First UCL Professor of Nursing appointed

Director of the Centre for Nurse, Midwife and AHP Research (CNMAR), UCLH’s Dr Rachel Taylor has been appointed the first UCL Professor of Nursing, in recognition of her research to develop services for young people with cancer.

Coming from a medical family that has produced GPs and nurses over five generations, Professor Taylor began her nursing career in 1987 in Yorkshire. She moved to London in the 1990s, holding children’s intensive care posts at King’s College Hospital and Guy’s Hospital, where she also took an interest in clinical research. She completed her PhD at King’s College London in 2008. 

Professor Taylor said: “I was lucky early in my career to work with clinicians who were very supportive of my research interests, and to have opportunities and funding to do professional development. That’s where I first started to think seriously about the patient care journey and how we could build improvements into diagnosis and treatment.” 

In 2009 Professor Taylor joined UCL and in 2012 she became a member of the cancer trials team at UCLH. During this time, she has been involved in research on the experience of young people who have been diagnosed with cancer, alongside oncologist Professor Jeremy Whelan (UCL Cancer Institute and UCLH). 

This included the BRIGHTLIGHT study, which investigated whether young people who are diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 13 and 24 have different outcomes depending on where they are treated and what professionals are involved in their care.  

In 2017, Professor Taylor collaborated with Contact Youth Theatre to disseminate the findings of the study via a stage play, There is a Light: BRIGHTLIGHT, that played to over 1,300 people in eight locations across England and Scotland. 

“Much of my research has focused on what it’s like to be diagnosed with cancer at such a crucial stage in life, when young people are on the cusp of adulthood, and how their diagnosis and treatment affects them later in life,” said Professor Taylor.  

“A cancer diagnosis can bring your life to a halt, and I’d say that this is particularly devastating in young people, causing them to miss exams, university and other experiences that have long-term impacts on their prospects. As a result of BRIGHTLIGHT, we’ve established that specialist services unique to young people add value, but further investment is needed to provide equitable care nationally.” 

In addition to this appointment, she has also been honoured with numerous awards for her research leadership, including the Chief Nursing Officer for England Silver Award, Excellence in Cancer Research award from the Royal College of Nursing, and was runner up for Sarcoma UK’s Researcher of the Year in 2023. 

As part of her appointment, Professor Taylor will continue in her role of Director of the Centre for Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Profession Led research (CNMAR) at UCLH, helping to develop research capability and capacity and, working with the Chief Nurse and other senior research leaders, to establish a clinical academic workforce in the professions outside of medicine. 

Vanessa Sweeney, UCLH chief nurse, said: “Rachel’s appointment to Professor of Nursing is worthy recognition of her contribution to healthcare research and demonstrates the value and impact of nurses in research. Rachel has inspired many nurses and allied health professionals to advance healthcare through research. Her appointment will strengthen our ambition for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to develop clinical academic careers across UCLH and UCL.” 

Professor Vivek Mudera, Director of UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, said: “As a Division we are an interdisciplinary team, with surgeons, scientists, physiotherapists and nurses working together to deliver significant advances in global healthcare. Rachel is a great example of how this collaborative spirit can help to improve the lives of patients, and her portfolio of research at UCL and UCLH is internationally recognised.” 

“Rachel has been associated with us for over a decade and during this time has contributed significantly to the guidance on improving young adult experience following a cancer diagnosis. I’m really pleased that Rachel’s achievements have been recognised in her promotion to Professor of Nursing.”

While this is the first Professor of Nursing role at UCL, many other academics with nursing backgrounds have also been made professors. Linda Franck was the first Professor of Children’s Nursing Research in UK, based at the UCL Great Ormond Institute of Child Health from the early 2000s, and Roxanne Crosby-Nwaobi, is the lead nurse for research at Moorfields Eye Hospital (MEH), is currently Professor of Ophthalmic Health and Care at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.