"NIHR Administered Personal Research Training Award": Dr Mal Palin's presentation reviewed opportunites given by the NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre and presented the experiences of an existing award holder.

1. 25/09/2014
NIHR Research Training Awards for Non-Medical Healthcare Professionals
Dr Mal Palin
Senior Programme Manager
NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre

2. 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
(Award Holders)
Research Schools
NHS Trusts
Personal Research Training Awards and TCC Within The NIHR System

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NIHR TCC Research Career Pathways - 2014
Nurses, Midwives,
AHPs
Clinical Academic Training Programme
NIHR/HEE Masters in
Clinical Research Studentships
NIHR/HEE Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowships
NIHR/HEE
Senior Clinical Lectureships
NIHR/HEE Clinical Lectureships
Methodologists
Methodology
Programme
NIHR Research Methods Fellowships and Internships
NIHR Masters Studentships in Health Economics or Medical Statistics
Level of
Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior /
Pre Chair
Post Doctoral (early to senior)
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
NIHR Clinical Lectureships
NIHR Clinician Scientist Awards
NIHR In-Practice Fellowships
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships
Healthcare Scientists HCS Programme
NIHR/HEE Health Care Science
Doctoral Fellowships
NIHR/HEE Health Care Science Post-Doctoral Fellowships
NIHR/HEE
Senior Clinical Lectureships
NIHR
Doctoral Research
Fellowships
NIHR
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
NIHR Career Development Fellowships
NIHR Senior
Research Fellowships
NIHR Research Professorships
NIHR Transitional Research Fellowships
NIHR Clinical Trials Fellowships
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowships
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships, Professorships and Other Awards

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NIHR TCC Research Career Pathways - 2015
Non-Medical/dental
Healthcare Professionals
Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
NIHR/HEE Masters in
Clinical Research Studentships
NIHR/HEE Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowships
NIHR/HEE
Senior Clinical Lectureships
NIHR/HEE Clinical Lectureships
Methodologists
Methodology
Programme
NIHR Research Methods Fellowships and Internships
NIHR Masters Studentships in Health Economics or Medical Statistics
Level of
Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior /
Pre Chair
Post Doctoral (early to senior)
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
NIHR Clinical Lectureships
NIHR Clinician Scientist Awards
NIHR In-Practice Fellowships
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships
Healthcare Scientists HCS Programme
NIHR/HEE Health Care Science
Doctoral Fellowships
NIHR/HEE Health Care Science Post-Doctoral Fellowships
NIHR/HEE
Senior Clinical Lectureships
NIHR
Doctoral Research
Fellowships
NIHR
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
NIHR Career Development Fellowships
NIHR Senior
Research Fellowships
NIHR Research Professorships
NIHR Transitional Research Fellowships
NIHR Clinical Trials Fellowships
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowships
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships, Professorships and Other Awards

5. All submitted proposals must fall within NIHR Remit
•NIHR supports training in clinical and applied health research, including social care research.
•The proposal must have clear potential for benefitting patients and the public within 5 years of its completion (but recognising the training element of the research).
•The research can involve: patients; samples or data from patients; people who are not patients; populations; health technology assessment; or health services research.
•NIHR does not support basic research or work involving animals or their tissue.

6. NIHR Remit (2)
•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 is also prepared to support research into medical education.

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NIHR TCC Research Career Pathways
Nurses, Midwives, AHPs Clinical Academic Training Programme
Methodologists
Methodology
Programme
Level of Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior /
Pre Chair
Post Doctoral (early to senior)
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
Healthcare Scientists HCS Programme
NIHR
Doctoral Research
Fellowships
NIHR
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
NIHR Career Development Fellowships
NIHR Senior Research Fellowships
NIHR Transitional Research Fellowships
All Professions NIHR Fellowships, Professorships and Other Awards

8. • Salary
• PhD tuition fees (for DRF)
• Research costs
• HEI employers also receive indirect costs e.g. estates, facilities at 80%
• Training and development costs
• CDFs and SRFs only may apply for Research Assistant support
• DRF/PDF/CDF - 3 years full-time or 4/5 years part-time
• SRF – 5 years full-time or part-time
Annual competitions for all levels Launch - October Close - January
NIHR Fellowships
What does a NIHR Fellowship provide?

