‘Poignant’ award recognises outstanding contributions to medical research
Professor Keith Godfrey has been honoured with the 2025 David Barker Award.
The David Barker Award recognises outstanding contributions to medical research.
Each year it is presented to a long-serving consultant at University Hospital Southampton (UHS).
In receiving the prize, Professor Godfrey praised his late mentor David Barker who inspired his journey into research.
Globally leading clinical academic
Professor Godfrey is Professor of Epidemiology and Human Development at the University of Southampton. He is an Honorary Consultant at UHS and Chief Investigator of the NiPPeR study. This randomised trial focussed on nutrition before and during pregnancy in over 1,700 women in the UK, Singapore and New Zealand.
He leads the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre’s Nutrition, Lifestyle and Metabolism Theme. His work includes designing and launching the pioneering LifeLab educational programme as a partnership between the University and UHS.
Professor Godfrey is an NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigator and Associate Dean for Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise in the Faculty of Medicine.
Improving long-term health outcomes
Professor Godfrey’s research focusses on a mother's diet and lifestyle before (preconception) and during pregnancy. He has established that this affects the child's development and body composition. This has long-term implications for children's health in later life, particularly their risk of obesity.
He is Co-Chair of the UK Preconception Partnership. In this role, he is working with the NHS England and national policymakers to improve the health of the next generation of children.
In 2022, Professor Godfrey was awarded an MBE. This was for services to medicine during the COVID-19 response. He delivered a COVID-19 saliva test programme, which pioneered regular at home self-sampling. This helped educational settings in Southampton identify and manage infections.
Celebrating research excellence
The UHS award is named in memory of Professor David Barker, a renowned medical professor in Southampton.
He was Director of the MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton from 1984 to 2003.
Professor Barker was awarded a CBE for services to Preventative Medicine in 2006. He passed away in 2013.
The prize is presented at a UHS Spotlight event. These celebrate excellence across the hospital.
‘Particularly poignant’
“I deeply appreciate receiving this prestigious award,” Professor Godfrey said. “It is particularly poignant for me. David Barker was the person who first sparked my interest in research, during my medicine attachment as a 3rd year medical student.
“David later supervised my subsequent PhD. He provided fantastic support as a mentor during my progression to becoming an independent researcher.
“The award comes at an exciting time in my career, when we are about to commence a large NIHR funded programme. We plan to co-develop a ‘blueprint’ for coordinated preconception and interpregnancy care and support for the UK.
“Our aim is to improve maternity outcomes and reduce the transmission of disparities across generations.”