The 2025 Betty Boothroyd Scholarship has been awarded to Dr Munzer Al Khalil, among the most renowned and respected health system leaders from Syria. Dr Al Khalil founded the Idlib Health Directorate and Alamal Hospital for Orthopaedic Surgery in 2013 and conducts research on improving health systems and governance and aid effectiveness in conflict-affected and fragile areas. Together with DNF Senior Adviser and Co-Founder Elly Nott, Dr Al Khalil is establishing DNF Research which will publish cutting-edge insights from health systems in the MENA region, with an initial emphasis on Syria.There are many lessons to be drawn from the humanitarian and development responses, both local and international, to the conflict in Syria. With Dr Al Khalil’s unparalleled knowledge and the Foundation’s extensive experience in the country, DNF Research will publish blogs, commentaries and original research in peer-reviewed journals to advance understanding of health and conflict dynamics and provide lessons for other fragile states.Baroness Betty Boothroyd OM was the Founding Patron of the David Nott Foundation. Passionate about our mission and particularly engaged by our response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, her impact continues through her generous legacy to the Foundation and scholarship which bears her name.