Careers in medical research Anne-Marie Coriat PhD Director Capacity, Skills and Infrastructure Medical Research Council & Chair - RCUK Research Group Dental Institute Post-doc Research/Career Day – Tuesday 18 th November 2014

policy funding HR, finance, contracts University relationships Government / DH/DfiD etc Research Councils/ HEFCE

Content About the MRC Mission Strategy Remit MRC funding schemes Studentships Fellowships Grants Applying for funding Peer-review What makes a good proposal?

Established 1913 Funded by UK taxpayers One of seven Research Councils Dedicated to improving human health through the best scientific research. Leading & partnering research

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

Delivering MRC strategy New frontiers –Stratified medicine –Regenerative medicine –Systems medicine Living a long and healthy life –Mental health & wellbeing –Lifestyle behaviours and health Global and population health –E-health –Infections Safeguarding the UK skills base –Training the next generation of biomedical researchers –Providing a world-class research environment MRC Fellowship Priorities Supporting skills in strategic interdisciplinary areas such as experimental medicine and bioinformatics, across interfaces (academic / clinical / industry / disciplinary / regulatory) Promoting diversity of our research base, ensuring enhanced career support and mentorship Streamlining support mechanisms to ensure funding is flexibility in supporting key career stages and transitions

MRC remit and partners MRC: basic research to early clinical trials Underpinning and aetiological Prevention Detection and diagnosis Treatment development & evaluation Phase 1 & 2 trials Other funders/partners Government departments, especially Health Other Research Councils Medical Charities Industry Technology Strategy Board Basic research Discovery Preclinical Early Clinical Late Clinical HTA MRC BBSRC Medical Charities TSB NIHR

8 Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board MRC Structure Strategy Board Population and Systems Medicine Board Infections and Immunity Board Neurosciences and Mental Health Board Population Health Sciences Group Translational Research Group Global Health Group Training and Careers Group Developmenta l Pathway Funding Scheme Panel Methodology Panel and Translational Stem Cell Research Committee Strategic Skills Panel Clinical PanelNon-Clinical Panel

Content About the MRC Mission Strategy Remit MRC funding schemes Studentships Fellowships Grants Applying for funding Peer-review What makes a good proposal?

Advanced Research Masters Funded at an institutional level, not individual students

MRC PhD training Funded at an institutional level, not individual students

Studentship programmes – NOT a ‘pair of hands’ Recruitment: excellence & diversity Project: Challenging & feasible Core & advanced research skills Transferable skills: employability Comms, teamwork, problem solving Two supervisors: professional supervision Performance & development management Timely submission (3-yr)(4-yr) Great outcomes, e.g. destinations Recruit the best Add value Transition Academic track Industry & business Teaching Clinical practice

MRC 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 Great opportunities Outstanding researchers

Fellowships: More than just a grant! “My fellowship led directly to more opportunities and collaborations…” MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow Resources Protected time Connections, networks Potential to establish competitive position Route to independence Recognition Influence Great opportunities Outstanding researchers

MRC Fellowships Non Clinical, Clinical and Strategic Skills fellowships

Non-Clinical Fellowships Career Development Award 3-6 years post-doc experience; Transition towards independence 5 years support, Ave £1m Up to 12 months research training encouraged abroad, industry, another UK research centre Senior Non-Clinical Fellow Establishing independence & leadership Up to 7 years support, £2m Up to 1 year at a 2 nd centre encouraged

Strategic skills fellowships Methodology Research Development of innovative research methods in health research. Economics of Health Young researchers trained in economics research methods to apply their skills to health economics problems Biostatistics Young researchers working in, or seeking to move into, statistically based, health-related research Population Health Science multidisciplinary research training in large-scale quantitative & qualitative study design, data collection/analysis Biomedical Informatics the application of mathematical, statistical and computational methods to biomedical and health research problems including Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics, Computational Biology and Neuroinformatics

Research Grants Support: flexible, for high quality investigator-initiated research Eligibility: UK Universities or NHS Trusts Duration: Up to 5 years - depends on the needs of the research being supported –2 years or less only for proof of principle/pilot work –Support the full range of research needs Funding: no pre-set limits – subject to peer review of ‘value for money’ NIRG: Supports clinical and non-clinical researchers in their first steps towards establishing themselves as independent principal investigators

Content About the MRC –Mission –Strategy –Remit MRC funding relevant to you –Fellowships –Grants Applying for funding –Peer-review –What makes a good proposal?

Winning MRC Funding The Process: Peer Review  Shortlisting/ Triage  Panel Interview/ Board Assessment

21 Plan Ahead Check… Funder’s remit and interests Eligibility Scheme aims Information and documents needed Check page limits, font sizes etc. Deadlines Start early! Everything takes longer than you think.

Elements of successful proposals A clear rationale for the research Background Hypothesis Aims Preliminary data Methodology Plan B People, environment, training for fellowships Resources well justified

23 Sources of advice … Funder Website, helpline Named contact University Grants office University requirements Costing software Assistance in preparing grant applications Writing workshops Helpdesk Experienced colleagues and collaborators Past evaluation committee members Successful grant applicants

Research Policy and Management Business / Commercialisation Careers in Medical Research Technical / research specialist Research Career Pathway (clinical / non clinical)

The ‘reality’ of pathways to a University academic position PhD Postdoc x n Early Career Research Fellow Senior Research Fellow Lecturer/Reader/P rofessor

What do research academics do? Research and ……. people management, training staff fund raising (grant writing own and university) reporting (financial and scientific) Lab management risk permissions etc paper writing Working with collaborators and competitors Research profile - funding, recruitment etc Review panels, promotion and interview panels Peer review – grants papers, panels University admin – compliance, teaching, recruitment graduate training, graduate admissions, graduate progress, equality, safety, etc

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