1. Training & Career Development: Clinical Fellowships and Awards Dr Paul Colville-Nash Programme Manager, Medical Research Council Academic Clinical Fellows/Specialist Registrars Training Day Imperial College, London 17 th November 2009

2. Encourage and support high-quality research with the aim of improving human health Produce skilled researchers Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness in the UK [and worldwide] Promote dialogue with the public about medical research MRC mission

3. A new Strategic Plan for the MRC Consultation with over 500 stakeholders A non-prescriptive agenda

4. Research changes lives Strategic aim 1 Picking research that delivers: Setting research priorities which are most likely to deliver improved health outcomes Strategic aim 2 Research to people: Bringing the benefits of excellent research to all sections of society Strategic aim 3 Going global: Securing progress in international medical research Strategic aim 4 Supporting our scientists: Supporting and sustaining a robust and flourishing environment for world-class medical research http://www.mrc.ac.uk/strategicplan

5. MRC funding MRC operating expenditure - £625.4m in 07/08 300 new grants to researchers £236 million on grants and training awards in universities and medical schools £343 million for over 500 programmes in our research units and institutes over 2000 publications in peer-reviewed journals Licensing income receipts of £85.4 million through MRCT £384 million total cash generated since 1998 People Over 4000 people in our own units, institutes and centres £72.2 million on training and career development 107 new fellowships, 450 new post-graduate students

6. DiscoveryDelivery MRCTranslational MRC lead NIHR lead Pharmacogenomics Animal/human models Regenerative medicine Genetics/genomics Structural biology Imaging Systems medicine Global health Ageing: lifecourse Stem cells Infections Population science Experimental medicine Methodology Global health Public health E-health HTA Trials EME Trials (Late stage III) The Delivery Plan and major foci of MRC activity over CSR period

7. Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board Strategy and delivery Strategy Board Population and Systems Medicine Board Infections and Immunity Board Neurosciences and Mental Health Board Population Sciences Overview Group Translational Research Overview Group Global Health Overview Group Training and Careers Overview Group

8. MRC’s niche in skills, training & careers Our strategic focus Research leaders of tomorrow (excellent individuals) Strategic skills gaps (responsive; future-facing; targeted) At key stages of a career (not cradle to grave) Our brand is Excellence Of the individual, science & training But “excellence” is not unique to MRC Our positioning Biomedicine & health MRC = discovery & translational science NIHR = towards the applied end, reflecting Cooksey MRC = Clinical and non-clinical

9. Our website www.mrc.ac.uk should be your first port of call

10. Opportunities for Clinical Scientists

11. Common features of MRC fellowships No age limits Can return from a career break Awards can be held part time Support for maternity/sick leave Procedures to minimise discrimination

12. Fellowships: Pre- to post-doctoral Research training towards a PhD for clinical scientists Clinical Research Training Fellowships (CRTFs) Early career entry for those with minimal previous lab experience Population Health Scientist Fellowship Population-based research into the promotion and maintenance of health, the frequency, burden and causal pathways of ill- health, and the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce or prevent ill-health

13. Clinical Research Training Fellowships Combining research with clinical training  2 clinical sessions/week (3 for surgeons)  12 month abeyance of award for concentrated training Personal salary Research expenses - £15K p.a. plus animal costs Overseas training allowance 2 rounds p.a. (Jan & Sept) Research overseas (1yr)/ 2nd UK Centre/UK Industrial Training Exceptionally, will provide post-doctoral “catch-up” time

14. Demonstrates applicant is looking for breadth of research experience Should look for a centre appropriate for the particular research area Explain how this would broaden research experience and training and benefit long-term career development Outline how the experience will transfer newly acquired skills back to research base. CRTFs are able to spend all 3 years in our overseas units in the Gambia & Uganda Seeking another centre:

15. Jointly Funded Clinical Research Training Fellowship Charities Asthma UK British Association of Dermatologists, British Skin Foundation British Lung Foundation, Mick Knight Mesothelioma Fund Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust Cystic Fibrosis Trust Kidney Research UK MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships Multiple Sclerosis Society Pancreatic Cancer UK Stroke Association Wellchild Royal Colleges Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Royal College of Physicians Royal College of Radiologists Royal College of Surgeons of England and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Welsh Assembly Clinical Research Training Fellowships

