Here in Leeds, we know that early career research has the power to change lives.

Our new photography exhibition features beautiful portraits captured by student photographer Ruby Lee. It demonstrates the inspiring stories behind early career research, and what this means for patients now, and in the future.

This exhibition forms part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals' Research and Innovation Week.

Dr Christopher Yusuf Akhunbay-Fudge

Neurosurgeon Registrar at Leeds General Infirmary

"We have a clear need. What we have to do, as clinicians and scientists, is ask the right questions. That is what research is. If we don't ask the right questions, we'll never find the answers we seek."

Christopher's story

Mr Ryan Matthew

Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon

"A doctor can often only treat one or a handful of patients at one time. Research findings have the potential to impact an enormous number of patients, right across the world."

Ryan's story


Dr Mike Drozd

Hospital Doctor and Clinical Lecturer at the University of Leeds

"We’re seeing more patients with heart failure that are being admitted to hospital with infection. We urgently need to understand why this is, so we can develop treatment to prevent it."

Mike's story

Melanie McGinlay

Heart Failure Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals; National Institute for Health and Care Research Predoctoral Fellow

"The questions around heart failure are vast. Patients want to know if it will shorten their life.
Research is the best way to help inform better treatment options and improve outcomes for people still seeking answers."

Melanie's story


Dr Alexios Dosis

Higher Surgical Trainee and Clinical Research Fellow

"It’s been amazing to see how willing our patients are to support research that will benefit future generations of cancer patients."

Alexios' story

Edward Taylor

Patient at Leeds Teaching Hospitals

"For me it was reassuring to see first-hand the process involved in driving change to improve outcomes for future patients."

Edward's story


Fay Ismail 

Senior Research Technician in Children’s Cancer Research at the University of Leeds

"We are at the global forefront, driving the science from the lab to the bedside."

Fay's story

Nicole Croft

Son Freddie was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma aged six

"What if people like me pushing for Ewing Sarcoma research has a positive impact on all cancer research?"

Nicole's story


Dr Ella Dzora

Paediatric Trainee

"If giving excellent care is at the heart of what we want to do, then we need to be involved in research."

Ella's story

Paisley 

Patient at Leeds Children’s Hospital

"As a family, the hope is the research will help other children, so they don’t have to struggle as Paisley has"

Paisley's story


Miss Shaili Krishnakant Patel

Clinical Research Fellow at the Transplant Surgery Department at St James’s Hospital and the University of Leeds

"By bringing this research together with liver surgery expertise, this project has the potential to transform outcomes for patients."

Shaili's story

Keith Butterworth

Wife Dorothy received a liver transplant at St James’s Hospital over 20 years ago

"Dorothy had a transplant and got over 20 more years of life, but the risk was high, and this research will help reduce that risk."

Keith's story


Dr Sunil Daga

Consultant Nephrologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals 

"My ambition is to drive this research further and improve access to life saving transplantation in an equitable way."

Sunil's story

Zeeshan Shoukat

Donated a kidney to his mother, Yasmine

"I was 20 at the time - one of the youngest donors in the UK - I want to inspire future donors to donate kidneys to their loved ones."

Zeeshan's story


Dr Rachael Jablonski

NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer; Specialty Registrar in Restorative Dentistry at the Leeds School of Dentistry and Leeds Dental Institute

"A key message from the project is one of face equality - that we should treat everyone fairly, regardless of visible facial differences."

Rachael's story

Rebecca Fogell

Patient at Leeds Teaching Hospitals

"Once a face is damaged, people take on a really different approach to you, so any research around disfigurement is a really good thing."

Rebecca's story


All photo credits except Freddie Croft: Ruby Lee
@ruby.angelaleephoto
rubyangelalee.myportfolio.com
Photo of Freddie Croft by permission of the Croft family

Leeds Hospitals Charity is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, and all research and innovation grant funding is awarded in line with its policies and principles.

Explore our ongoing research efforts