Staff and students from across the Faculty of Brain Sciences came together to celebrate outstanding contributions that extend beyond academia at its inaugural Celebrating Impact Awards. These awards shine a spotlight on the diverse and meaningful ways research within the faculty is making a tangible difference in the world. From shaping public policy and transforming healthcare delivery to fostering industry partnerships and engaging communities, the awards recognise the many pathways through which research is creating societal, cultural, and health-related impact.
Talking about the Celebrating Impact Awards, Vice Dean Research for the Faculty of Brain Sciences, Professor Courtenay Norbury said:
“The Celebrating Impact Awards are a chance to recognise the many ways our researchers are turning knowledge into action. Whether it’s influencing policy, improving health, or engaging the public, their work is creating real-world change.”
The Celebrating Impact Awards 2025 Winners
Impact through Public Engagement and/or Co-production winner: NIHR Moorfields BRC PPIE Team
The NIHR Moorfields BRC Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Team have been awarded the ‘Impact through Public Engagement’ award for their creative approach to getting people of all ages to talk about equity rather than equality in healthcare.
The Team along with researchers at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and clinicians at Moorfields Eye Hospital developed a game ‘No one Left Behind’ suitable for all ages to be used at engagement events. In the game, players must get their animals to their eye appointment, whilst protecting the characteristics of the animals. There is no right way of getting all the animals to their appointments but if one creature does not make it, everybody loses. – the most important rule is No One Is Left Behind. The feedback from the public about the game has been very positive, with over 100 visitors using the game to spark conversations about equity in healthcare.
Representing the team at the event, Dr Helen Baker and Dr Aadil Kazi said: “We are thrilled to receive this award. It is a testament to the power of creativity in sparking meaningful conversations. ‘No One Left Behind’ has helped people of all ages engage with the idea of equity in healthcare. We are proud to see it making a real impact.”
Impact through Public Policy winner: Professor Naaheed Mukadam, Division of Psychiatry
Professor Naaheed Mukadam has been honoured with the ‘Impact through Policy’ award in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to dementia prevention and public health policy. Her influential research, featured in the 2020 Lancet Commission on dementia has been cited over 9,000 times and has shaped global and national health strategies, including guidance from the World Health Organization and the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia. Her work has also led to tools like Alzheimer’s Research UK’s brain health check, used by over 400,000 people.
Professor Mukadam’s research continues to advance inclusive dementia care through international guidelines and advocacy for personalised prevention, making a lasting impact on global dementia policy.
Talking about winning the award, Professor Mukadam said “It’s a privilege to see our research making a real difference in how dementia is understood and prevented globally. This recognition highlights the importance of inclusive, evidence-based approaches to public health, and I’m grateful to all the collaborators and communities who have helped shape this work.”
Collaborative Impact Winner: Dr Charlie Cole, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
Dr Charlie Cole has been awarded the ‘Collaborative Impact’ award for his leadership in developing UCL’s Support Team for Students impacted by War, Conflict and Disaster. This innovative service, created in partnership with Student Support and Wellbeing Services, PALS, and the NHS University Clinic, provides Psychological First Aid to students affected by global crises. Charlie’s work has enabled early, compassionate support for students both before and during their time at UCL, and has become a key part of the university’s crisis response. More recently Charlie has been exploring a potential new strand to the service through a Grand Challenges funded project that he is co-leading to develop a group-based version of psychological first aid for individuals affected by war-related distress.
Talking about the award, Dr Cole said: “I’m honoured to receive this award on behalf of the whole Support Team for Students impacted by War, Conflict and Disaster. It reflects the power of collaboration in creating meaningful support for students facing unimaginable challenges, and I’m proud to be part of a team working to make a difference during times of crisis.”
Excellent Impact - Early Career Researcher winner: Dr Ruan-Ching Yu, Division of Psychiatry
Dr Ruan-Ching Yu has been awarded the ‘Excellent Impact’ award for her multidisciplinary research into hearing loss severity and dementia risk.
As first author, she conducted the analysis of data from over 1.5 million participants across 50 cohort studies, establishing - for the first time - a clear dose–response relationship between hearing loss severity and dementia. This work is part of a wider collaborative programme shaping clinical and public health discussions on dementia prevention, with recognition from the NIHR and potential influence on future policy and intervention strategies.
Talking about receiving the award, Dr Yu said: “I’m really grateful for this award and proud to be part of a team working to deepen our understanding of the link between hearing loss and dementia. It’s exciting to see this research starting to shape conversations about how we might prevent dementia in the future.”
Impact with Industry winner: Dr Suzanne Beeke, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
Dr Suzanne Beeke has been awarded the ‘Impact Through Policy’ award for her pioneering work in improving communication for people with aphasia. She co-developed Better Conversations with Aphasia (BCA), an evidence-based intervention that enhances everyday conversations and quality of life for people with stroke-related aphasia. Freely available online and used by almost 13,000 people globally, BCA has been adopted into NHS care pathways and adapted into multiple languages. Dr Beeke has also collaborated with a third sector organisation called Dyscover, who have incorporated Better Conversations into their services for people with stroke and dementia, transforming how speech and language therapy is delivered across the UK and beyond.
Talking about winning the award, Dr Beeke said “It’s incredibly rewarding to see Better Conversations with Aphasia making a real difference to people’s lives and shaping how communication support is delivered across health and community services.”
