1. NIHR Research Training Opportunities
Dr Dawn Biram
The research arm of the NHS
September 2018

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

3. Changes to Remit
The overall remit of the NIHR is early translational (experimental medicine), clinical and applied health research, including social care research.
NIHR does not support basic research or work involving animals or their tissue.
For personal doctoral-level awards the proposal:
must be for clinical and applied health research, including social care research (so not translational research)
must have clear potential for directly benefitting patients and the public (but recognising the training element of the research)
can involve: patients; samples or data from patients; people who are not patients; populations; health technology assessment; or health services research
Early translational research is funded through NIHR infrastructure (e.g. PhD studentships).
Advanced Fellowships, can include early translational (experimental medicine). A clear path to patient or public benefit must, however, be demonstrable.

4. NIHR will also support educational research (defined broadly as education for healthcare providers) and methodological research provided it has potential for practical application and the impact on patients and the public is clear.
If the work involves biomarkers:
research that tests whether the application of new knowledge can improve treatment or patient outcomes, 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 search for new biomarkers is out of remit.

5. NIHRTCC Research Career Pathways
Level of
Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior/ Pre-Chair
(early to senior)
Post Doctoral
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
Methodologists
Research Methods
Programme
NIHR Research Methods Fellowship and Internship
Systematic Reviews Fellowships
NIHR Masters Studentship in Health Economics or Medical Statistics
NIHR
Doctoral Research
Fellowship
Post-Doctoral Fellowship
NIHR Career Development Fellowship
NIHR Senior
Research Fellowship
NIHR Research Professorship
NIHR Transitional Research Fellowship
NIHR Clinical Trials Fellowship
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowship
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships, Professorships, Other Awards
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
NIHR
Clinician
Scientist
Award
In-Practice Fellowship
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship
Non Medical Health Professionals
Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
HEE/NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship
HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship
HEE/NIHR
Senior Clinical Lecturership
Clinical Lectureship
NIHR Clinical Lectureship

6. NIHR Academy Research Career Pathways
Level of
Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior/ Pre-Chair
(early to senior)
Post Doctoral
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
NIHR
Doctoral
Fellowship
NIHR Research Professorship
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowship
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships, Professorships, Other Awards
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
NIHR
In-Practice Fellowship
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship
Non Medical Health Professionals
Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
HEE/NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship
HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship
HEE/NIHR
Senior Clinical Lecturership
Clinical Lectureship
NIHR
Advanced
Fellowship
Development and Skills Enhancement Award
NIHR Clinical Lectureship
NIHR
Pre- Doctoral
Fellowship

8. Key changes Amalgamation and simplification of existing schemes
Removal of post-doc experience eligibility time limits
2 rounds per year for Doctoral and Advanced Fellowships
Advanced Fellowship will cover up to 40% clinical time for all clinical applicants
Awards will be made both in response mode and to areas defined as NIHR Academy Strategic Themes.
Options for partnership with charities and industry
Increased flexibility for part-time fellowships (50% to 100% options)
Limits on number of times a reapplication can be made

9. NIHRTCC Research Career Pathways
Level of
Award
Undergraduate
Chair
Senior/ Pre-Chair
(early to senior)
Post Doctoral
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
NIHR
Doctoral
Fellowship
NIHR Research Professorship
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowship
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships, Professorships, Other Awards
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
NIHR
In-Practice Fellowship
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship
Non Medical Health Professionals
Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
HEE/NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship
HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship
HEE/NIHR
Senior Clinical Lecturership
Clinical Lectureship
NIHR
Advanced
Fellowship
Development and Skills Enhancement Award
NIHR Clinical Lectureship
NIHR
Pre- Doctoral
Fellowship

10. Pre-doctoral Fellowship
Fellowship designed to support people in applying for a future PhD fellowship
Targeted to NIHR Academy Strategic Themes (to be defined)
Open to methodologists looking to build a research career
Funding and support
1 year WTE (between 50 and 100% WTE)
Funding for salary, training and development up to £5,000 and supervision up to £1,000
Assessment criteria
Commitment and potential to development a future health research career
High quality training programme
Support from supervisory team and host organisation

11. Doctoral Fellowship Fellowship to undertake a PhD
Majority of funding awarded in response mode with minor proportion to NIHR Academy Strategic Themes
Open to clinical and non-clinical applicants
Funding and support
3 years WTE (between 50 and 100% WTE)
Funding for salary, research costs and training and development
Assessment criteria
Commitment and potential to development a future health research career
High quality research and training programme suitable for a PhD
Support from supervisory team and host organisation

12. Advanced Fellowship
Fellowship designed to support the following points at post-doctoral level:
Early post-doc career following award of PhD
Establishment of independence
Transition or return from a career break
Majority of funding awarded in response mode with minor proportion to NIHR Academy Strategic Themes
Open to clinical and non-clinical applicants
Funding and support
2-5 years WTE (between 50 and 100% WTE)
Funding for salary, research costs and training and development
Can to apply for 2 sequential Fellowships up to a total of 8 years
Assessment criteria
Trajectory relevant to career stage and background
High quality research and training programme
Support from mentorship team and host organisation

13. Development and Skills Enhancement Award
For NIHR Academy Members to gain specific skills and experience
Mix of awards to applications in Strategic Themes and researcher led
Includes support for career continuity for those who haven’t been able to source support elsewhere
Funding and support
1 year maximum (between 50 and 100% WTE)
Funding for salary, training and development, and supervision
Expectation of matched funding from host
Assessment criteria
Continued commitment to a health research career
Clear plan for supporting future NIHR funding application
Support from host organisation

14. HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Pathway
Level of
Award
Senior/ Pre-Chair
(early to senior)
Post Doctoral
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Pathway
For Non-Medical/Dental Health Professionals
HEE/NIHR
Senior Clinical Lecturership
Clinical Lecturership
Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship
HEE/NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship
5 year award: 50% research 50% clinical
Supported by a partnership of HEI and NHS body
> 5 years clinical experience and high research output
3 year award: 50% research 50% clinical
Supported by a partnership of HEI and NHS body
< 5 years post-doctoral experience (WTE)
3 year award
Register for a PhD with an English academic partner
2 year award (part time over 30 or 40 months)
50% academic training 50% clinical
Up to 50% of the award holder’s salary
Also HEE Internships available as part of this pathway

15. HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Pathway
Who is it for?
Non-Medical Health Professionals.
Completed professional training and have current registration with the relevant body.
>1 year clinical experience.
Host Organisation: England-based HEI or NHS body
What is funded?
Salary (100% cDRF, 50% CL/SCL/PCAF)
PhD Tuition fees
Research costs (not for PCAF)
Training and development
Annual competition for ICA personal awards
Launch each March, Close Apr/May, Interviews Nov, start April/May/June of following year

16. Medical Clinical Academic Career
“Medically- and dentally-qualified academic staff:
Recommendations for training the researchers
and educators of the future”.

17. NIHRTCC Research Career Pathways
Level of
Award
Chair
Senior/ Pre-Chair
(early to senior)
Post Doctoral
Doctoral
Pre Doctoral
Doctors and Dentists
NIHR Integrated
Academic Training
Programme
NIHR
In-Practice Fellowship
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship
Clinical Lectureships: Specialty training posts incorporating
academic training. Awarded to University, NHS Trust + LETB
partnerships Academic time 50%
NIHR Clinical Lectureship
In-Practice Fellowships (Personal Awards): Qualified GP+GDP,
community dentists, 2-year posts, 50% clinical, 50% academic,
masters degree and preparation for a fellowship application
ACFs: Specialty training posts incorporating academic training
Awarded to University, NHS Trust + LETB partnerships
Academic time 25%

18. NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowship Scheme (TBC)
Provides 2 years (3 or 4 years part-time) of funding to support the more effective use of research knowledge within the NHS with the simultaneous research of the implementation process, so contributing to the knowledge base that underpins effective knowledge mobilisation
Who is it for?
NHS and/or academic experience.
Demonstrable potential to mobilise research derived knowledge within healthcare settings and contribute to the research base underpinning knowledge mobilisation activities.
The support of at least one NHS body and one HEI.
What is funded?
Salary
Research costs
Personal training and development programme

19. Training Opportunities
Variety of workshops/meetings throughout the year e.g. PPI training
Webinars
Annual NIHR Trainees Meeting- 2 days in Leeds
NIHR Infrastructure Training Camp for PhD students - 3 days Ashridge
ACF/CL - AMS mentorship Scheme
ICA programme - NIHR Mentorship scheme for doctoral and postdoctoral
Postdoctoral level researchers- NIHR Leadership Programme run by
Ashridge Business School, to develop individual leaders. 18 months
personal Development
NIHR Infrastructure trainee opportunities: Short Placements Awards for Research Collaboration, Visiting Speaker Award)

20. Good Applications Applications are assessed on: Applicant
(trajectory, career outputs)
Research Project
(scientific quality, appropriate scale and scope)
Training and Development
(meet the needs of the candidate and the project)
Environment / Supervision/mentorship
(RAE, Track record in relevant field, time and commitment)

23. Open Researcher and Contributor ID
The ORCID Registry is available free of charge to individuals, who may obtain an ORCID identifier, manage their record of activities, and search for others in the Registry.
An ORCID iD provides a unique identifier to ensure research outputs are correctly attributed to you and avoids ambiguity of similar named researchers.
Since September 2015, NIHR has been rolling out the requirement for lead applicants to provide their ORCID iD when submitting new funding applications.
In the course of a scientific lifetime, investigators may publish under different names (or variations thereof) and at multiple institutions. How can we be sure this intellectual output is attributed correctly, especially considering the ambiguity that arises when many researchers share the same last name and first initial, names change, name order is unintentionally reversed, or different variations of a name appear? *
The solution? – ORCID…..
ORCID stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID.
The ORCID Registry is available free of charge to individuals, who may obtain an ORCID identifier, manage their record of activities, and search for others in the Registry.
An ORCID iD provides a unique identifier to ensure research outputs are correctly attributed to you and avoids ambiguity of similar named researchers.
Since September 2015, NIHR has been rolling out the requirement for lead applicants to provide their ORCID iD when submitting new funding applications.
NIHR began to mandate ORCID to introduce valuable distinguishable information and increase the effectiveness and accuracy of the analysis of outputs in order to demonstrate the impact of NIHR funded research. It is also mandated by Wellcome Trust for new grant applications and it is recommended as mandatory for the next REF so it is important to obtain and use your ORCID iD and as more institutions use ORCID, the more effective it will become.
ORCID promotes discoverability of your research activities and makes sure you get the credit for the work you do therefore..
Distinguish yourself – get your own ORCID ID at (and don’t forget to tell us about it)
It’s quick and easy to do: only your first and last name, address, and a password are required.
FAQ: Do I have to complete the rest of the ORCID information?
We only require an iD to be obtained, this takes less than a minute. We do not require any further information to be populated in the ORCID record, this is up to the individual if they wish to.
Distinguish yourself – get your own ORCID iD at

24. Website www.nihr.ac.uk Twitter @NIHR_trainees
NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre
Leeds Innovation Centre
Tel:
Website