The Clair Fisher Research Impact Award celebrates examples of palliative and end of life care research that’s had a notable impact on policy and/or practice.
About the award
The Marie Curie Research Impact Award has been named after Clair Fisher who sadly died in January 2022 having lived with a terminal illness since 2018. Clair was a passionate and influential advocate for improving wellbeing in palliative care.
She started the impactful Dying Well Project, bringing people together to share their learnings and identify where the evidence gaps are when it comes to living with a terminal illness and wellbeing.
The winner will be awarded £1,000 to go towards further impact activities or professional development.
How to make a nomination for this award
Nominations for this award are now closed and open in Autumn 2026.
This year's winner
First place:
Project title: Development of an online self-directed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) resource, to improve quality of life after bereavement and the ability to cope
Project lead: Dr Anne Finucane, Dr David Gillanders and Dr Anne Canny
Funder of project: Marie Curie
Panel decision: The project saw the creation and evaluation of a series of resources that make up the website ‘My Grief, My Way’. Based on research, My Grief, My Way is a support package that provides bereaved people with new ways to approach their grief.
The panel were excited about the progress that My Grief, My Way has made in the bereavement space. With UK wide influence and engagement, the panel found that this project had a clear and impressive impact. They also felt encouraged by the resource’s potential to grow and be shared more widely.
Previous year's winner
First place:
Project title: Domestic Abuse and Life-Limiting Illness: identifying and supporting adults at risk (the DALLI study)
Project lead: Dr Michelle Myall, Principal Research Fellow at University of Southampton.
Funder of project: NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex and Marie Curie Impact Fund Award.
Panel decision: The panel praised the innovative approaches behind the project, as well as its potential to impact people at the end of life and their families.
Runner up:
Project title: The Compassionate School Communities.
Project lead: Christine Irvine and Joan McEwan (Marie Curie Northern Ireland).
Funder of project: Marie Curie.
Funder of project: Marie Curie.
