Dr Radha Adhikari, Lecturer in Nursing at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), has won the Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators’ (SAMEE) 2026 Research Award for her work in advancing culturally responsive and anti-racist practice within nursing and healthcare.

SAMEE has described Dr Adhikari as “an exceptional public health scholar” and presented her with the accolade - which recognises and appreciates “innovative and unconventional research”- at their annual awards ceremony which took place in Glasgow on Friday 28 August.

SAMEE said: “Through her innovative research and unwavering dedication to culturally responsive, anti-racist nursing practice, Dr Radha Adhikari exemplifies excellence in public-health scholarship and is highly deserving of this Research Award.”

Dr Adhikari said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have received this award. It is particularly special to see nursing and nursing research recognised, and I’m proud to have this opportunity to shine a light on the incredible research taking place at UWS.”

“Already recognised as an inclusive university in Scotland, UWS has the opportunity to lead in diversity, inclusion and anti-racist practice in higher education. I feel privileged to work in this institution, which champions inclusion and puts it into action.”

I’m absolutely delighted to have received this award. It is particularly special to see nursing and nursing research recognised, and I’m proud to have this opportunity to shine a light on the incredible research taking place at UWS.”

Dr Radha Adhikari, Lecturer in Nursing

Dr Adhikari’s research portfolio spans public health, global nursing, migration, and intercultural communication, with a particular focus on how racialised experiences shape both patient outcomes and the professional lives of minority ethnic nurses.

Her work has informed national conversations on workforce diversity, with a 2023 editorial piece on widening access to nursing education in the UK attracting the attention of Policy Connect, a research think tank.

They interviewed Dr Adhikari to provide evidence for their 2026 Interim Report on Higher Education Commission inquiry into healthcare education and training.

Another recent example is a study on black and minority ethnic nurses in frontline care during the first wave of COVID-19 in London. Dr Adhikari’s findings suggest that despite working incredibly hard under extreme circumstances, their contribution to the healthcare system and their personal well-being are not adequately valued and are taken for granted.

Dr Adhikari’s work also aims to equip nurses with the knowledge, confidence, and critical awareness needed to care effectively for increasingly diverse populations.

With a huge thanks to her work, UWS is equipping the next generation of nurses with the cultural literacy that’s essential to providing the highest quality of care in an increasingly diverse population.

Professor Lynette Shotton, Dean & Associate Vice-Principal, Faculty of Health, Education and Social Care

Professor Lynette Shotton, Dean & Associate Vice-Principal, Faculty of Health, Education and Social Care, said: “We are incredibly proud of Dr Adhikari for being a consistent voice for justice and inclusivity within healthcare.

“With a huge thanks to her work, UWS is equipping the next generation of nurses with the cultural literacy that’s essential to providing the highest quality of care in an increasingly diverse population.

“This award recognises her unwavering dedication to equality through rigorous research that’s grounded in lived experience and real-world practice.”