Presentation regarding research training opportunities at the NIHR.

1. NIHR Research Training Opportunities
Dr Kieran Lee
NIHR TCC
The research arm of the NHS

2. • The NIHR
• Career Pathways
• NIHR Fellowships Programme
• HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
• NIHR Integrated Academic Training Programme
– Academic Clinical Fellowships
– Clinical Lectureships
– Clinician Scientist Award
• Grants
– AMS Starter Grants
– Research for Patient Benefit
Overview
www.nihr.ac.uk

3. National Institute for Health Research
The research arm of the NHS
• Established in 2006 as a vehicle for
implementing Government’s strategy
for applied health research
• £1b annual spend
Vision
• To improve the health and wealth of
the nation through research
www.nihr.ac.uk

4. www.nihr.ac.uk
The NIHR Health Research System
Infrastructure
Clinical Research
Facilities, Centres &
Units
Clinical Research
Networks
Research
Research Projects &
Programmes
Research Management
Systems
Research Information
Systems
Systems
Patients
&
Public
Universities
Investigators &
Senior Investigators
Associates
Faculty
Trainees
Research Schools
NHS Trusts

5. www.nihr.ac.uk
The Research Pathway

6. • People and patient based clinical, applied health, or social care
research
• Patients, samples or data from patients, people who are not
patients, populations, health technology assessment or health
services research
• No basic research or work involving animals and/or animal tissue
• Clearly demonstrate the potential to have an impact on the needs
of patients and the public within 5 years of its completion
• NIHR is also prepared to support research into medical
education
– Decoupled from ‘patient benefit within 5 years’ criterion but
must have practical application:
www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/medical-education-research.htm
NIHR Remit
www.nihr.ac.uk

7. If the work involves biomarkers:
• research that tests whether application of new knowledge can
improve treatment or patient outcomes, and has obvious
potential benefit within 5 years, is within remit; this might include
application of known biomarkers, or other prognostic factors, to
refine and test novel therapeutic strategies.
• research that aims only to elucidate mechanisms underpinning
disease, or identify risk factors for disease or prognosis
(including search for biomarkers) is out of remit.
NIHR Remit
www.nihr.ac.uk

8. NIHR Research Career Pathways
www.nihr.ac.uk

9. NIHR Fellowships Programme
www.nihr.ac.uk
Personal research training awards
www.nihr.ac.uk/fellow
The funding covers:
• Salary
• Full tuition fees (for PhD at Doctoral level)
• Research costs
• Full training and development programme
• Awards are 3 yrs FT (PT options of 75% or 60%), or up to 5 years
for SRF
• Can be based at HEI or NHS Trust
• Annual competition for all levels
• Round 9 launch October/November 2015
• Shortlisting ~ April 2016
• Interviews ~ June/July 2016

10. Postdoctoral Fellowship
NIHR PDF
• Early postdoctoral fellowship
(≤ 3 yrs WTE post-doctorate)
• 3 yrs FT (4 or 5 yrs PT)
Applicant
• PhD/MD or have submitted and been
awarded by 29th April 2016 (for Round
9 applicants)
• Output from research
• Evidence of commitment to research
career
Doctoral Research Fellowship
NIHR DRF
• Doctoral training award
• 3 yrs FT (4 or 5 yrs PT)
Applicant
• Some previous research
experience
• Some outputs from research
• Evidence of commitment to
research career
NIHR Fellowships Programme
www.nihr.ac.uk

11. Senior Research Fellowship
NIHR SRF
• Most senior NIHR fellowship
• 5 years ( Chair)
Applicant
• Significant postdoctoral experience
• Outstanding publication record
• Independence
• Leadership potential
• Record of research capacity
• development
Career Development Fellowship
NIHR CDF
• Later postdoctoral award
(≤ 7 yrs WTE post-doctorate)
• 3 years FT (4 or 5 years PT)
Applicant
• PhD/MD and postdoctoral
experience
• Significant output from research
• Evidence of increasing
independence
• Experience of developing research
skills of others
NIHR Fellowships Programme
www.nihr.ac.uk

