Mason Institute wins University Research Impact Prize for Team Culture
Thu 4 June 2026
Edinburgh Law School's Mason Institute has won the University's Research Impact Prize for Team Culture 2026.
In awarding the research impact prize to the Mason Institute, the judging panel noted that: “it is an interdisciplinary research Institute based within Edinburgh Law School, with a demonstrated commitment to engagement and impact as well as professional development for all its members. The Institute investigates legal and ethical issues at the interface between health, medicine and the life sciences. Their contributions have materially shaped public policy, regulatory frameworks, and public understanding at national and international levels. Examples of their activities include policy and law reform in areas such as organ donation, public health and physician assisted dying, health mis- and disinformation, abortion law, data protection, and the regulation of health and social care professionals. They have acted as expert advisors to tribunals of inquiry, government bodies, departmental and expert committees, including the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry and the UK Infected Blood Inquiry, the BMA’s Medical Ethics Committee and the UK Home Office’s Science and Technology Advisory Ethics Committee.
MI team members make sustained efforts to mentor and integrate students and early career researchers into their research activities, engagement and outreach. They run annual essay competition and support an interdisciplinary PhD Researcher Group. The MI team also delivers research-led teaching in health, medicine and the life sciences which attracts students from around the world, including healthcare professionals, lawyers, and educators, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of their collective research expertise.”
Professor Anne-Maree Farrell, Director of the Mason Institute: “I am absolutely delighted to accept the University research impact prize for team culture on behalf of the Mason Institute. It is a testament to all the hard work and collaborative endeavour undertaken by my colleagues. From early career to more senior colleagues, we are all individually and collectively committed to knowledge exchange and delivering on research impact across a range of ethical and legal issues at the interface between health, medicine and the life sciences.”
See the interview with Professor Farrell, Director of the Mason Institute, about the Institute’s research and related impact activities.