The John Vane Academy

Lay Communications Prize

About the Award

The annual Lay Communication Prize is awarded to researchers within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London who demonstrate skill in explaining complex research to a lay audience.

The winners receive funds of up to £500 to cover registration, accommodation and/or travel to a scientific conference which would benefit their research and might otherwise be unaffordable.

All eligible submissions will be judged by a mainly lay panel, which also includes one or two senior scientists.  The highest-scored applicants are then invited to present in-person and to answer questions from the panel.

Eligibility

To enter this competition, you must:

• be a current member of the John Vane Academy (JVA)*
• be an early-career researcher**
• study or work at one of the institutes within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London AND
• be primarily involved in one or more of the following fields of research:  cardiovascular disease, inflammation or endocrine disorders (meeting WHRF's charitable purpose to support medical research in these specific areas)

* JVA membership is free.  For details and to download an application form, please visit the JVA membership page HERE.

** The JVA defines ‘early-career researchers’ as PhD students and postdoctoral scientists within five years of the award of their PhD or within eight years of their primary medical degree (exclusive of significant career breaks).

Other Important Details

Submissions should be written in lay language, such that they can be understood by and interest someone with no more than a secondary school science education.

If your written submission is shortlisted, you will be invited to present it to our mostly lay panel as a chance to showcase your oral presentation skills.  

The winner will be awarded £500.  One or two runners-up will be awarded £400.  The award can cover registration fees, accommodation and/or travel to attend a scientific conference which is relevant to your research.  Payment is issued as reimbursement against receipts.

The deadline for this year's Lay Communication Prize has passed.  We expect to run the competition again in Spring 2026, so check back here for updates.  Details will also be sent in FMD and institute e-newsletters so keep an eye out for those emails!