The David Hague Early Career Investigator of the Year Award, worth £25,000 in research expenses with a £1,500 personal prize, is presented each year to the most outstanding early career researcher in the field of biomedical dementia research.
The Award is judged by an external panel of prominent international researchers, who look for excellence in scientific research, a significant contribution to the field and quality of scientific writing in an essay. Entries should demonstrate excellence across all areas of our Early Career Research Framework.
Find out more about eligibility, the application process, and the review process in our More Information document.
Download this document to find out more about eligibility, the application process, and the review process.
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David Edward Hague, 1942–2015
David was born in Stockport, a working class boy with a free spirit; an optimist, funny and curious. He was also blessed with an outstanding brain. The first in his family to go to university, he read biochemistry at Liverpool and hitchhiked to new worlds in the holidays.
In 1966 he moved south to St Mary’s Hospital in London to begin his medical research and continue his sporting activities.
His doctoral thesis, Some biochemical aspects of thalidomide toxicity, was a significant contribution to understanding how the sedative thalidomide, given to expectant mothers to ease morning sickness, was able to exert its disastrous effects on the unborn child.
He subsequently moved to Barts Hospital and trained in medicine. Various clinical and research roles in the UK and US followed, and in 1982, after becoming a full-time single parent, he settled in Finchley as a GP.
David was charming, kind and clever, and mostly lucky. But soon after retirement he developed Alzheimer’s disease.
He coped well for several years, knowing that no cure existed but hoping and trusting that one would be found for his grandchildren’s generation. Alzheimer’s ultimately robbed him of his intellect and his independence, and, on 7 September 2015, his life.
Previous winners
2023
Dr Soyon Hong
2022
Dr Andras Lakatos
2021
Dr Sophie Bradley and Assistant Professor Renzo Mancuso
2020
Dr Shane Liddelow
2019
Dr Jemeen Sreedharan
2018
Dr Selina Wray
2017
Dr Katie Lunnon
2016
Dr Rita Guerreiro
