Medical Research and Racing
Dr Naomi Deakin, Senior Member (Teaching)

I vividly recall my undergraduate interviews for medicine at Robinson - a reassuring “general” interview with Dr Chris Warner and two rigorous scientific interviews with panels of Robinson Fellows. In the first, I met Dr Andrew Sharkey and Prof Peter Hutchinson; during the second I met Dr Teresa Tiffert. I’m lucky that all these individuals continue to contribute to my professional development, and greatly enjoy their company over shared SCR lunches and High Table at Formal Hall.

During my undergraduate studies at Robinson, I developed a keen interest in neuroscience and neurodevelopment, thoroughly enjoying the diversity of opportunity presented. I also began to supervise undergraduate students at Robinson and St Catherine’s, supporting my interest in reproductive biology. This was encouraged by Dr Sharkey who kindly facilitated Long Vacation research projects at Yale (2010) and Montreal (2011). Subsequently, I was lucky to combine my research interests with travel and lived for short periods in Malawi and Sydney.

In parallel, I collaborated with Prof Peter Hutchinson for my Stage 3 Student Selected Component, “cleaning” data for his 10-year surgical randomised controlled trial, rescueICP (subsequently published in the New England Journal of Medicine). We quickly discovered a shared interest in motorsport and soon I was observing medical cover at Silverstone circuit, home of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix. In 2012, I completed a 9-month research project (largely at weekends and during evenings), analysing competitive racing incidents. As a result, medical provision was changed at this iconic racing circuit, and I continue to engage with medical audit for the on-site medical centre. After I graduated from Robinson with my MB BChir degrees, I moved to Scotland to complete the Academic Foundation programme, securing key rotations in Plastic Surgery/Emergency Medicine, Neonatology and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

Thanks to Prof Hutchinson (who was, and remains, the event Chief Medical Officer), I fuelled my motorsport passion with attendance at the British Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2012. Thereafter, I became a regular annual Observer to the 100-strong Medical Team. I also assisted The British Touring Car Association (TOCA) with their programme of baseline and post-injury neurocognitive testing, later becoming their “Concussion Fellow”. In 2018, I moved back to Cambridge as a Junior Neurotrauma Fellow in the Department of Neurosurgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and was preparing an application for my PhD…with Prof Hutchinson at Robinson!

I was the first doctor (and woman) awarded the Sid Watkins Scholarship in 2018. This competitive research position with the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety was part-funded by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and FIA Foundation, who subsequently fully-funded my motorsport concussion PhD project in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge. During an incredible 4 years, I travelled the UK with TOCA and internationally with Aston Martin Racing, being part of the Le Mans and World Endurance Championship winning teams in 2020.

Delighted with “no corrections” following my PhD viva in 2022, I completed the JCR-MCR-SCR set and joined Robinson SCR as a Senior Member (Teaching) in 2023. It is an honour to work and teach alongside many exceptional Robinson teachers and Robinson's support of our Pre-/Clinical Linker Days over the past two years has been vital. I was particularly honoured to support the launch of the Dr Teresa Tiffert Research Innovation Awards in October 2024; she was my supervisor for 1 year, my tutor for 9 years and has been my friend for more than a decade and a half. What a community we have at Robinson!

I continue to practice medicine at the weekly Cambridge Sports Concussion Clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital (one of only two such NHS-funded services in the UK) which I co-founded with Prof Hutchinson. Our service is truly multi-disciplinary; we collaborate with colleagues in paediatric neurosurgery, clinical neuropsychology, neurorehabilitation, vestibular physiotherapy and sports medicine. These clinics have proved popular with Robinson undergraduate medical students, who often observe and then assist with our ongoing research. This opportunity provides an invaluable insight into the termly Pre-/Clinical Linker sessions which we hope to continue beyond 2025.

The breadth of opportunity I’ve encountered whilst studying medicine at Robinson has been phenomenal and it’s my ambition to provide all current and future students with an educational experience that exceeds it.