Clinical Academic Trainees’ Conference

3 November 2012

Clinical Lecturers and Post-doctorates

Dolores Conroy PhDDirector of Research

Fight for Sight

Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)

• AMRC is a membership organisation of the leading medical and health research charities in the UK

• 124 member charities

• over £1 billion in 2011-12 to medical research

• eye disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as well as rarer conditions like cystic fibrosis and motor neurone disease

Funding for Medical Research in the UK

Integrated Academic Training PathIntegrated Academic Training Path

Competition CompetitionAcademic ClinicalFellowship

ClinicalLectureship

Funding max 4years

Funding max 3years

Funding max 4years

Clinical Training

Fellowship 3 years

Specialist Training

Certificate of Completion of

Training

Charity funding

Foundation Programme

Charity Funding for Clinicians

Charity funding

Clinical Scientist Award

Clinical Fellowships• British Heart Foundation• Arthritis UK• Motor Neurone Disease• Alzheimer’s Society• Cancer Research UK• Dunhill Medical Trust• Welcome Trust

Post-doctoral Clinical FellowshipsBHF

Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship

Successful PhD (or MD) plus NTN and at least 2 years completed specialist training, but no more than 2 years after CCT

4 years, if less than one year of specialist training remains on appointment, otherwise 5 years

At least 50% of time devoted to research

•Salary of applicant •Salary for technician or research assistant if required and fully justified•Research consumables, directly attributable to the project•Research equipment essential for the project

Senior Clinical Research FellowshipBHF

Usually 3-6 years successful post-doc, with CCT. Likely to have held a Clinical Lectureship or Intermediate Fellowship.

5 years, with the possibility of competitive renewal for up to 5 years. On renewal it will be expected that the host institution will provideat least 50% of the fellow’s salary

•Salary of applicant.•Salary of technician or research assistant if required and fully justified.•Research consumables, directly attributable to the project.•Research equipment essential for the project

Clinical Scientist FellowshipMND Association

• A post-doctoral Fellowship • 4 years support for laboratory based studies.

• Patient orientated version of the scheme that provides up to 5 years support, which is intended for research requiring up to 40% of the Fellow’s time to be spent in clinical work. At least 50% of this clinical work should be of direct relevance to the research project.

• Applications are considered yearly.

Senior Clinical FellowshipsMND Association

• Support for up to five years is awarded to clinical researchers of exceptional ability

• Applicants are expected to be proven independent researchers in a field of investigation relevant to MND

• To be well qualified for academic research and to demonstrate promise as future research leaders

• Applications are considered annually.

Clinician Scientist FellowshipCancer Research UK

Post-doctoral fellowship available to clinicians, nurses, healthcare scientists and those in allied health professional posts to pursue academic research These awards will enable successful fellows to make the transition from doctoral research training to an independent clinical academic post.

Must have completed a higher research degree and have a NTN and have obtained a CCT

These awards will enable successful fellows to make the transition from doctoral research training to an independent clinical academic post.

Up to four years' supportSalaries for you and a research assistantConsumables costsAn opportunity to renew for a further four years

Clinician Scientist Fellowship Arthritis Research UK

Medical or surgical graduates who obtained a PhD and who are committed to a career in academic medicine

The length of the fellowship will reflect the number of years of specialist training still required by the fellow in addition to 3 years' postdoctoral scientific training

This may range from a maximum of 5 years, for a fellow who has not completed specialist training, to (exceptionally) 3 years for those who have completed their training requirements

Fellows will be paid on the Clinical Lecturer Scale with the first year’s salary reflecting their current specialist registrar or equivalent, technical support for the duration of the fellowship in addition to running expenses and equipment

Small Grant AwardsFight for Sight

• These awards of up to £15,000 are for clinical research projects only in the field of ophthalmology (clinical and basic scientists can apply)

• The awards which are tenable for up to 12 months may be used to contribute to the costs of employment, equipment and/or consumables

Assessment criteria Scientific excellence Track record of the applicants Potential difference the research will make to the lives of people with

sight loss

Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers

The Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers Scheme is an established programme run by the Academy of Medical Sciences in collaboration with the WT and the BHF  

Modest starter funds to help research active Clinical Lecturers gatherpreliminary data, thereby increasing their competitiveness on applicationfor longer-term fellowships and funding

The maximum grant available is £30,000 which can be spread over 2 years to contribute towards research costs such as consumablesand equipment but not salary

Small GrantsDiabetes UK

• Undertake small research projects or pilot studies related to diabetes

• Up to a maximum of £15,000 for 12 months

• Applications are particularly welcome from NHS consultants specialising in diabetes who are within 5 years of their first appointment

Assessment criteria Scientific excellence Track record of the applicants Potential difference the research will make to the lives of people with diabetes

Fulbright Research Award

A grant of £75,000 to a UK academic or professional to pursue laboratory based research in a US laboratory for a period of nine to twelve months

•Fight for Sight Research Award•Diabetes UK Research Award•Multiple Sclerosis Research Award•Deafness Research UK Research Award•Royal College of Surgeons of England Research Award

UK citizen (resident anywhere) Hold or expect to receive a PhD in a relevant area before departure to the US.