We are delighted to share that Holly Adams, lead laboratory technician for the MAPJAG study, has won the University of Birmingham Research and Impact Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Research Technician.
The University’s Research and Impact Awards celebrate the commitment, expertise and efforts of staff working across the full research cycle, recognising the many different roles that contribute to research excellence.
Holly, who works in the Department of Inflammation and Ageing within the College of Medicine and Health, was recognised for her outstanding contribution to research delivery and research culture. Her work has been central to establishing a high quality tissue processing service that now supports research across four laboratories and strengthens the consistency, workflow and reliability of tissue-based research.
This service plays an important role in major studies and awards, including BioRES, MAPJAG, TRAAC and POLARISE. Within MAPJAG, Holly’s expertise supports the careful processing of precious samples donated by children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, helping researchers to better understand what is happening inside the inflamed joint.
MAPJAG is closely linked to the wider aims of TRICIA, which is building the infrastructure, training and standardised methods needed to support multicentre synovial tissue research in childhood arthritis. This work is an important step towards improving understanding of disease mechanisms and supporting future research into more targeted treatment approaches.
Alongside her technical expertise, Holly manages and trains a team of technicians, supports colleagues in specialist laboratory methods and helps students and researchers work with confidence. She is also widely valued for the calm and practical way she responds to challenges, including equipment failures and unexpected laboratory issues.
Holly’s leadership, kindness and problem solving have helped create a collaborative and resilient research environment. Her award is a well-deserved recognition of the vital contribution that research technicians make to high quality, impactful research.
Everyone involved in MAPJAG warmly congratulates Holly on this fantastic achievement.