New training scheme to support aspiring non-medical clinical academics announced

Health Education England (HEE) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are pleased to announce a new pre-doctoral level training scheme to support aspiring non-medical clinical academics.  

The Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship (PCAF) scheme will support award holders to split their time equally between clinical service and academic training over a two year period. During this time, Fellows will undertake formal and informal clinical research training, designed around their unique training needs.  One of its many benefits is that it will allow protected time for participants to develop an application for PhD funding, with support from a named supervisor and mentor.

Forming part of the HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) programme, the PCAF scheme will contribute towards developing the future clinical academic research leaders, who demonstrate the potential to become independent researchers and lead their own research projects.

Professor Nicki Latham, Executive Director of Performance and Development at HEE, said:

I am really excited about the launch of this new scheme: I feel certain that it will provide the pre-doctoral level support that clinicians need to develop into the clinical academic leaders of the future, building on the excellent work of those involved in the earlier MRes scheme.

Professor Dave Jones, Dean for NIHR Trainees, added:

One of our successes at NIHR has been our ability to adapt and evolve our awards to meet the future needs of our trainees.  The new PCAF scheme is a great example of this, providing non-medical clinical academics with the academic skills they need to progress their careers whilst also supporting them with a future PhD fellowship application. I look forward to its launch in the new year.

The PCAF scheme is anticipated to open for applications in February 2018 and will replace the current ICA Masters in Clinical Research Studentship scheme.

For more information, please see the guidance available on the NIHR page for HEE-ICA/Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowships. 

For enquiries contact tccawards@nihr.ac.uk or call 0113 346 6268.