NIHR Trainees’ Meeting Leeds 20 th September 2011 Peter Dukes Head, Research Career Awards, MRC
Mar 28, 2015
NIHR Trainees’ Meeting Leeds 20th September 2011
Peter DukesHead, Research Career Awards, MRC
Clinical Research Fellows
• Fellowships– The person
– The project
– The ‘place’
• Grants– The project / programme
– The people
– The ‘place (s)’
“The thing I enjoy so much is that my work has direct application to people…”
MRC/Academy of Medical Sciences Clinician Scientist
MRC Clinical Research Fellows
• Potential research leaders of the future
- Vision
- Synergy between clinical & research training
• Development through excellent research
– Intellectually demanding project
– Using advanced methods, skills & technologies
• Development in an excellent environment
– Committed, professional supervision
– Depth & breadth of research excellence
– Access to essential research facilities & resources
– Engagement in research translation
– Inspirational leadership & mentorship
Applying for Your Fellowship
1. Plan your options
• Supervisor / Institution / Project focus / Fellowship
2. Identify competition scope, criteria, process & dates
3. Check your eligibility
4. Develop your proposal well ahead
5. Take advice!!!
6. Understand the application forms & guidance= web-based
7. Institutional sign off= critical
8. Submit through web, on CD…
9. Admin check by funder
10.Peer review…
Overview: Applying for Your Fellowship
10. Peer review– ~3 expert referees assigned. Report & score.
– Shortlisting by referees’ scores
– Interviews 20-30 min
• Timed 2 or 3 minute presentation
• Two designated Panel members ask questions
• Other members then follow
• They focus on the project & your potential
• Synergy between clinical & research training
– Outcome within 1-2 wks
– Reserve list ?
– Time out: sort with Deanery
Clinician Scientist Fellowship
Senior Clinical Fellowship
Approx Years post PhD
52 awards (+2x10 Clin Pharm/Path)
10
3
Clinical Research Training Fellowships
Clinical Training /
CL
Clinical Training /
ACF
Clinical Training /
SCL
Overview of schemes 1
MRC Research Fellowships for Clinicians
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
University-based MRC post doctoral fellowships – Non-Clinical, Clinical and several Capacity Development fellowships
-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Research Yrs Post PhD
Career Development
Award
Senior Non-Clinical
Population Health Scientist
Bioinformatics, Biostats, EoH3yr 4yr 2yr
Methodology Research4yr
ClinicalRTF Clinician Scientist
Senior Clinical
Clinical Training Clinical
Training
PhD
Clinical Research Fellowships
Support for clinicians at each stage of their careers
• Research Training Fellowships
• Postdoc Training Fellowship for MB/PhD Graduates
• Intermediate Clinical Fellowships
• Senior Research Fellowships in Clinical Science
Research training integrated with clinical training
• Clinical Research Training Fellowships (3-yr PhD)
• Clinician Scientist Fellowships(4 or 5-yr, postdoc)
• Senior Clinical Fellowships (5-yr)
Great outcomes
Great outcomes
MRC postdoc Clinical Fellows report
• More collaborations per award…
• More instances of further funding…
• More impact on policy
Citation analyses
• MRC Fellows’ papers more cited than ‘expected’
Careers
• 2x as competitive as “norm” in gaining grants
• ~50% progress to academic chairs…
Patrick Maxwell’s RTF class of ‘91
Post-CRTFs: Active as clinicians & researchers
• 88% of post-CRTFs in academic posts are clinically active; 65% spending >25% of time on clinical activities. Most direct or lead research
• ~80% of post-CRTFs in fully clinical posts are research active, spending <25% of time on research. Most contribute to research led by others
Proportion of Time Clinically Active CRTFs at Universities Spend on Clinical Activities
3%
19%
42%
35%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 - 25% 25 - 50% 50 - 75% 75 - 100%Proportion of Time
Num
ber
of F
ello
ws
Proportion of Time Research Active CRTFs in NHS Consultant Posts spend on Research Activities
0%2%
15%
83%
0
510
15
20
2530
35
40
0 - 25% 25 - 50% 50 - 75% 75 - 100%
Proportion of Time
Num
ber
of F
ello
ws
Academics (clinical activity) NHS Consultants (research activity)
MRC CRTFs help you build your research competence & career
How has an MRC CRTF affected Competence and Achievements as a Researcher
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Very significantly
Significantly
Some
Not verysignificantly
Not at all
N/A
Sig
nific
ance
Percentage of Fellows
How much did an MRC CRTF affect your Career
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
VerySignificantly
Significantly
Some
Hardly at all
Not at all
Sign
ifica
nce
Percentage of Fellows
Effect on research competence & achievements? 85% responded significantly or very significantly
Effect on Career? 94% said significantly or very significantly
n = 191 n = 191
Clinical Research Fellowships
• Outstanding scientists
• Extraordinary opportunities
• Great outcomes
• Competitive!
“The thing I enjoy so much is that my work has direct application to people…”
MRC/Academy of Medical Sciences Clinician Scientist
Great outcomes
Great outcomes
MRC postdoc Clinical Fellows report
• More collaborations per award…
• More instances of further funding…
• More impact on policy
Citation analyses
• MRC Fellows’ papers more cited than ‘expected’
Careers
• 2x as competitive as “norm” in gaining grants
• >50% step into chairs…
Research-intensive Clinical Fellowships in the context of the Integrated Academic Training Path (England) (Data: OSCHR fellowship Survey, March 2009)
Specialist Training
Integrated Academic Training Path (England Only)
Academic Position
CCT
CSLA (112)
Further specialty/sub-specialty
training
Senior Clinical Fellowship / Chair
(94)
HEFCE
* There are also 14 NIHR fellowships and 1 MRC bioinformatics training fellowship at the more junior initial post-doctoral level
Academic Clinical
Fellowship (281)
NIHR NIHRClinical
Lectureship (207)
1 2 3 4 5Clinical Training
Following on from Academic
Foundation Year
Research Training
Fellowship (355)
Clinician Scientist
Fellowship*(142)