We’re excited to announce that SPHR trainee Jennie Parnham has won an NIHR early career researcher Impact Award. These prizes celebrate the contribution of an early career researcher to the impact of research.
Now in its second year, the NIHR Impact Prizes honour those who have delivered transformative contributions to the health and wealth of our nation. On NIHR’s 20th year, 20 researchers/teams were recognised for their extraordinary impact on health and social care outcomes. The Impact Prizes were awarded to 11 winners including 7 research teams and 4 early-career researchers alongside 9 commended.
Jennie has received the award because of her research into the healthiness of free school meals in the UK.
School food policies are a key way to improve children’s diets. Jennie’s research looked at the healthiness of the food served in schools and whether universal free school meals for infant school children improve children’s diets.
The study found that school meals were on average healthier than packed lunch, but both contained high amounts of ultra-processed foods, and the free school meal scheme did improve children’s diets, with the biggest benefit for children from lower-income families.
The study drew widespread media attention, reaching an audience of over 55 million people and brought concerns with ultra-processed food in school meals into mainstream public debate. Jennie’s research has been cited in 40 policy documents, including the impact assessment that supported the Mayor of London’s expansions to universal free school means in primary schools.
On receiving the award, Jennie said:
I am overjoyed to receive this prize. When starting my studentship, my goal was that the research I did had real impact. It’s so wonderful to look back and recognise the ways in which my research has gone beyond academia. I’m really grateful to my supervisors and to SPHR – I’ve learnt so much along the way.
Jennie is a valued member of the School, having been Chair of the ResNet committee, taken part of the School’s podcast, and developed a digital story for the School’s 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting.
“I am overjoyed to receive this prize. When starting my studentship, my goal was that the research I did had real impact. It’s so wonderful to look back and recognise the ways in which my research has gone beyond academia. I’m really grateful to my supervisors and to SPHR – I’ve learnt so much along the way.” Dr Jennie Parnham