Foundation Doctors’ Academic Meeting Kathryn Adcock Wellcome Trust March 2011

Outline Wellcome Trust – who we are Early career fellowships

Wellcome Trust We were established in 1936 We are funded from a private endowment We spend approximately £600 million on grants per year Our interests range from science to the history of medicine to public engagement

Our vision and mission Our vision is to achieve extraordinary improvements in human and animal health Our mission is to support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities

Three focus areas 1) Supporting outstanding researchers 2) Accelerating the application of research 3) Exploring medicine in historical and cultural contexts

Five major challenges 1)Maximising the health benefits of genetics and genomics 2) Understanding the brain 3) Combating infectious diseases 4) Investigating development, ageing and chronic disease 5) Connecting environment, nutrition and health

Wellcome Trust funding schemes Personal support for outstanding researchers Fellowships Investigator awards Large-scale, collaborative, multidisciplinary grants Strategic awards

Clinical Fellowships Principal Research Fellowships Senior Research Fellowships in Clinical Science Intermediate Clinical Fellowships Clinical PhD Programmes Research Training Fellowships Academic career development Senior Investigator Awards New Investigator Awards

Clinical Fellowships How do we assess an application? Person Project Place Who? Leading experts; Clinical Interview Committee shortlist applications

Why Apply for a Fellowship? Protected research time Competitive edge for future research career

Research Training Fellowships Who? for medical, dental, veterinary and clinical psychology graduates little or no research training to date Why? to develop a career in academic medicine MD or PhD

Research Training Fellowships What? high-quality, hypothesis- driven research project up to 3-years clinical salary research expenses

Research Training Fellowships Considered three times a year Interviews in: December April June/July No preliminary application required Trust staff happy to discuss plans Next deadline for full applications: 6 June 2011

PhD Programmes for Clinicians Programme is tailored to the unique needs of clinician- scientists Programmes provide: a structured, well-mentored environments access to high-quality research environments Apply to institution directly. Look out for adverts in September in BMJ & Trust website

PhD Programmes for Clinicians 170 training slots over five years, i.e training slots available annually University of Dundee University of Edinburgh University of Liverpool University of Birmingham University of Cambridge University of Oxford London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Institute of Cancer Research Imperial College London

Interdisciplinary Training Programmes for Clinicians in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics to provide clinicians with the expertise to design and conduct studies that aim to develop and evaluate novel therapies in humans Partnerships academic institution industrial partner

Interdisciplinary Training Programmes for Clinicians in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics Programmes at: Imperial College London University of Edinburgh University of Cambridge Newcastle University

Who has been successful?

ACFs are increasingly well represented: 2008/09: 21% successful RTFs 2009/10: 23% successful RTFs

Postdoctoral opportunities and beyond… Postdoctoral Training Fellowship for MB/PhD Graduates Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers (run by AMS) Intermediate Clinical Fellowship Senior Clinical Fellowship

Postdoctoral Training Fellowships for MB/PhD Graduates Who? MB/PhD graduates those who achieved a PhD during or before starting medical degree clinical academics who undertook a PhD early in their career and wish to regain research momentum

Postdoctoral Training Fellowships for MB/PhD Graduates What? support for 2-4 years Clinical salary Research expenses When? Considered twice a year Interviews: December May/June Next preliminary application deadline 15 April 2011

Intermediate Clinical Fellowships Who? For outstanding individuals to continue to develop their research career Will hold a PhD/MD Will have published papers in good quality journals

Intermediate Clinical Fellowships What? Four year award for applicants who have completed (or are about to complete) clinical training ‘Clinician Scientist’ five year award allows applicant to complete clinical training Clinical salary Research expenses One post

Intermediate Clinical Fellowships When? Considered twice a year Interviews: December May/June Next preliminary application deadline September 2011 Keep an eye on the website