16. Early awards: Post-doctoral Open to clinical and non-clinical applicants  ESRC/MRC/NIHR Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowships in Economics of Health  MRC/ESRC Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellowships  Special training fellowship in biomedical informatics  MRC Career development award in biostatistics  Methodology Research Fellowship*  Population Health Scientist Fellowships* * Flexible eligibility

17. Intermediate Awards Post-doctoral experience and consolidation of skills. Transition from postdoctoral researcher to independent investigator Clinical (incl. allied health professionals) Clinician Scientist Fellowship (CSF) NIHR Clinician Scientist Award

18. The MRC’s Clinician Scientist Fellowships aim to develop outstanding medically and other clinically qualified professionals who have gained a PhD/DPhil to establish themselves as independent researchers. They will demonstrate a rigorous and insightful approach to research, and the ability to relate their research to clinical medicine and to the improvement of health. They will have a clear sense of how they wish to develop their careers as clinicians and scientists and show the potential to become research and/or clinical leaders in the future. The proposed project and centre will provide valuable training experience and the applicant will gain generic and transferable skills Clinician Scientist Fellowship

19. The MRC’s senior clinical fellowships aim to develop outstanding medically and other clinically qualified professionals such that they become research leaders. They will have a strong track record of challenging, original and productive research; of effective collaboration; and of training in robust research methods and technologies. They will demonstrate scientific vision, insight and originality; the ability to relate their proposed research to clinical medicine and the potential to lead other scientists. It is expected that applicants’ clinical work helps to inform and strengthen their research work. There is not the same expectation to move centres. Senior Clinical Fellowships

20. Application Peer Review Shortlisting Panel Interview Fellowships Process

21. Application Process Choose the right scheme Complete application form (EAA or Web based form) Scientific case for support Cost application (in conjunction with Research Organisation); Obtain Head of Department approval. Research Organisation approval Submit application to Research Organisation for final costing/approval Submit to MRC Funding Decision Peer Review application Decision

22. Making a successful application - 1 Planning & Preparation Can take a year from submission to starting of award Read & follow the instructions Hypothesis What is your hypothesis Why do you want to do this research Focus Not too many unrelated questions Case for support Address all the relevant questions Take account of what reviewers will be looking for Write clearly and economically

23. Making a successful application - 2 Killer experiment Prove hypothesis Conclusive approach, e.g. functional knockout Design Statistics and power Resources Fully justify resources, do not under/over fund Last but not least - Review internally Mentors for new applicants Get a second opinion Proof read & spell check

24. Elements of successful proposals: Emphasis on potential for early career investigators Need a clear rationale for the research Clarity & Succinctness key Methodology - Preliminary Data Collaborations Quality of proposed training environment High-risk/high pay-off research encouraged

25. Unfocused, overambitious project Unoriginal, pedestrian approach No clear hypothesis, or not hypothesis-driven Methodology not sufficiently detailed Project not intellectually challenging Training element incomplete/unclear Centre has no international standing in research area Lack of infrastructure/facilities in training environment Right person - wrong project! An application will fail because:

26. Application Peer Review Shortlisting Panel Interview Fellowships Process

27. The individual – potential to develop into a competitive researcher The science The environment The training proposed Relevance / value of any proposed period overseas or in industry Assessment of Fellowships

28. Application Peer Review Shortlisting Panel Interview Fellowships Process

29. Led by designated panel members Collecting evidence against key criteria Questioning by other panel members Private scoring and discussion Review of final ranking, including strategic importance of the area for training The Interview

30. Award Rates 2008/09 SchemeAppsAwards Award Rate (%) CRTF 2085627% CSF 541222% SCF 9222% Population Health Scientist Fellowship 291034%

31. Thank you! Contacts General Enquiries fellows@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk Scientific queries via Programme Managers Details on MRC web-site under each Research Board ( http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Ourresearch/Boardpanelsgroups/index.htm )