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)