been recognised by the NIHR which has led to him receiving this esteemed award for 2026.

Professor Grant Stewart, pictured right, said: “It is a great honour to be appointed an NIHR Senior Investigator. This recognition reflects the work of a remarkable community of clinicians, scientists and patients who contribute to our research.

“Together we are working to improve the early detection and treatment of kidney cancer through innovative screening approaches and new clinical trials. I am grateful to the NIHR for its continued support, which enables us to translate research discoveries into better outcomes for patients.”

Find the full list of the 2026 Senior Investigators from the NIHR.

Did you know that medical research is happening all over the Cambridge Biomedical campus, though you probably won’t ever see it going on? But behind the scenes, researchers, scientists, doctors and nurses are working on important research to help sick people get better. To help you visualise the stages involved, visit us during the Cambridge Festival on 21st March at the Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology (CAST), and take part in our giant board puzzle with places to visit, clues to solve, and prizes for all puzzle-solvers!

And for older kids and teens – if you want a tougher challenge, why not have a go at our magnetic board and put the different stages of what happens in a clinical trial in the right order? (If you’re not sure, ask one of our friendly team for clues!)

No need to book – simply turn up at CAST (next to Long Road Sixth Form college on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus) anytime from 11:00 to 16:00 on Saturday 21st March.

Festival events from NIHR BioResource and our own Mental Health Theme researchers

Find out what else is going on NIHR-related at the Cambridge Festival:

• DNA heroes for health
  28-29 March, University Centre, Granta Place Mill Lane, CB2 1RU

  The NIHR BioResource will be at the Family Weekend raising awareness of the powerful role that we can all play in health research. They’ll invite children, young people and families to learn more about their research programme for under 16s, which is known as D-CYPHR (the DNA, Children + Young People’s Health Resource), and how studying clues in our DNA can help to transform the lives of millions.

  There will also be the opportunity to discuss our Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource, which is dedicated to studying health conditions and their unique impact on Black communities. 

• In conversation with the Dawson Professor of Young People’s Mental Health
  
  6:00pm-7:00pm, Tuesday 31 March, Cambridge Union Society, Library, 9A Bridge Street, CB2 1UB

  Join two of our Mental Health Theme researchers, Professor Tim Dalgleish and Dr Clara Faria, as they discuss current challenges, emerging research and the future of youth mental healthcare.
  
  Professor Dalgleish is the inaugural Dawson Professor of Young People’s Mental Health, and his research focuses on improving how we understand and treat mood, anxiety and stress-related disorders.

  Dr Clara Faria is NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, and her research explores eating difficulties and disorders in young people, focusing on early identification and intervention.

About the NIHR

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is the UK’s largest funder of health and care research. Its mission – to improve the health and the wealth of the nation through research – is shared across all its constituent programmes, units and centres.

If you’d like to find out more about how the NIHR works, visit www.nihr.ac.uk. To find out how YOU can be a part of it, go to bepartofresearch.uk