BSPRM Research Grant 2026 Award Recipients Announced
The British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (BSPRM) is pleased to announce the recipients of the BSPRM Research Grant 2026.
As part of BSPRM's ongoing commitment to supporting research within Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM), the Society offers an annual research grant programme to support projects with the potential to improve patient outcomes, inform clinical practice, and strengthen the evidence base for rehabilitation medicine in the UK.
The 2026 call invited applications from Full and Trainee BSPRM members, with particular encouragement for early-career clinicians working alongside experienced research-active colleagues. Proposals were welcomed from all areas of clinical PRM and were assessed for their scientific quality, clinical relevance, feasibility, innovation, and potential impact.
The application round closed in June 2026, and following review by the BSPRM grant adjudication panel, two projects were selected for funding. The Society is delighted to award £5,000 to each successful project.
Joint Military-OPTIKNEE-Translation UK (Joint-MOT-UK)
Project Team:
- A/Prof Oliver O'Sullivan, MRCP PhD, University of Nottingham and Ministry of Defence
- A/Prof Jackie Whittaker, BScPT PhD, University of British Columbia
This project aims to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based secondary prevention strategies for post-traumatic osteoarthritis within the British Armed Forces.
Musculoskeletal injuries are a major cause of reduced operational capability and medical discharge in military personnel. Building upon international initiatives including OPTIKNEE and Joint Efforts, the research will engage clinicians, policymakers, researchers and individuals with lived experience to understand how best-practice recommendations can be translated into routine care.
By applying implementation science methods, the project seeks to develop practical strategies for improving the long-term musculoskeletal health of military personnel and could provide a model for wider adoption across other physically active populations and occupational settings.
BSPRM Research Grant Award: £5,000
Reducing Time to Trial Without Catheter (TWOC) in Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation: A National Quality Improvement Collaboration
Project Team:
- Dr Nour Hanga, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine and Clinical Director, Central England Rehabilitation Unit, Royal Leamington Spa
- Dr Anne-Marie O'Neill, ST4 in Rehabilitation Medicine, Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries, Oswestry
- Dr Allan Cameron, Clinical Research Fellow, Central England Rehabilitation Unit, Royal Leamington Spa
This national quality improvement project will investigate whether the implementation of a standardised Trial Without Catheter (TWOC) checklist can improve urinary catheter management in specialist acquired brain injury rehabilitation services across the UK.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are among the most common healthcare-associated infections and can have a significant impact on rehabilitation outcomes. The project will establish national baseline data, implement a structured intervention across participating units, and evaluate its effect on catheter duration, adherence to national guidance, and infection rates.
The collaborative approach offers an opportunity to generate practical evidence that could improve patient care and support the development of a sustainable national approach to catheter management within neurorehabilitation services.
BSPRM Research Grant Award: £5,000
Investing in Rehabilitation Research
The BSPRM Research Grant programme continues to play an important role in supporting rehabilitation research and encouraging collaboration across the specialty. The Society would like to thank all applicants for the time and effort invested in their submissions and commends the high standard of applications received this year. We congratulate the successful teams and look forward to sharing updates on their progress.