University News Last updated 06 August
A pioneering Birmingham City University team transforming how future healthcare professionals learn anatomy and bioscience has received one of the UK's highest honours for teaching excellence.
The University's Know Your Organs team has been awarded the Advance HE 2026 Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), recognising its innovative approach to helping healthcare students bridge the gap between scientific theory and clinical practice.
The interdisciplinary team - comprising clinical academics, bioscientists and student mentors -includes Andy Powell, Scott Colton, Debs Brennan, Thomas Graeme-Drury and Chris Fawcett,
The award recognises collaborative teams that have demonstrated outstanding impact on teaching and learning across UK higher education.
Rather than teaching anatomy and physiology in isolation, the team developed immersive workshops that combine hands-on interaction with real porcine organs alongside cutting-edge digital technologies.
By integrating scientific understanding with clinical application, students gain a deeper appreciation of how bioscience underpins patient care.
Since launching in 2017, the team has supported more than 1,000 learners, helping them apply theoretical knowledge more effectively in both clinical placements and academic study.
The workshops are provided free of charge, are adaptable to different learning needs, and have been designed to ensure all students can participate fully.
Scott Colton, co-team lead, said: “We are extremely proud of this award, which recognises the dedication of our entire team to helping learners develop the knowledge and confidence to apply bioscience in practice.
“Bioscience underpins much of our learners’ clinical practice, so our aim is to make it accessible, relevant and enjoyable.
“The team ethos is to ensure that learners are empowered to use their knowledge effectively.
“Seeing the positive impact of this work recognised through this award is incredibly rewarding”.
Andy Powell, co-team lead, commented "Bioscience is a foundational subject that underpins nursing, midwifery and other allied health courses, but is a well-known source of anxiety.
“Our collaborative approach, where scientific and clinical knowledge are treated as equal partners, is designed to demystify bioscience and enable learners to apply this in their clinical practice.
“As the Know Your Organs concept started as a conversation over coffee, it has been fabulous to see the project mature into a project that is recognised as providing an excellent educational experience for our learners."
The award reflects BCU’s commitment to developing work-ready graduates through innovative, practice-based learning that equips students with the knowledge, confidence and skills employers need.
Professor Marcia Wilson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience at BCU, said: "This national recognition is a wonderful achievement for our Know Your Organs team and a testament to the power of collaboration in transforming education.
“Their innovative approach brings anatomy and bioscience to life, helping students make meaningful connections between scientific knowledge and the realities of patient care.
“At Birmingham City University, we are committed to delivering inclusive, practice-based learning that equips our students with the confidence, skills and understanding they need to thrive in their professions.
“This award celebrates not only the team's creativity and dedication, but also the positive impact they continue to have on the learning experience and future careers of our healthcare students. Congratulations to everyone involved on this well-deserved recognition."
Pictured (from left): Chris Fawcett, Debs Brennan, Andy Powell, Scott Colton, Thomas Graeme-Drury.