The Award aims to recognise and celebrate the contribution of early-career researchers across the pharmaceutical sciences who demonstrate potential to achieve world-leading status.

Dr Kelly is a lecturer in pharmaceutical microbiomics at Queen’s University Belfast's School of Pharmacy. His research focuses on microbiome analysis and its functional exploitation for pharmaceutical and healthcare applications.

He currently leads a research group as principal investigator focusing on the links between the human and clinical microbiomes, with pharmacotherapy and healthcare outcomes. 

He commented: “I am delighted to receive the 2023 OPERA prize in recognition of our research into the effects of the microbiome on health outcomes. This award reflects the hard work of various collaborative projects and highlights the impact of investigating such an important area of pharmacy research.” 

Parastou Donyai, Chief Scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “When we launched OPERA in November 2022, we hoped to inspire early-career researchers to submit their applications for the award, but of course had little idea who or how many might engage with the process. So we were utterly delighted to receive so many high-quality applications by the deadline of mid-February.  

“As a result, the shortlisting itself was a very difficult exercise as was the selection of one final winner. In the end, we chose one winner and another received a commendation."

Panel member Darren Ashcroft, Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre and professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the University of Manchester, said: “As an award panel, we were impressed and inspired with the quantity and quality of the applications we reviewed. Each of the shortlisted candidates had developed new ways to improve patient care.  

“Our award winner impressed us all, demonstrating how his scientific insights translated to impact by improving our understanding of the link between the microbiome and infectious disease.”