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Professor Chris Gale has been named as a Research Delivery Leader as part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) leadership prizes, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to health and care research. 

Chris, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's School of Public Health and Deputy Director of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Clinical Trials Unit, has been named as a Research Delivery Leader. 

Chris is Professor of Neonatal Medicine at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's School of Public Health, Deputy Director of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Clinical Trials Unit and President of the Neonatal Society. He has led multiple NIHR trials, including neoGASTRIC, which is now the world’s largest individually randomised preterm baby trial. He has worked closely with parents and healthcare professionals to streamline research involvement for families and increase efficiency of research delivery, leading to the development of an HRA-approved opt-out consent model and embedding trial processes into electronic patient record systems.

Through his work, he has expanded research capacity by engaging new NHS sites and developing academic neonatal nursing and academic neonatal allied health professional capacity from low base. He has also helped expand research awareness and involvement across the UK, building a network of neonatal units outside of large academic centres.
The prizes attracted a strong and diverse field of applicants from across the NIHR community. Winners were selected for their contributions to research leadership, innovation, inclusion and impact. Together, they showcase the breadth of careers that underpin health and care research, from clinical academia and social care research to research delivery and community-based research.

Chris will receive a £10,000 professional development award, alongside access to tailored leadership and development opportunities. A formal prize-giving ceremony will take place at the 2026 NIHR Academy Conference in October.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of NIHR, said: “These prizes highlight the exceptional talent and dedication found across our health and care research community. Our winners represent the best of research leadership, driving life-changing improvements for patients – nationally and internationally – and tackling inequalities head-on.

“Our research workforce is critical to sustaining UK research capability and ensuring innovation is translated into better care and outcomes for patients. The UK’s strength in research depends on the people who lead, deliver and apply it.

“As we mark 20 years of the NIHR, we are proud to celebrate these outstanding individuals who are strengthening health and social care and making research more inclusive. The quality of the field was outstanding, and every winner should be immensely proud.”