The organisation Child Health Outcomes Research at Leeds, known as CHORAL, has named Niina Kolehmainen as its inaugural professor in a newly created clinical academic post for health and care professionals, drawing on her two decades-plus of combined clinical, research and leadership work in children’s health.
Kolehmainen trained originally as an occupational therapist, moving through paediatric services and both acute and community mental health roles before building a research career. She arrives at CHORAL having previously run large, multidisciplinary studies at Newcastle University aimed at improving outcomes for children facing health and developmental difficulties.
She said: “This is the first time that there has been a post like this – a combined clinical academic job that I could actually apply for. Throughout my career it’s been the case of creating opportunities through research funding. Nationally, this role is genuinely innovative and forward-looking.”
Depth of commitment
Having worked alongside Leeds researchers for over 15 years, Kolehmainen says it’s the city’s sustained dedication to children’s health research that ultimately brought her here: “Leeds is the only place that has been involved consistently in all of my research projects. There has always been a depth of commitment, interest and shared leadership here. Nationally, Leeds has built something really special over many years, and CHORAL provides an opportunity to connect that work in new ways.”
The organisation’s clinical research work spans several Leeds sites, among them Leeds Children’s Hospital, plus community settings delivered alongside Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, drawing on clinical expertise, academic knowledge and input directly from children and families to keep the research rooted in genuine, everyday care.
Kolehmainen said what ultimately convinced her to join was the organisation’s genuine commitment to collaboration: “People here are doing things for the right reasons. There’s an honesty, authenticity and focus on improving outcomes for children that is incredibly appealing.”
Her research career has centred on a simple question — what children and families actually want to do in everyday life, and how best to support that — focusing less on specific medical conditions and more on everyday factors like sleep, play, independence and participation, with a growing focus on prevention and early intervention for younger children.
Strengthening everyday support
At CHORAL, part of her brief will be strengthening everyday, practical support for families both in the home and out in the community, working with Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, alongside children’s research conducted through the NIHR Clinical Research Facility in Leeds.
She said: “How can we support children to live well and continue to develop well? We know sleep, active play, relationships and everyday routines have a huge impact on children and families, but there are still many unanswered questions about how best to support them.”
Kolehmainen has also spent much of her career mentoring other allied health professionals building research careers in child health, both in Leeds and nationally, and believes CHORAL can become a national hub bringing together researchers, health professionals, children and families.
She said: “What’s really exciting about CHORAL is the potential to create a home for people from many different backgrounds to conduct research, from allied health professionals, nurses, healthcare scientists, methodologists, data scientists and many others. By bringing together people at every stage of their careers, from students through to senior researchers, we can create the kind of community that drives innovation and ultimately improves outcomes for children and families.”
