National honour for USW PhD student

Rosie Roberts shortly after receiving her award

A UNIVERSITY of South Wales (USW) research student has won a national accolade for work on improving the impact of cancer treatment on patients.

Rosie Roberts is working towards her PhD at USW, and won the NHS Judges’ Award at the MediWales Innovation Awards on Tuesday night.

Rosie works at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, and won the award for research which explored potential risk factors for the development of arm problems in patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy for breast cancer.

At the black tie event held at Cardiff’s National Museum of Wales, guests from industry, the NHS, government and academia gathered to help celebrate the year’s biggest achievements in the Welsh life sciences sector. It was supported by BioWales, the Welsh Government’s Healthcare Technology, Strategy & Innovation Team, and Health & Care Research Wales.

There were 10 other winners in a variety of cateogies, including Innovation, Outstanding Achievement, Partnership with the NHS, Start-up, Export, and Industry Judges’ Award.

After receiving the award, Rosie said: “I was really pleased to win the award, as it highlights the importance of nursing research. This raises the profile of what it’s is all about, and the importance of something that’s making a real difference for patients.

“I won’t invent a new drug to treat cancer, but what I can do is help the patients to manage the treatment and make it more effective.”