madman
Super Moderator
* Professor Waljit Dhillo is globally recognized as a pioneer in translating kisspeptin research from the laboratory to human clinical medicine. Over more than two decades, his team at Imperial College London has transformed our understanding of how this master hypothalamic peptide can be used to diagnose and treat hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) and associated reproductive and psychosexual disorders
Professor Waljit Dhillo will step down as Academy Dean at the end of August when his 5-year term ends. Here, he reflects on his involvement with the NIHR that has spanned 2 decades.
From being one of our earliest fellowship awardees, to helping shape the future of research careers across the organisation many years later, Professor Dhillo has experienced the research journey.
“I first came across the NIHR at its inception in 2006 as it was the first funder available to researchers who were interested in working in the more applied end of healthcare research,” he recalls.
Developing the research workforce has always been an integral part of the NIHR strategy. Shortly after the organisation was established, Professor Dhillo was one of the first to receive an NIHR Clinician Scientist Fellowship. The award came at a pivotal point in his career. Having completed a PhD and clinical training, he had the opportunity to take up a permanent full-time NHS clinical post. This would have given him job security, particularly at a time when he had young children. Instead, he chose a fixed-term research fellowship.
That first fellowship marked the beginning of a long period of NIHR support through 3 postdoctoral fellowships: a Clinician Scientist Award, Career Development Fellowship and Research Professorship. These awards provided protected research time and funding, enabling him to build an internationally recognised research programme.
“Each of my Fellowships was followed by a promotion at Imperial College London and I progressed from Clinical Senior Lecturer to Chair in 7 years (one of the youngest Clinical Chairs in the Department of Medicine at Imperial College). With NIHR support, my career has flourished, and my team has been able to make scientific breakthroughs.”
Professor Dhillo’s research has addressed some of the most pressing challenges in women’s health, including menopause and infertility. His work on neurokinin B and kisspeptin has helped develop new therapies. These include early clinical trials exploring non-oestrogen treatments for menopausal symptoms and hormone-based approaches to infertility and sexual dysfunction.
Beyond his scientific work, Professor Dhillo’s career journey is shaped by a strong personal drive. The first in his family to attend university after his parents migrated to the UK in the 1950s, he credits their example of hard work and determination for inspiring his own journey.
“My career was a success due to the support of others and I firmly believe that every successful healthcare research leader needs to support the next generation.”
That belief has underpinned his leadership of the NIHR Academy. During his tenure as Dean, he oversaw an annual budget of over £200 million, supported efforts to widen participation in research careers, and worked with NIHR senior leaders to improve inclusion in fellowship funding and decision-making. During this time, ethnic minority representation on NIHR Academy panels increased from 8% to 20%.
Reflecting on NIHR's wider impact over the last 20 years, Professor Dhillo believes one of NIHR’s biggest achievements has been creating opportunities for health and care professionals from all backgrounds to contribute to research that improves lives.
“We should be immensely proud of what NIHR has achieved over 20 years and I am so excited to see what the next two decades bring.”
Professor Waljit Dhillo will step down as Academy Dean at the end of August when his 5-year term ends. Here, he reflects on his involvement with the NIHR that has spanned 2 decades.
From being one of our earliest fellowship awardees, to helping shape the future of research careers across the organisation many years later, Professor Dhillo has experienced the research journey.
“I first came across the NIHR at its inception in 2006 as it was the first funder available to researchers who were interested in working in the more applied end of healthcare research,” he recalls.
Developing the research workforce has always been an integral part of the NIHR strategy. Shortly after the organisation was established, Professor Dhillo was one of the first to receive an NIHR Clinician Scientist Fellowship. The award came at a pivotal point in his career. Having completed a PhD and clinical training, he had the opportunity to take up a permanent full-time NHS clinical post. This would have given him job security, particularly at a time when he had young children. Instead, he chose a fixed-term research fellowship.
That first fellowship marked the beginning of a long period of NIHR support through 3 postdoctoral fellowships: a Clinician Scientist Award, Career Development Fellowship and Research Professorship. These awards provided protected research time and funding, enabling him to build an internationally recognised research programme.
“Each of my Fellowships was followed by a promotion at Imperial College London and I progressed from Clinical Senior Lecturer to Chair in 7 years (one of the youngest Clinical Chairs in the Department of Medicine at Imperial College). With NIHR support, my career has flourished, and my team has been able to make scientific breakthroughs.”
Professor Dhillo’s research has addressed some of the most pressing challenges in women’s health, including menopause and infertility. His work on neurokinin B and kisspeptin has helped develop new therapies. These include early clinical trials exploring non-oestrogen treatments for menopausal symptoms and hormone-based approaches to infertility and sexual dysfunction.
Beyond his scientific work, Professor Dhillo’s career journey is shaped by a strong personal drive. The first in his family to attend university after his parents migrated to the UK in the 1950s, he credits their example of hard work and determination for inspiring his own journey.
“My career was a success due to the support of others and I firmly believe that every successful healthcare research leader needs to support the next generation.”
That belief has underpinned his leadership of the NIHR Academy. During his tenure as Dean, he oversaw an annual budget of over £200 million, supported efforts to widen participation in research careers, and worked with NIHR senior leaders to improve inclusion in fellowship funding and decision-making. During this time, ethnic minority representation on NIHR Academy panels increased from 8% to 20%.
Reflecting on NIHR's wider impact over the last 20 years, Professor Dhillo believes one of NIHR’s biggest achievements has been creating opportunities for health and care professionals from all backgrounds to contribute to research that improves lives.
“We should be immensely proud of what NIHR has achieved over 20 years and I am so excited to see what the next two decades bring.”
