UCL researchers named as NIHR Senior Investigators in 2025

New appointments are Professor Jonathan Schott (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), Professor Sonia Johnson (UCL Psychiatry) and Professor Darren Hargrave (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health).

Reappointments are Professor Rob Heyderman (UCL Infection & Immunity) and Professor Henry Houlden (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology).

Senior Investigators are among the most prominent and prestigious researchers funded by the NIHR and the most outstanding leaders of patient and people-based research within the NIHR research community.

Senior Investigators are ambassadors for the NIHR across the NHS, social care, and public health. They are NIHR Academy Members, helping to guide research capacity development and play a leading role in tackling challenges in health and social care, working closely with the NIHR and Department of Health and Social Care.

Professor Schott said: “As a clinical academic I am committed to translational research that makes a real difference to patients with, and at risk of dementia. I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as an NIHR senior investigator and would like to thank my colleagues at UCL and beyond, and the many funders – including NIHR, the MRC and Alzheimer’s Research UK – who have supported my work over many years. I am look forward to helping provide research leadership to the NIHR Faculty and to promoting the next generation of researchers.”

Professor Johnson said: “I'm delighted to be appointed as a NIHR Senior Investigator - it's a testimony to the tremendous work of the teams I have worked with over many years at UCL and beyond, including in the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental Health and UCLH BRC Loneliness and Social Isolation and Mental Health Research Network.

“We aim to make an impact on mental health policy and practice in areas including early intervention, crisis care and loneliness and mental health. Being a Senior Investigator is also a very welcome opportunity to extend my contribution to nurturing and supporting the next generation of leading mental health researchers across a range of disciplines.”

Professor Hargrave said: “I work with many wonderful colleagues, all with the goal of developing better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer, with a specific focus on brain tumours. I am honoured to be appointed as a NIHR Senior Investigator and will continue my aim to translate the best science into clinical trials to deliver better future outcomes. I hope to bring my expertise to champion, guide and mentor the next generation of clinical trial researchers in childhood cancer.”

Professor Heyderman said: “Being re-appointed as an NIHR senior investigator is a testament to the exceptional team of talented investigators I have had the privilege of working with in the UK and Africa. This role remains instrumental in advancing my research, mentorship, and policy work in infection, enabling meaningful contributions to health globally.”

Professor Houlden said: “This appointment reflects on work from the entire team in neurology and neurogenetics at UCL/UCLH where we particularly focus on ethnically diverse populations, common disorders such as Parkinson's disease and rare disorders such as ALS and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Thanks also to our patients, families and funders such as the MRC, Wellcome Trust and NIHR UCL/UCLH BRC.”

The NIHR currently have 200 Senior Investigators and have made more than 800 appointments since 2008.

Links

• Professor Jonathan Schott's academic profile
• Professor Sonia Johnson's academic profile
• Professor Darren Hargrave's academic profile
• Professor Rob Heyderman's academic profile
• Professor Henry Houlden's academic profile
• UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
• UCL Psychiatry
• UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
• UCL Infection & Immunity
• UCL Brain Sciences
• UCL Population Health Sciences
• UCL Medical Sciences

Image

First row: Professor Darren Hargrave and Professor Sonia Johnson

Second row: Professor Jonathan Schott, Professor Henry Houlden, Professor Rob Heyderman

Media contact 

Poppy Tombs

E: p.tombs [at] ucl.ac.uk