Middlesex Professor Lisa Marzano wins Innovation Impact Award 2026

Professor Marzano was recognised for pioneering real-time suicide and self-harm surveillance systems, transforming prevention strategies and informing national policy

Professor of Psychology at Middlesex University and Director of the Centre for Abuse, Trauma and Suicide Studies (CATS), Lisa Marzano, received the Research and Innovation Impact Award at the University Alliance 2026 Awards.

The Alliance Awards recognise the exemplary achievements and groundbreaking work of individuals and teams across University Alliance’s member universities. University Alliance represents the UK’s leading professional and technical universities including Middlesex.

The award recognises Professor Marzano’s instrumental role in the development and evaluation of London’s first city-wide real-time system (RTSS) to monitor suspected suicides, and its subsequent expansion to collect self-harm data from London hospitals. Building on this work, she has also been supporting the development of the first national RTSS for suspected suicides. This evidence enables more targeted suicide and self-harm prevention and facilitates timely bereavement support.

Working with her research team, Professor Marzano leads a research programme that combines RTSS data with lived-experience insights to evaluate tailored interventions to reduce suicide. These include local, community-based digital campaigns, such as the Barnet 2021 campaign, improvements to media reporting practices, and interventions at ‘high-frequency’ public locations.

Her findings have directly informed national campaigns such as the award-winning Small Talk Saves Lives, which is now recognised in England’s national suicide prevention strategy. Her research has also contributed to changes in rail and road safety practices, improvements to media reporting guidance, and updated guidelines for the higher education sector.

Professor Marzano’s research has also informed the development of digital and technological systems for early risk detection in public spaces, including transport networks, such as Network Rail’s Visual Surveillance Strategy, alongside training for frontline staff.

Commenting on this year’s winners and nominees, Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance, said:

“The Alliance Awards have always been about recognising excellence across our membership, and this year’s winners demonstrate the extraordinary contribution that professional and technical universities make to society, regional economies and to their local communities.

“The achievements recognised showcase the distinctive role our universities play in tackling real-world challenges and delivering impact across the UK and beyond.”

See the whole list of 2026 University Alliance Awards winners.

Find out more about the Centre for Abuse, Trauma and Suicide Studies.