SPCR Researcher Spotlight | Dr Ben Bowers & Dr Ralph Kwame Akyea

Pioneering community nursing research: the transformative role of SPCR funding

Dr. Ben Bowers from the University of Cambridge, has significantly advanced community nursing research, particularly in palliative and end-of-life care. In 2017, he was awarded a Studentship from the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR), facilitating his PhD research on anticipatory prescribing practices.

His findings have influenced national policies and improved patient care. Recognised for his contributions, Dr. Bowers received the Queen’s Nursing Institute’s Award for Outstanding Service in 2022 and was named among the top 75 nurses and midwives impacting the NHS since its inception. Currently he continues to lead interdisciplinary research to enhance end-of-life care at home. 

"My SPCR studentship enabled me to upskill and lead innovative research investigating practices in prescribing and using anticipatory medications in the community, and patient and family carers experiences of this care. It enabled me to step back from clinical practice and develop my research skills. I would not have progressed as a researcher without this key award. Community nursing remains critically under-represented professional group, and these opportunities are critical."  "The value of building primary care research capacity and having community nurse-led research is huge. For example, I was recently announced as one of the 75 nurses and midwives whose work has had an especially significant impact on the NHS since its creation."

 From Clinician to Research Leader. Championing diversity in digital health and research leadership. 

Dr. Ralph Kwame Akyea, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham's Centre for Academic Primary Care, has advanced from full time clinical work to research leader with support from the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR). His research utilises large health databases and data science methods to understand disease heterogeneity and identify patient groups at high risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Dr. Akyea is committed to championing diversity in digital health and research leadership, exemplified by his selection as a member of the inaugural UK Young Academy in 2023. 

"As a first-generation immigrant and foreigntrained medical doctor in England, the funding and opportunities provided by SPCR have been crucial in my transition from a full-time clinician to a full-time academic in primary care research."  "Over the past seven years (2018 to 2024), the support from SPCR has been instrumental in my progression from research associate to my current positions as senior research fellow with the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Nottingham and post-doctoral fellow for the Health Data Research UK, Big Data for Complex Disease Driver Programme".