Animal enrichment provider Datesand Ltd honours SWC NRF Operations Manager with excellence award

The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre at UCL is thrilled to announce that our Neurobiological Research Facility (NRF) team have been honoured at the Janet Wood Innovation Awards 2023.

Tina O’Mahony, NRF Operations Manager, has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution award, which recognises an above and beyond contribution to the bio-science industry. The NRF team at SWC also received second place in the Team of the Year award, which celebrates excellent teamwork.

“I am very honoured and humbled to receive this award. I am passionate about improving the lives of animals and making a difference in people’s lives. One of the most rewarding things for me is mentoring animal technicians and knowing the impact they will have as future managers. I was overwhelmed to be nominated and so pleased for the NRF team,” said Tina O’Mahony.

Deputy NRF Operations Manager and Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO), Sian Murphy, who nominated Tina and the NRF team, said:

“It has been a very challenging few years for the NRF team and I wanted to acknowledge all the hard work of Tina and our whole team. We all pulled together strongly during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I am proud to be part of our resilient team. I nominated Tina because of her vast contribution to the industry as a whole, she has co-authored welfare papers, and is integral to the education boards for apprentices, as well as pushing me to fulfil my potential.”

The NRF team at SWC, led by Eleni Amaniti, came second in the Team of the Year award, which recognises a team that has demonstrated exceptional performance in delivering high-quality animal care and welfare, and has fostered a culture of collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement.

Eleni Amaniti said: “The SWC is a world-leader in neuroscience, and a hotbed for innovation. I would like to warmly congratulate Tina O’Mahony and the NRF team. Tina’s leadership, support and our deep collaboration over the last years has been crucial for enabling science, advancing welfare and addressing industry-wide challenges. And of course, none of the above would have been made possible without being lucky to have an exceptional team working for the NRF.”

Tina will be presented with an official JWI trophy and will put the £1,000 prize towards a holiday to celebrate her upcoming birthday.

To find out more about the NRF Team, please visit the Neurobiological Research Facility Team page

About the Janet Wood Innovation Awards

The Janet Wood Innovation Awards were launched by Datesand Ltd directors Jonathon and Nick in memory of their mother Janet Wood, co-founder of Datesand Ltd.

Following the global COVID pandemic, the format of the competition changed to incorporate more awards categories and allow the recognition of excellence and innovation across the biological science industry.

For further information, please visit the Janet Wood Innovation Awards website: https://www.jwiaward.co.uk/the-competition

Media contact:

For more information or to speak to Tina O’Mahony and the NRF team, please contact:

• April Cashin-Garbutt
  Head of Research Communications and Engagement, SWC
  E: a.cashin-garbutt@ucl.ac.uk T: +44 (0)20 3108 8028