CCLG Member Awards
The Member Awards, held in the Charter Suite at Manchester Central Convention Complex, celebrated the outstanding contribution of members to the work of CCLG and children and young people with cancer, acknowledging and rewarding teams and individuals for best practice excellence.
Nominated by their fellow CCLG members, Member Award winners were chosen based on key criteria. These included measuring the impact and tangible benefits of their work, and whether they have demonstrated CCLG values, such as professionalism, compassion and commitment, as well as criteria specific to the individual award itself.
A wide range of categories included the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, which recognises those who have played a significant part within the paediatric oncology community for over 30 years, and the ‘Johann Visser Award for Outstanding Contribution to CCLG’, for those who have gone above and beyond to support the work and services of CCLG and its members.
Scooping the Lifetime Achievement Award were Consultant Paediatric Oncologist Dr Sue Picton and children's and young persons' cancer lead nurse Margaret Parr, while Nicky Webb, a long-term follow-up nurse and deputy chair of the CCLG Late Effects special interest group, and former CCLG Chair Professor Richard Grundy, were presented with the Johann Visser Award.
Ashley Ball-Gamble, CEO of CCLG, said:
The CCLG Member Awards ceremony is always a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate the successes of our members, and recognise the work they’re doing, day in day out, to improve the lives of children and young people with cancer and their families. Once again, the volume of high-quality nominations and submissions is testament to how much incredible work is happening to improve treatment and care within our community. I’d like to congratulate all our winners, and say a huge thank you to them, and all our members, who, individually and collectively, are helping us to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with cancer and their families, both now and in the future.
CCLG Research Awards
CCLG’s Annual Conference showcased the work of some of the brightest minds in children and young people’s cancer research, with its oral and poster presentations.
The CCLG Research Awards further recognised the groundbreaking projects supported by CCLG which are helping to break through boundaries and drive progress and change in the treatment and care of young cancer patients.
Categories including the ‘Transforming Care Award’, won by Rachael Hastwell, TYA Network Programme Manager – North West at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, and ‘Innovation and Change Award’, presented to Emily Hall, Public Affairs and Advocacy Lead at Solving Kids Cancer.
Importantly, those researchers who are early in their careers were also celebrated, with the ‘Early-Career Investigator Award’ for upcoming talent within children and young people’s cancer research. The Award, won by Dr Aditi Vedi at the University of Cambridge, highlights CCLG’s commitment to developing the next generation of researchers.
CCLG CEO Ashley Ball-Gamble said:
Our Research Awards recognise the incredible contribution of the dedicated individuals and teams that continue to drive progress and deliver real impact through their pioneering studies. Research is key to both better treatments and improved care, and with the innovation, passion and commitment of those undertaking that research, we are able to keep moving forward with the belief that one day, all children and young people with cancer will not only survive their diagnosis but go on to lead long, healthy and independent lives. It’s a privilege to be able to recognise the efforts of those who are helping us to create a better future for children and young people with cancer.
CCLG Member Awards Winners 2026
Unsung Hero Award:
· Dr Martha Perisoglou, The Royal Marsden Hospital
· Dr Emma Johnson, recently retired, formerly Royal Hospital for Children and Young People Edinburgh
Outstanding Leadership Award:
· Elizabeth (Ailish) Barry, Great Ormond Street Hospital
Rising Star Award:
· Dr Jennifer Ho, University College London Hospitals
Innovation in Practice Award:
· Virtual Ward Project – Sheffield Children’s Hospital (Dr David King, Dr Anna Jenkins, Hilary Quinton, Lauren Banks, Rebecca Parnham)
Team of the Year Award:
· Children’s Community Nursing Team – Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (Alicia Leronymides, Karen Dorrington, Olivia Carroll, Charlotte Dalton)
Lifetime Achievement Award:
· Dr Sue Picton, Leeds Teaching Hospitals
· Margaret Parr, recently retired, formerly Nottingham University Hospitals
Johann Visser Award for Outstanding Contribution to CCLG:
· Nicky Webb, Long-term follow-up services, Nottingham University Hospitals
· Professor Richard Grundy, recently retired, formerly Nottingham University Hospitals
CCLG Research Awards Winners 2026
Basic Experimental & Translational Science Award:
· Dr Helen Griffin, Research Associate, Newcastle University
Early Career Investigator Award:
· Dr Aditi Vedi, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, University of Cambridge
Innovation and Change Award:
· Emily Hall, Public Affairs and Advocacy Lead, Solving Kids Cancer
Multiprofessional Award:
· Helen Morris, Children’s Cancer Network Lead Nurse, Children, Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Operational Delivery Network, South West
Patient Involvement and Engagement Award:
· Dr Claudia Heggie, NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow & Specialty Trainee in Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Leeds
Transforming Care Award:
· Rachael Hastwell, TYA Network Programme Manager- North West, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
TYA Award (Lisa Thaxter Prize):
· Professor Rachel Taylor, Professor of Nursing, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
