Professor Kamlesh Khunti receives Lifetime Achievement Award

A distinguished Leicester academic who has earned himself a global reputation has been presented a top accolade for his remarkable career achievements. 

Professor Kamlesh Khunti, Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands and Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, has picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS). 

The accolade was presented to Professor Khunti this morning during the annual PCDS conference, which is taking place virtually today and tomorrow. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises and celebrates an individual’s outstanding accomplishments within diabetes care during their career. 

Alongside his commitments working with NIHR ARC East Midlands and the University of Leicester, Professor Khunti is also a co-director of the Leicester Diabetes Centre, which aims to improve the lives of people with diabetes through research, education and innovation. 

During his career, Professor Khunti was also a founding member of the PCDS. 

Professor Khunti said: “It is an honour to be recognised by the PCDS for this Lifetime Achievement Award. 

“All of this would not have been possible without the great work of our wonderful team at the Leicester Diabetes Centre and I would like dedicate this award to the entire team”

He added: “I am also extremely honoured that I was a founding member of PCDS with seven other colleagues in 2005. 

“It’s been great to see the huge progress PCDS has made over these years.”

Established in 2005, the PCDS supports health professionals working in primary care to deliver high-quality, clinically effective care in order to provide the best support for people with diabetes. 

Professor Khunti was also this year’s recipient of the Diabetes Philippines ADL Endowed Lecture Award, which acknowledges an academic who has gained international respect for their work in diabetes care. 

NIHR ARC East Midlands funds vital work to tackle the region’s health and care priorities by speeding up the adoption of research onto the frontline of health and social care. The organisation puts in place evidence-based innovations which seek to drive up standards of care and save time and money.

NIHR ARC East Midlands is hosted by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and works in collaboration with the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network. It has bases at University of Leicester and University of Nottingham.