12. Transitional Research Fellowship
NIHR TRF
• Postdoctoral award (≤ 5 yrs WTE post-doctorate)
• 18 – 24 month duration (FT or PT)
Applicant
• PhD/MD and maybe postdoctoral experience
• Individuals from any scientific discipline wanting to contribute to improving
health or healthcare. E.g.
• basic or experimental scientists moving to applied health or clinical
research
• Applied clinical or health researchers on a significant career break with
clear training needs
• Proposed research must be within the NIHR remit
NIHR Fellowships Programme
www.nihr.ac.uk

13. Doctoral
Research
Post
Doctoral
Career
Development
Senior
Research
Transitional
Research
Total
Round 3
(Awarded 2010)
158
32
59
7
35
4
10
1
-
262
44
Round 4
(Awarded 2011)
155
28
82
16
58
11
19
2
-
314
57
Round 5
(Awarded 2012)
217
34
105
16
41
6
19
2
-
382
58
Round 6
(Awarded 2013)
185
30
86
15
44
5
19
3
3
1
337
54
Round 7
(Awarded 2014)
185
34
99
11
55
10
10
0
18
3
367
58
Round 8
(Awarded 2015)
162
33
96
11
61
8
11
2
5
0
335
54
NIHR Fellowships Programme

14. NIHR Research Career Pathways
www.nihr.ac.uk

15. www.nihr.ac.uk
Personal Training awards for Non-Medical Clinical Academic
Healthcare Professionals
HEE/NIHR ICA Programme
• Healthcare Scientists
• Allied Health Professionals
• Nurses
• Midwifes
• Health Visitors
• Dental professions
• Pharmacists
• Osteopaths
• Optometrists
• Clinical Psychologists
• Operating Department Practitioners
• and others! (contact ICA Team if unsure)
Eligible Professions Include:
www.nihr.ac.uk/hee-ica

16. www.nihr.ac.uk
Masters in Clinical Research
• HEIs are given funding to
advertise and award places
• Until 2017, 100 studentships
per annum are available
• 1 yr FT or 2 yrs PT
• Studentships are only
available to NHS/publicly
funded healthcare provider
employees
• Studentships cover backfill
costs and course fees
Hosts
10 places each per annum
The University of Manchester
University of Nottingham
University of Leeds
The City University London
University of Southampton
University of Brighton
Kingston University London
University of Plymouth
University of East Anglia
Coventry University
HEE/NIHR ICA Programme

17. www.nihr.ac.uk
HEE/NIHR ICA Programme
Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship
• PhD while working and developing clinically
• 3 years FT (4 or 5 years PT)
• Covers salary, PhD tuition fees, research costs, and training &
development costs (both professional and academic)
Applicant
• Must be based at an English NHS Trust, HEI or other healthcare organisation
• Must have at least 1 year of professional experience and Fellows must hold
current registration
• Research experience/training that prepares for a PhD
• Evidence of commitment to a clinical academic career
• Good clinical and academic support

18. www.nihr.ac.uk
Clinical Lectureship
• Postdoctoral award
• Clinical practice and academic research
(50:50)
• 3 yr FT (4 or 5 years PT)
• ˂5 years WTE postdoctoral research
experience
• Min 1 year WTE in clinical practice,
current registration and PhD
• Up to 50% of salary plus full research,
training and development costs
Senior Clinical Lectureship
• Senior (pre-Chair) award
• Clinical practice and academic research
(50:50)
• 5 yr FT or PT
• >5 years WTE clinical experience and
high research output
• Up to 50% of salary plus full research,
training and development costs
• Excellent or exceptionally promising track
record as clinical academic researcher
(outputs & grants)
HEE/NIHR ICA Programme
ICA awards require support from a partnership of an English HEI and an
NHS trust, which must both commit to support the applicant post award.

