Pioneering health research recognised with royal award

The work of the Health Services Research Unit and the Health Economics Research Unit have been recognised with the Queen's Anniversary Prize

The University of Aberdeen has won the highest national honour for a UK university - the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

It has been awarded in recognition of the University’s world-leading research into health services over the last 40 years.

Two flagship research units at the University – the Health Services Research Unit and the Health Economics Research Unit - pioneered the combination of economic and clinical research in order to assess which medical treatments are effective for use in the NHS.

This work has changed millions of lives all over the world. For example we provided the underpinning evidence for the introduction of robotic surgery for prostate cancer. Previously, the balance of potential harms and benefits was unknown. Our research demonstrated that robotic surgery was beneficial resulting in the purchase of surgical robots across the UK. We also transformed nationwide antibiotic prescribing in general dental practice - our interventions produced a 7% reduction in annual antibiotic prescribing compared to usual practice.

The University’s work also led to the recommendation that women should not receive multiple embryos when undergoing IVF treatment. Previously, several embryos were transferred in order to maximise the chances of success. However, this led to multiple births and serious risks to the mother and children. Our research showed that the chances of success were not reduced when only one embryo was transferred. This is now accepted practice worldwide.

Our researchers have conducted more than 1000 studies, involving 46,000 participants from 1,500 places worldwide. The results have changed clinical practice, government policy and legislation, and academic studies" University of Aberdeen Principal,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

We also conducted the research and economic modelling which underpinned the ban on smoking in public places in Scotland. Our predictions proved correct, with subsequent studies showing substantial declines in childhood asthma, pregnancy complications and heart problems.

We have developed new methods to help test whether new treatments work. As well as finding ways to test the benefits of new surgical procedures, we developed ways of including patient’s views when evaluating the benefits of medicines and treatments. The method has been widely adopted by national and international policy makers.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Principal of the University of Aberdeen, said, “Our researchers have conducted more than 1000 studies, involving 46,000 participants from 1,500 places worldwide. The results have changed clinical practice, government policy and legislation, and academic studies. We are incredibly proud to have the achievements of the Health Services Research Unit and the Health Economics Research Unit recognised with this prestigious Queen’s Anniversary prize.”

Professor Elizabeth Russell, who played a key role in the establishment of the Health Services Research Unit and Health Economics Research Unit, said, “The idea of focussing on the outcomes and value of medical treatments came from the late Roy Weir’s concern about what happened to patients after acute treatments had finished; were they better off in the long run? At the same time, in the late 60s, there was an explosion in new treatments and a growing awareness that there wouldn’t be enough money to do them all. The Units were the result. It was an idea whose time had come, and we were the first in the field. The Units, together and individually, have made an enormous contribution to the understanding and use of evidence in choosing how patients should best be treated so that the health service can be as efficient as possible.”

The Queen’s Anniversary prize is awarded once every two years to recognise world-class excellence and achievement. Established in 1993, the honour is distinctive in being granted to the whole institution. It is the UK’s most prestigious form of national recognition open to a UK academic or vocational institution. The prize will be presented to a delegation from the University at Buckingham Palace early next year.