The Mermaid Centre team have not only received a national award for research but have also been voted by University of Exeter Medical School (UEMS) students as winners of the Truro locality award for Excellence and Innovation in Clinical Teaching.

The surgical breast cancer research team has achieved the CREST award recognition from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for their impressive recruitment of patients to a broad-ranging number of research studies.

The team is led by senior research nurse Sadie Mitchell, with clinical support from consultant surgeons, oncologists and research registrar. Sadie said: “We are delighted that the NIHR has applauded our commitment and approach to ensuring that our patients have every opportunity to be offered and take part in breast cancer surgical research trials. This has truly been a team achievement at the Mermaid Centre. We promote health research to our patients from the outset. "Mammographers, radiologists, pathologists and clinical nurse specialists are all aware of trial entry criteria and we have excellent processes in place to actively identify patients for surgical research studies. Getting this early contact with patients has proved invaluable to recruitment as it allows patients time to consider trial participation and have their questions answered.

“This multi-disciplinary team approach has particularly paid dividends when recruiting to ‘window of opportunity’ studies which have very specific timelines for approaching potential patients.”

Mr Iain Brown, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at the Mermaid Centre, added: "To be the recipients of such a prestigious national award is a tremendous honour for the entire team. It is particularly encouraging that the National Cancer Research Institute has recognised the strong research ethos in our department, the scope and breadth of our research portfolio and how trial participation is embedded in our philosophy for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Cornwall."

The UEMS awards have been established to recognise clinical staff who inspire and teach medical students and are voted on by the students themselves. The Mermaid Centre team received their award at a presentation event in Exeter.

The breast care team weren’t the only ones recognised in the inaugural UEMS awards. Prizes also went to Dr Julie Thacker, who received The Proclaimers Award for going not just the extra mile but 500 in supporting students at the Truro campus, and to Dr Anna Weiss, who was won one of two The Defibrillator awards for outstanding pastoral support.