Vivensa Academy Excellence Awards

Award scheme to recognise the achievements of early and mid-career researchers, senior leaders, and multidisciplinary and/or multi-professional teams working in ageing-related research.

Based in the UK, the Vivensa Foundation (previously the Dunhill Medical Trust) supports academic and clinical researchers to understand the mechanisms of ageing and treat age-related diseases and frailty.

The Foundation runs the Vivensa Academy Excellence Awards to celebrate the achievements of individual researchers and teams working in the field of ageing-related research. Awards are made in the following categories:

• Early to mid-career Rising Star in ageing-related research.
• Senior Leader in ageing-related research.
• Significant ageing-related Team Achievement delivered for the first time within the last five years; this new award will celebrate those working collaboratively in multidisciplinary and/or multi-professional teams from academia, health and care settings, and/or the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.

Members of the Vivensa Academy may self-nominate or nominate another member, and explain in the nomination form how they have:

• Demonstrated excellence in the ageing-related field.
• Influenced ageing-related policy and/or practice at a local, regional, national and/or international level.
• Demonstrated a commitment to capacity building and/or mentoring in the ageing-related field, and contributed to a positive working culture.
• Promoted the meaningful involvement or engagement of older people.
• Promoted equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in ageing-related work.
• Demonstrated an understanding of the environmental impact of their work and ways in which this could be reduced.
• Worked in multidisciplinary and/or multi-professional teams from academia, health and care settings, and/or the VCSE sector to address the needs of older adults. This can include developing and nurturing working relationships built on openness and shared learning between different disciplines, professions, sectors and/or organisations.

The Foundation recognises that some of these aspects may be more challenging for some depending on the context and/or research area. What matters most is how nominations acknowledge and address any challenges, and how progress has been made by leveraging available resources and opportunities.

Awardees are announced at the Foundation’s Annual Symposium.