9. NIHR Fellowships
•Doctoral training award to individuals of outstanding potential, early in research career
•To undertake a PhD
•To increase research skills Applicant: Some previous research experience Some outputs from research Evidence of commitment to research career If already registered PhD < 1 yr FT
•Early post-doc training award to individuals of outstanding potential as researchers
•To develop postdoctoral research experience & skills
•To increase independence
Applicant:
PhD/MD (or submitted)
< 3 yrs WTE post-doc research experience
Research output (publications, grant applications)
Clear commitment to research career
Doctoral Research Fellowship
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship

10. NIHR Fellowships
•Later post-doc award
•To gain full research independence
•Develop research capacity of self and others Applicant: PhD/MD and significant postdoctoral experience (˂ 7 yrs WTE post-doc research experience) Significant research output Evidence of increasing independence Experience of developing research skills of others
•5 years ( aiming towards Chair)
•Potential to become academic and research leader within award time
Applicant:
Significant postdoctoral experience
Outstanding publication record
Independence
Leadership potential
Record of research capacity
development
Career Development Fellowship
Senior Research Fellowship

11. NIHR Fellowships
Doctoral
Research
Post Doctoral
Career
Development
Senior Research
Total
Round 1
(Awarded2008)
109 applied
12 awarded
57
7
26
7
18
3
29
Round 2
(Awarded2009)
152
29
54
9
36
7
16
1
46
Round 3
(Awarded2010)
158
32
59
7
35
4
10
1
44
Round 4
(Awarded2011)
155
28
82
16
58
11
19
2
57
Round 5 (Awarded2012)
217
34
105
16
41
6
19
2
58
Round 6
(Awarded2013)
181
30
84
15
44
5
19
3
53

12. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Medical Dental NM AHP OHC NHC
No. of Applications
Profession
2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
2010/2011
2011/2012
NIHR Fellowships – application
numbers

13. NIHR Fellowships – success rates
0102030405060708090100MedicalDentalNMAHPOHCNHC % Success rate Profession2007-082008-092009-102010-112011-12

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NIHR TCC Research Career Pathways
Non-Medical/dental Healthcare Professionals
Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
NIHR/HEE Masters in Clinical Research Studentships
NIHR/HEE Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowships
NIHR/HEE
Senior Clinical Lectureships
NIHR/HEE Clinical Lectureships
Methodologists Methodology Programme
Level of Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior / Pre Chair
Post Doctoral
(early to senior)
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
Doctors and Dentists NIHR Integrated Academic Training Programme
Healthcare Scientists HCS Programme
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships, Professorships and Other Awards

15. NIHR / HEE Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme
Supports registered nurses, midwives, AHPs*, healthcare scientists, clinical psychologists, pharmacists, operating department practitioners and dental hygienists/therapists/nurses, committed to developing a career which combines research and continued clinical practice.
* Eligible AHP professions: Orthotist
Music Therapist
Art Therapist Paramedic
Dietitian Physiotherapist
Diagnostic Radiographer Podiatrist/chiropodist
Drama Therapist Prosthetist
Occupational Therapist Speech and Language Therapist
Orthoptist Therapeutic Radiographer

16. NIHR / HEE Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme
HEE Internship Scheme - A pre-masters clinical research „taster‟ Currently undergoing reorganisation and redesign Designed to offer an introduction to all aspects of clinical research from trial design and data management through to undertaking primary research in a clinical environment. Schemes will provide a range of both taught and academically supervised interventions and enable the intern to undertake a research project supported by an expert clinical academic supervisor. https://hee.nhs.uk/work-programmes/clinical-academic-careers/internships/ The scheme is to be managed locally by HEE‟s Local Education and Training Boards.
•Internships will fund approximately 30 days of the intern‟s time via backfill
•Interns will be selected this year and internships will run from the new year until the summer
•Internships will comprise an educational component and locally provided research experience

17. NIHR / HEE Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme
•Programme funds HEIs to advertise and award places
•147 funded places p.a until this year (100 p.a. from 2015?)
•1yr FT / 2yrs PT
•For NHS/NHS funded staff
•Backfill costs and course fees covered
•Leeds
•St Georges
•Brighton
•City
•Birmingham
•Kings
•Newcastle
•UEA
•Nottingham
•Manchester
•Sheffield
•Southampton
NIHR/HEE Masters in Clinical Research Studentships

18. NIHR / HEE Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme
•PhD research whilst also working and developing clinically
•Must be based at an English NHS trust, other healthcare organisation or HEI
•Min 1 year clinical experience and current registration
•Need good academic and clinical support
•Salary, PhD tuition fees, research, training & development costs covered
•3 years FT (4 or 5 years PT)
NIHR/HEE Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship

19. NIHR / HEE Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme
•3 year (4 or 5 years PT) post-doctoral award for clinical practice and academic research (50:50)
•Requires support from a partnership of a HEI and an NHS trust, which must both commit to support the applicant post award
•Up to 50% of salary plus research, training and development costs
•˂5 years WTE post-doctoral research experience
•Min 1 year WTE in clinical practice, current registration with NMC or HCPC and PhD or submission
•Senior (pre-Chair) 5 year award for clinical practice and academic research (50:50)
•Requires support from a partnership of a HEI and an NHS trust, which must both commit to support the applicant post award
•Up to 50% of salary plus research, training and development costs
•>5 years clinical experience and high research output
•Excellent or exceptionally promising track record as clinical academic researcher (outputs & grants)
NIHR/HEE Clinical Lectureship
NIHR/HEE Senior Clinical Lectureship

