NHRP Academy: Meet our Community – Dr Nehal Hassan
Tuesday May 5, 2026
Dr Nehal Hassan, Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy at Newcastle University, has secured a prestigious NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement (DSE) Award – a personal award designed to help postdoctoral researchers build the skills, experience and networks needed to take the next step toward independent research leadership.
From clinical pharmacy to clinical AI
Dr Hassan’s journey began in clinical pharmacy, where she trained and later worked as a Research Associate before becoming a Lecturer at Newcastle University School of Pharmacy. Her research now focuses on how AI can support clinical decision‑making, particularly in predicting which patients are at risk of deterioration or complications.
“AI can help us proactively identify people who may need closer monitoring or who are at higher risk,” she explains. “That allows the NHS to prioritise resources for those most in need.”
Her work spans environmental risk factors, medication‑related risks and broader determinants of health. But bridging the gap between clinical practice and advanced technology is not straightforward.
“When you come from a clinical background and try to jump into the world of AI and machine learning, it can be challenging,” she says. “You need strong collaborations across both worlds. And you need to stay connected to clinical practice so the tools you develop actually work for patients and for NHS workflows.”
Why the NIHR DSE award matters
The NIHR DSE Award is designed precisely for researchers like Dr Hassan – those ready to build independence but needing time, training and networks to get there.
“It’s a really good bridge between finishing your PhD and starting to submit independent applications,” she says. “You learn how to write for NIHR, how to prepare narrative CVs, how to structure a training plan and how to work with finance and costing teams. It’s like a tutorial for bigger grants.”
How NHRP Academy supported the journey
Dr Hassan worked closely with Newcastle Health Research Partnership (NHRP) Academy throughout her application.
NHRP Academy supported Nehal through connecting her to a broad network within the University and across the NIHR infrastructure, helped to identify mentors, peers and teams who could support both the application and the award itself and provided feedback on her narrative CV.
“I contacted Dr Amy Brown very early in the process,” she recalls. “I had a draft plan, and she helped me refine it, shaping the training plan, identifying the right people to speak to and making sure the application used the form in the best way possible.”
“I would encourage anyone at postdoc level to be part of the NHRP community. You get the privilege of connecting with amazing networks. Every conversation gives you an idea that can strengthen your application or future collaborations.”
A training plan built for impact
Dr Hassan’s DSE Award includes a rich programme of collaborations and skill‑building across the region. This will include working with Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals to support future AI projects in cardiac care.
Nehal will collaborate with Newcastle City Council and the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Newcastle through a placement over one year; to explore how socio‑demographic and social variables can be incorporated into predictive models, and to develop an understanding of the Health in All policy at Newcastle City Council.
She will also work with the Population Health Sciences Institute (PHSI) and FUSE, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, to expand networks and interdisciplinary learning.
Nehal’s advice for future applicants
For researchers considering the DSE Award, Nehal recommends starting early and talking to people.
“Networking was the most helpful part of the whole process for me. There is also value in speaking to your peers as well as your mentors, as people as your own career stage can offer insights you might not expect. Those early conversations then often become the foundation for future collaborations.”
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