Training & Career Development: MRC Clinical Fellowships and Awards Dr Paul Colville-Nash Programme Manager, Medical Research Council Academic Opportunities for Junior Doctors Imperial College, London 12 th November 2009

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

Research Changes Lives MRC Strategic Plan Over the next five years the MRC aims to support medical research which increases the pace of the transition to better health. We will achieve this through: Strategic Aim One: Picking research that delivers Strategic Aim Two: Research to people Strategic Aim Three: Going global Strategic Aim Four: Supporting scientists

Strategic aim 1 Picking research that delivers Setting research priorities which are most likely to deliver improved health outcomes Research priority theme one: Resilience, repair and replacement Natural protection Tissue disease and degeneration Mental health and wellbeing Repair and replacement Research priority theme two: Living a long and healthy life Genetics and disease Life course perspective Lifestyles affecting health Environment and health

MRC Strategic Plan Strategic aim 2 Research to People: Bringing the benefits of excellent research to all sections of society Three Objectives: Translation of research Regulation, ethics, governance and working with decision-makers Communication

Going global: Securing progress in international medical research Partnerships and shaping the agenda To provide international leaderships in partnerships which enhance the competitiveness of the UK knowledge and health base Global health To support global health research that addresses the inequalities in health which arise particularly in developing countries Strategic aim 3

MRC Strategic Plan Strategic aim 4 Supporting scientists: Sustaining a robust and flourishing environment for world-class medical research Capacity To strengthen research capacity through training and development Use of population-based data To exploit fully the complexity and benefits of population-based data; to maximise sharing and linkage of data, and to develop data collection and storage Research environment To provide a world-class research environment

MRC funding MRC funding for research - £704.2m (2008/09) 50% of funding is directly to MRC research establishments 3 institutes, 28 units (2 overseas) 50% of funding is to universities and centres 22 centres, research grants, training awards and fellowships £68m pa on training and career development People Employs over 4,000 staff in UK and overseas Supports 3,000 staff on research grants 350 research fellows and 1,400 students

Discovery and Exploratory ResearchApplication and Delivery Research 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 Stratified medicine Public health E-health HTA Trials EME Trials (Late stage III) Programmes in Applied research Research for Patient Benefit Invention for Innovation Service Delivery and Organisation CSO (Scotland) WORD (Wales) HSCNI (Northern Ireland) Current foci of MRC activity

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

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

Our website should be your first port of call

Opportunities for Clinical Scientists

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

Clinical Research Training Fellowships Early career entry for those with minimal previous lab experience 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

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:

Jointly Funded Clinical Research Training Fellowship Charities Asthma UK British Association of Dermatologists, British Skin Foundation British Infection Society British Lung Foundation, Mick Knight Mesothelioma Fund Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust Cystic Fibrosis Trust Kidney Research UK Fight For Sight MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships Multiple Sclerosis Society Novo Nordisk UK Diabetes Research Foundation Pancreatic Cancer UK Prostate Cancer Charity Stroke Association Wellchild Royal Colleges Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Royal College of Ophthalmologists 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

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

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

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, Short-listing, Interviews Decision

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

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

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

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:

Award Rates 2008/09 SchemeAppsAwards Award Rate (%) CRTF % CSF % SCF 16319%

Thank you! Contacts General Enquiries Scientific queries via Programme Managers Details on MRC web-site under each Research Board ( )