20. Clinical Doctoral
Research Fellowship
Clinical Lectureship
Senior Clinical Lectureship
Round 1
(2009)
100 applied
15 awarded
22 applied
10 awarded
4 applied
1 awarded
Round 2
(2010)
64 applied
16 awarded
12 applied
6 awarded
18 applied
5 awarded
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
10 applied
5 applied
NIHR / HEE Clinical Academic Training Programme

21. NIHR / HEE Clinical Academic Training Programme

22. NIHR / HEE Clinical Academic Training Programme

23. NIHR / HEE Clinical Academic Training Programme

24. NIHR / HEE Clinical Academic Training Programme

25. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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NIHR TCC Research Career Pathways
Nurses, Midwives, AHPs Clinical Academic Training Programme
Methodologists
Methodology
Programme
Level of
Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior /
Pre Chair
Post Doctoral (early to senior)
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
Healthcare
Scientists
HCS
Programme
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowships
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships, Professorships and Other Awards

26. Funds fellows to undertake innovative knowledge mobilisation (supporting the more effective use of research outputs) whilst simultaneously researching the effectiveness of their techniques Who is it for? Individuals with:
•NHS and/or academic experience.
•Demonstrable potential to build inter-organisational partnerships and mobilise research derived knowledge within healthcare settings.
•The support of at least one NHS body and one HEI. What is funded? Salary Research costs Personal training and development programme Part time options are available
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowship Scheme

27. Assessment
Applications are assessed on strength of :
•Candidate
•Research Proposal
•Training and Development Plan
•Environment / Supervision / Mentorship
•Value for Money

28. Assessment - Doctoral+
Full assessment criteria are published in the applicant guidance notes
The criteria published in the applicant guidance notes are the same (and the only) criteria we ask our review panel members to score your application against.
Make sure all of the listed criteria are addressed – don‟t leave any gaps or your scores will suffer.

29. Advice to Applicants - Doctoral+
The applicant:
Demonstrate your trajectory / potential for research leadership
Describe your research experience / awareness and commitment to research leadership as expansively as possible
If you think you lack experience then get some – volunteer to help out on existing research and audits, posters, presentations etc
Answer the questions that pertain to your career intentions carefully – these are not designed to catch you out but remember the purpose of the programme!
Sell yourself and use the space provided

30. Advice to Applicants - Doctoral+
The research proposal:
The proposal must be appropriate to level and carefully constructed with a clear hypothesis and achievable aims and objectives
Your research MUST fit the NIHR remit and address important areas for the NHS
The proposal should not be dependent on funding from other sources or other larger project receiving and maintaining funding
Make sure to explain HOW you will proceed – if a panel member cannot determine inclusion criteria, recruitment approaches or sample sizes from your proposal they cannot approve your methods

31. Advice to Applicants - Doctoral+
The Training and Development Plan:
Remember that the purpose of the programme is to develop the research leaders of the future
Tailor your plan – don‟t just propose the generic programme offered by your host HEI
Take the opportunity to address your weaknesses as well as the needs of the study with a view to your career development post-award
If your proposal involves methods you are not familiar with then seek training in this area – but don‟t be tokenistic

32. Advice to Applicants - Doctoral+
The Environment / Supervision / Mentorship:
Base yourself strategically - the purpose of the award is to support your development and research/CA career - there needs to be local scope and support for this
Build a team of mentors/supervisors that can, between them, afford expert guidance on every aspect of your study
Justify your choice of mentors/supervisors
If applying for a doctoral fellowship then your supervisor must have good experience of supervision to completion AND the time to supervise you.

33. Advice to Applicants - Doctoral+
Value for money:
NIHR personal awards do not have a maximum value
Funding requests vary greatly as a result of varying salaries, approaches, and fields of study
All costs must be justifiable and fully justified – research your options
The total cost must represent and appropriate and reasonable price for what is being proposed and what will be gained

34. Common Mistakes
“We will….”
The stated career aspirations are not supported by the programme (ICA)
The training and development plan is generic and not tailored to the applicant‟s needs
The applicant has no idea why their sample size is X “My statistician said…..”
The required sample sizes are too ambitious
Alternative approaches and analytical techniques have not been considered
The supervisors have never supervised to completion before (Doctoral level)
The applicant hasn‟t contacted Professor Z for mentorship (do they even know who she is?)

35. Applicant Advice Summary
Understand the process – visit our website (www.nihr.ac.uk), read the guidance notes and talk to those with experience.
Give yourself enough time – to be fair to those that meet deadlines, we reject applications from those that don‟t.
You WILL need input from your department, supervisors, mentors and finance office – allow for sickness, competing priorities and overseas holidays.
Have your application proof read if possible - can the reader describe your methods?
Seek help – Supervisors, the RDS, your Local Research Office etc. Arrange internal peer reviews, mock panels and interviews.

36. NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre
Leeds Innovation Centre
103 Clarendon Road
Leeds LS2 9DF
Tel: 0113 3466260
Fax: 0113 346 6272
mal.palin@nihrtcc.org.uk
http://www.nihr.ac.uk