The digital health work of Kerrie Woods has earned international recognition.
She serves as Director of Research and Development Clinical Informatics at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), which presented her with the 2026 Info-Tech Women Leading IT Award for achievements in the technology sector.
The award acknowledges women who promote technological innovation and transformation, support inclusive working environments and encourage future leaders.
Woods credited her team for the progress achieved and said that further work remains.
She described a shared commitment within the NHS to high-quality research and to benefits for patients, staff and the public.
She also acknowledged the support received from OUH, Dr Ben Attwood for nominating her, and women and allies who have provided encouragement and backing.
Woods leads digital and data programmes throughout healthcare and life sciences at OUH.
Her responsibilities include facilitating the secure reuse of NHS information for approved research, service planning and operational improvement.
Dr Ben Attwood, OUH’s Chief Digital and Information Officer, nominated Woods for the honour.
He said her recognition was fully deserved and that her leadership had converted ambitious proposals for the safe and effective use of NHS data into services supporting research, innovation and improved patient care.
He also highlighted her technical knowledge, collaborative approach and concentration on benefits for patients and the NHS, adding that the trust was proud her contribution had received international recognition.
One of the principal programmes under Woods is the Thames Valley and Surrey Secure Data Environment, known as TVS SDE.
Approved researchers and NHS planners can apply its de-identified health information to research and service-improvement work while the data remain under NHS control.
By October 2026, the programme had brought together information from 10 NHS organisations representing more than 4.9 million people.
Over 60 research projects had either received approval or been completed through it.
Woods also holds several national leadership positions.
These include chairing the Information Governance and Ethics Community of Practice at national level within the Secure Data Environment network and chairing the Network Validation Committee.
She is additionally a co-chair of the steering group for the Trusted Research Alliance at the Children’s Hospital Alliance.
Her wider portfolio contains initiatives including OUH Cancer 360 and the NIHR Health Informatics Collaborative, with activity across cancer, genomic medicine and medical imaging.
Woods has also been shortlisted for three honours at the 2026 Women in Tech Excellence Awards: the Role Model of the Year award, the Team Leader of the Year award and the Woman of the Year award.
Earlier recognition included a high commendation for the TVS SDE in the Data Innovation of the Year category of the HSJ Partnership Awards.