19. www.nihr.ac.uk
Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship
Clinical Lectureship
Senior Clinical Lectureship
Annual competition for all levels
Launch – March 2016
Close – May 2016
Shortlisting ~ September
Interviews ~ November/December
Queries: ICA@nihrtcc.org.uk
HEE/NIHR ICA Programme

20. www.nihr.ac.uk
HEE/NIHR ICA Programme
Clinical Doctoral
Research Fellowship
Clinical Lectureship
Senior Clinical
Lectureship
Round 3
(2012/13)
65 applied
12 awarded
18 applied
6 awarded
13 applied
6 awarded
Round 4
(2013)
62 applied
20 awarded
14 applied
6 awarded
3 applied
1 awarded
Round 5
(2014)
78 applied
15 awarded
10 applied
4 awarded
5 applied
0 awarded
ICA Round 1
(2015)
84 applied 21 applied 7 applied
CAT

21. Webinar
• Tuesday 10th November
• 11 am start!
• Check the ICA webpages for details of how to register
next week www.nihr.ac.uk/hee-ica
• Overview of the Programme
• Trainee perspective
• Hints and tips for applying
www.nihr.ac.uk
HEE/NIHR ICA Programme

22. Know the process and the remit
• Look at the website
• Read the guidance
• Contact NIHR TCC with any queries
• Don’t add PPI as an afterthought!
Know your audience
• Look up previous award holders, panel members, topics
Start early
• Identify supervisors and collaborators
• Talk to the NIHR Research Design Service http://www.rds.nihr.ac.uk/
• Talk to current awards holders, senior academics, methodologists,
finance office, colleagues etc.
Pre-application advice
www.nihr.ac.uk

23. Application advice: assessment
criteria
Person
• Trajectory
• Career outputs
Project (programme of research)
• Scientific quality, methodological rigour
• Appropriate scale, scope, and impact
Training and Development
• Meets needs of candidate and project
Place (host environment, supervisor(s), mentor)
• RAE rating
• Track record in relevant field
• Time and commitment
www.nihr.ac.uk

24. Online application system
To Apply follow the link to access application forms and supporting
documentation: https://tcci.nihr.ac.uk
www.nihr.ac.uk

25. • Register on TCCi as soon as the round opens
• Liaise with your local finance office and required signatories in
advance of the deadline
• Give full consideration to your Plain English Summary and Patient
and Public Involvement sections
• Have your application peer reviewed before you submit
• Review the guidance notes (again)
• Do a comprehensive spelling and grammar check
Do not miss the deadline!
Fellowships = 1pm Wednesday 20th January 2016
Application Submission
www.nihr.ac.uk

26. Practice
• Mock interviews are usually the worst
Presentation
• Not too many slides
• Don’t go over time
Behaviour
• It is OK to be nervous
• Confident but not over confident
• Don’t get defensive
• Admit what you don’t know and be happy to take advice
• Relax and be yourself
Interview
www.nihr.ac.uk

27. The project
• Know it inside and out
• Has anything altered since submission?
• Know the methods and identify the expertise
• Think through alternatives
Training and Development
• Identify your training needs
• How will the training support your project and future career
intentions
The future you
• Be clear where you want to be
• What does this fellowship mean to your career?
Interview
www.nihr.ac.uk

28. Remit
• Failure to show that research addresses important areas for the
NHS and will produce results that are likely to generate significant
and quantifiable benefit for NHS patients and/or the public within 5
years of the funding period.
Clarity & Details
• Research questions not clear; don’t show the relevance of the aims
and objectives; not enough detail and depth.
Overambitious
• Research programme not suitable for a Post-doc; not achievable
within time frame.
Common weaknesses
www.nihr.ac.uk

29. Applicant
• Person not quite experienced enough for level they are applying
(research outputs, independence, etc.); not your project
Training
• Programme too generic and not suited/specific to the applicant’s
needs and project; too centred around host organisation.
Value for Money
• Budget unrealistic and/or failure to justify requested resources.
Common weaknesses
www.nihr.ac.uk

