UCL academic awarded prestigious NIHR Research Professorship

4 November 2025

Professor Maxine Tran, a globally recognised kidney cancer scientist, is one of six new National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Professors, awarded to outstanding leaders in healthcare.

The NIHR Research Professorship provides up to £2 million to each awardee for professorial-level research, aimed at addressing critical health priorities and delivering benefits for patients and communities across the nation.

Professor Tran, a Professor of Urology based at UCL Surgery & Interventional Science, was awarded the honour for her work to transform the management of kidney tumours, including reducing unnecessary surgery for benign tumours.

Over 14,000 people are diagnosed with kidney tumours every year in the UK. Most of these are detected by chance, on scans performed for other purposes. Up to 30% of kidney tumours are benign and do not cause harm, however, most patients proceed straight to surgical removal and only find out afterwards that their tumour was benign. 

She said: “I am thrilled to receive this transformative award from the NIHR. This important endorsement will enable me to fully focus on my research programme to transform the management of kidney tumours.

“The first part of this process is improving the diagnostic pathway to identify kidney cancers that require treatment and reduce unnecessary surgery for benign tumours. Second, we will conduct clinical trials to compare less invasive treatments to surgery and provide more treatment choices for better patient outcomes. Third, we will develop tools to encourage patients to be more involved in treatment decision making.”

Improving health and care research

The NIHR Research Professorships award supports the nation’s top researchers to deliver ambitious, translational research that improves patient outcomes, enhances efficiencies in the health and social care system and supports economic growth. 

Professor Waljit Dhillo, Dean of the NIHR Academy, said: "We are incredibly proud to welcome this year’s Research Professors. The scheme gives exceptional leaders the opportunity to develop bold ideas that change and improve the way we deliver health and care research. 

"By supporting them with long-term funding and mentorship, we are creating research that will have a lasting impact on patients and services. I’m excited to see the ambition of the latest cohort and watch them help shape the future of health and care research in the UK."

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR said: “I am delighted to welcome this new cohort of NIHR Research Professors. As well as recognising individual excellence, these awards are a strategic investment in our research leadership across health, social care and public health.

"I look forward to seeing the positive impact of these awardees’ research and leadership across major health and care challenges.”

Applications open for new research professorships

NIHR Research Professorships are among the UK's most prestigious career development awards. The awards are focussed on translating into real world impact. The 10 Year Health Plan recognised the need for research and innovation to be integrated into health and care practice.

NIHR Research Professors combine their academic roles with professional practice. They provide a crucial link between research and the delivery of health, social care and public health services, driving the implementation of evidence-based improvements that address key health and social care challenges.

Cohort 16 of the NIHR Research Professorships is now open. Applications are particularly welcome from underrepresented groups, professions, universities, and geographies. Applications close on 10 December.

Image

Credit: Maxine Tran.

Media contact

Matt Midgley

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 9064

Email: m.midgley [at] ucl.ac.uk