Professor Daniel Perry awarded prestigious NIHR Research Professorship

Professor Daniel Perry has been awarded a Research Professorship; the highest honour granted by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).

Professor Perry is the first orthopaedic surgeon and the first academic from the University of Liverpool to be awarded the professorship for research in the NHS.

The award aims to fund and support the research leaders of the future across topics which strengthen and benefit health, public health and care research leadership at the highest academic levels.

Professor Perry is a Professor in children’s orthopaedic surgery and emergency care at the University’s Institute of Population Health and a Consultant Children’s Orthopaedic Surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. His grant will focus on developing better evidence to improve the safety and effectiveness of orthopaedic care for children.

Around 250,000 children in the UK break a bone each year, while others are diagnosed with long-term disabling conditions of the bones. Despite the frequency of children’s bone injuries and disease, there is little research to test how effective orthopaedic treatments are, which means that the treatments offered to children often depend on the beliefs of the individual orthopaedic surgeon they see.

Professor Perry said: “There is a growing desire amongst surgeons, healthcare professionals and families to resolve these uncertainties, by generating robust evidence. This Professorship will enable me to deliver leadership to directly address a number of these issues. In particular, it will enable me to become a world leader, encouraging and inspiring surgeons and families throughout the world to join together to engage in research.”

As part of his professorship, Professor Perry will lead new studies looking at the effectiveness of surgical versus non-surgical treatments for hip disease in children.

Professor Waljit Dhillo, Dean for NIHR Academy and recipient of a NIHR Research Professorship from 2015-20, said: “I’m delighted to warmly welcome our latest cohort of NIHR Research Professors and NIHR Global Research Professors. As leaders in their fields, these outstanding individuals will play a key role in improving the health and care of people not only in the UK but around the world.”