BASL Annual Meeting
Awards
2026 Information
Dame Sheila Sherlock Research Prize
Each year BASL presents the Dame Sheila Sherlock research prize, one of the highlights of the annual meeting. This prize is awarded annually to recognise the enormous contribution of Dame Sheila Sherlock to the development of Hepatology as a discipline in its own right.
Dame Sheila was involved in the foundation of the British Liver Club in 1961, which subsequently evolved into The British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL). She was one of our past presidents and the first recipient of The BASL Distinguished Service Award.
Eligibility
In keeping with Dame Sheila’s enthusiasm for fostering young researchers, this eponymous research prize is awarded to young investigators without substantive posts in either medicine, science or allied health roles for their research contributions in the field of hepatology. The winner will receive free registration to the meeting, an award and a prize of £1,000 and an invite to deliver the prize lecture and present their research at the BASL Annual Meeting.
To apply, please send one A4 sheet outlining your research and another A4 sheet listing up to 5 related publications.
NB: one person cannot win the Dame Sheila Sherlock Research Prize and Andy Burroughs Young Investigator Award in the same year. Nor can they win a second award with the same body of work as the first.
You must be a BASL member to apply.
Applications closed
BASL is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. It is actively promoting equal opportunities and access for all our members regardless of their background.
About Dame Sheila Sherlock
When Dr Sherlock started her medical career, little was known about liver disease. Her work helped to establish hepatology as a medical specialty. She pioneered the use of needle liver biopsy, which had been used purely as a research tool, based on the technique of Sir John McMichael; this improved understanding of the pathology of liver disease and is used in the diagnosis of liver diseases today. The liver unit that she set up at the Royal Free Hospital became the centre for both research into liver disease and the education of trainees in the specialty.
Dame Sheila was involved in the foundation of the British Liver Club in 1961, which subsequently evolved into The British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL). She was one of our past presidents and the first recipient of The BASL Distinguished Service Award.
Andy Burroughs Young Investigator Award
The Andy Burroughs Young Investigator Award was set up in honour of the late Professor Andrew Burroughs.
Professor Burroughs was an eminent and world renowned Professor of Hepatology and Consultant Physician/Hepatologist and among his many achievements including his wide area of expertise in cirrhosis and portal hypertension and significant contribution to liver Transplantation.
Eligibility
This prize is awarded to young investigators who have contributed to clinical or translational research related to liver transplantation who are in a non-substantive training post. This year the winner will receive free registration to the meeting, an award and a prize of £1,000 and an invite to deliver the prize lecture and present their research at the BLTG Annual Meeting.
To apply, please send one A4 sheet outlining the research and another A4 sheet listing up to 5 related publications.
NB: one person cannot win the Andy Burroughs Young Investigator Award and the Dame Sheila Sherlock Research Prize in the same year. Nor can they win a second award with the same body of work as the first.
You must be a BASL member to apply.
Applications closed
BASL is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. It is actively promoting equal opportunities and access for all our members regardless of their background.
About Prof Andy Burroughs
Prof Burroughs was an eminent and world renowned Professor of Hepatology and Consultant Physician/Hepatologist. He joined the UCL Institute of Liver and Digestive Health last year, having previously worked in the Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre at the Royal Free Hospital for the majority of his career.
Falk Foundation BASL British Liver Trust Awards
Could your team be a candidate for one of these prizes?
We are delighted to share the news with members that applications for the Falk Foundation Awards, BASL British Liver Trust Awards are open.
The awards represent an opportunity to achieve national recognition as well as financial support for career progression.
- Falk Foundation / BASL Innovation Award – 1 x award up to a value of £2,000 for a project proposal in start-up, which would be completed prospectively over 12-24 months.
- Falk Foundation / BASL Quality and Service Improvement Awards – 2 x awards with a value of £1,000 to recognise work and projects in progress and / or completed within the last 3 years for which evidence of benefit can be shown.
Applications Open – application deadline 17:00hrs 5th June 2026
Full details on how to apply for the grant can be found on the BASL website awards page > Here
Presentation of the Awards will be during the BASL Annual Meeting in Newport, Wales 6-9th October.
Ian and Barbara McFarlane Foundation Award - Research Grant 2026
The grant is open to all healthcare professionals who are BASL members and based in the UK and although preference may be given to research related to autoimmune liver disease any area of research into liver disease will be considered.
The Awardee will be expected to attend the BASL Annual Meeting in 2026 to receive the award and also attend, and provide a 15 minute presentation (allow 3 minutes for questions) at the following year’s BASL Annual Meeting (2027), in one of the oral sessions.
The grant is intended to fully or part fund a period of research for up to one year. This may be a stand-alone project or part of a longer term project.
The grant is paid to the award recipients Institution.
Grant applications will only be accepted on the application form.
Applications Open – application deadline 17:00hrs 5th June 2026
Full details on how to apply for the grant can be found on the BASL website awards page > Here
Presentation of the Awards will be during the BASL Annual Meeting in Newport, Wales 6-9th October.