We are pleased to announce that Dr Ben Gabbott has been awarded the Joint Medical Research Council (MRC) / Vivensa Foundation Professional Doctorate: Clinical Research Training Fellowship.
This scheme is designed to support clinically active healthcare professionals to undertake a PhD. The Vivensa Foundation joined the contributing funders for the first time in 2025, and we are delighted to introduce our first awardee.
Based at Queen Mary University of London, Ben’s research will examine the impact of mental health on outcomes for patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery. People with mental health conditions are known to be more likely to experience poorer outcomes after surgery. This project aims to identify which patients are most at risk by examining mental health factors such as diagnosis, severity, timing and treatment in detail. To find out more about Ben’s work, click here.
I’m hugely grateful to the Vivensa Foundation and the MRC for this opportunity. Mental health is so often an overlooked factor in recovery from operations, and this is a critical part of ageing well. I’m excited to dig into the detail of how it shapes recovery after knee replacement and keeping patients mobile. I hope the project will help clinicians identify and support at-risk patients much earlier.
Dr Ben Gabbott
The assessment process was managed by the MRC, with applications undergoing peer and panel review. The success rate for this round of the scheme was 50%. More information about the assessment process is available on MRC’s website.
The scheme is open to applications three times a year, with deadlines in January, April and September. The next deadline is 2 September at 4pm, and you can view the scheme details and information on how to apply on the UKRI website.
For more information, visit our Apply for funding page.
