Published on: 11th August 2026
RNOH is celebrating a major research milestone after Dr Jo Teixeira, Senior Nurse Research Lead and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Research Leader Alumni, became the first person at the Trust to receive a Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award (SCPRA).
The highly competitive national award, funded by the NIHR, provides £200,000 of support over three years, enabling Jo to dedicate protected time to advancing her research, developing her leadership skills, and driving innovation in patient care.
As part of the NIHR SCPRA Cohort 3, Jo will focus on her ambition to become a national leader in designing and evaluating digital solutions that better support patients awaiting orthopaedic surgery.
Her work aims to improve patient preparedness, reduce health inequalities and provide greater support for families and carers throughout the surgical journey.
Speaking about the award, Jo said:
“My long-term vision is to become a national leader in developing innovative, patient-centred digital solutions for those awaiting surgery, producing evidence that reduces inequalities, enhances patient preparedness, and better supports families and carers.
This award will advance both my career and support other clinical researchers while delivering meaningful, lasting benefits for patients and communities.”
The Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award supports postdoctoral healthcare professionals who have already completed a PhD or MD. It provides funding for flexible professional development and leadership opportunities while allowing award holders to continue their clinical practice and research activities.
Dr Teixeira’s success reflects the growing strength of research at RNOH and highlights the Trust’s commitment to embedding research and innovation across patient care.
Mrs Ira Jakupovic, Head of the Research and Innovation Centre (RIC), said:
“Jo’s award is a fantastic achievement and a significant milestone for RNOH, demonstrating the quality and ambition of research at the Trust.
It marks the start of a new chapter, with the Research and Innovation Centre committed to helping more researchers secure opportunities like this and showcase the excellence of RNOH on the national stage.”
The award represents an important step forward in RNOH’s ambition to make research everybody’s business, supporting clinicians to develop as research leaders while delivering meaningful improvements for patients.
To find out more about the NIHR Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award, visit the NIHR website. Staff interested in applying for future rounds are encouraged to contact the Research and Innovation Centre early for support and advice