30. If in doubt
ASK!
www.nihr.ac.uk

31. NIHR Research Career Pathways
www.nihr.ac.uk

32. Integrated Academic Training for
Doctors and Dentists
www.nihr.ac.uk
NIHR ACF NIHR CL
NIHR & others
PhD
Fellowships
Other CL
NIHR & others
Clinician
Scientist
CCT
Clinical
Academics
Clinicians
Clinicians with
Research PAs
www.nihr.ac.uk/iat

33. Institutional awards
Apply to LETB/NHS/University
• NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF)
• NIHR Academic Clinical Lectureship (CL)
Personal awards
Apply to NIHR TCC for funding
• NIHR In-Practice Fellowship (IPF)
• NIHR Clinician Scientist Award (CS)
Integrated Academic Training for
Doctors and Dentists
www.nihr.ac.uk

34. Academic Clinical Fellowship
www.nihr.ac.uk/acfs
• Academic and clinical training
• For entrants to specialty training
• 3 yr award, 25% academic research
• Support in making application for training fellowship
leading to higher degree
• 4 yrs for GPs to CCT
• £1000 pa bursaries
• Structured Research Training Programme (RTP)
Integrated Academic Training for
Doctors and Dentists
www.nihr.ac.uk

35. Clinical Lectureship
www.nihr.ac.uk/cls
• Postdoctoral award
• 50% academic and 50% clinical
• ST3 and above
• 4 yr award duration, or until you reach CCT, whichever
is sooner
• £1000 pa bursaries
Integrated Academic Training for
Doctors and Dentists
www.nihr.ac.uk

36. Clinician Scientist Award
www.nihr.ac.uk/cs
• Postdoctoral award, 5 years duration (open to StRs/SpRs/consultants)
• Applicants retain clinical duties appropriate for gaining CCT
• Up to 4 NHS clinical sessions per week post CCT
• Pays for salary, research costs and training
• Pays research assistant salary (3 years only)
Applicant
• PhD/MD (or have submitted) with good output from research
• Evidence of commitment to research career
• Expectation of ongoing employment at the end of award
Launch annually (Round 16 ~ May 2016, Closing ~ July 2016)
Integrated Academic Training for
Doctors and Dentists
www.nihr.ac.uk

37. Integrated Academic Training for
Doctors and Dentists
www.nihr.ac.uk
NIHR Clinician Scientist Award, 2010-2014
Eligible Candidates
Shortlisted for
Interview
Fundable Awarded
Rounds Medical Dental Medical Dental Medical Dental Medical Dental
Round 10, 2010 21 2 11 2 5 2 5 2
Round 11, 2011 28 2 10 1 6 1 6 1
Round 12, 2012 29 0 12 0 6 0 6 0
Round 13, 2013 25 1 12 0 6 0 6 0
Round 14, 2014 20 1 11 1 6 1 5 1

38. http://www.acmedsci.ac.uk/careers/funding-schemes/starter-grants/
£30K award, 1-2 yr duration
Eligibility
• Be a research-active Clinical Lecturer and hold an NTN or NTN(A).
• Have a PhD or MD.
• Hold a medical or dental undergraduate degree and be registered
with the General Medical Council or General Dental Council.
• Be within higher specialty training.
• Have secured protected research time throughout the proposed
project.
www.nihr.ac.uk
AMS Starter Grants

39. www.nihr.ac.uk/rfpb
• Response-mode funding programme for small grants
• Maximum award £350k for up to 3 yrs
• Overall programme funding of up to £25 million per
year
• Awards made to NHS organisations in England with
subcontracts to academic partners
• 8 Regional Advisory Committees and a national
Programme Director
• 3 funding competitions per year
• 2 stage application process
• > 520 awards made to date totalling
over £100m
Research for Patient Benefit
www.nihr.ac.uk

40. www.nihr.ac.uk
NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre
Leeds Innovation Centre
103 Clarendon Road
Leeds LS2 9DF
Tel: 0113 346 6260
Fax: 0113 346 6272
http://www.nihr.ac.uk/development
@OfficialNIHR
We’re currently tweeting our top tips for applying – check out our twitter
feed @NIHR_Trainees
NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre