A&E researcher recognised with senior academic role

An emergency department consultant has been appointed to a senior NIHR academic role by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).

Dr Alex Novak, a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Ambulatory Care at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded an RCEM/NIHR Associate Professorship.

The scheme was introduced by the college and NIHR in 2018 to recognise and support NHS clinicians who are delivering high quality research. 

Successful applicants receive mentorship and support through the college and NIHR, including access to academic methodological support in trials and applied health, and dedicated development workshops.

Prof Novak is a PI and CI on CRN-supported trials,  and is the Director of Emergency Medicine Research Oxford (EMROx), which oversees emergency medicine research in the trust.

He is also a former recipient of our Research Fellow Scheme, which provides funding to allow researchers time to develop into a research leader with good knowledge and insight into the research process.

Prof Novak said: “I’m delighted to have received this award, and hugely grateful to all those who have worked with and supported myself and my team through this journey so far. 

“This senior post represents a landmark moment for academic emergency medicine in Oxford and serves as recognition of the tremendous work of the EMROx team as whole, as well as our large network of collaborators and our industrial, clinical and academic partners across regional, national and international borders. 

“The acute care sector represents a vast and challenging area of clinical enterprise, and research in this area is rapidly developing and expanding to meet its demands. We aim to establish Oxford as one of the leading centres of emergency medicine research in the UK and worldwide, and this first senior academic appointment is a significant step towards that goal.”

In the last few years EMROx has expanded and diversified its team to develop a growing track record of research leadership, delivery, design and publication, winning multiple grants and awards, and currently manages a portfolio of over 40 ongoing studies in the department.

Key projects recognised by the award include the creation of the Thames Valley Emergency Medicine Research Network (TaVERN), and numerous studies under the National Consortium of Intelligent Medical Imaging (NCIMI) which seek to develop and evaluate Artificial Intelligence-enhanced imaging in clinical settings. 

OUH Clinical Lead for Emergency Medicine Dr Adham Khalek said: “Professor Novak’s appointment by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine is just recognition of the massive contribution he and the EMROx team have made to the field of Emergency Medicine research in recent years. 

“Alex has been an absolute driving force in making our emergency departments such a successful hub of research. Under his direction and leadership, research has allowed our departments to benefit from extra staff, resources, conferences and wider network collaboration.

“A lot of press coverage recently has rightly been on the state of the wider urgent and emergency care system. While this is totally correct, it is also wonderful to be able to highlight all the successes that are still happening in the department and still make this a great place to work.”