1. NIHR Research Training Opportunities
Rebecca Savage
Senior Programme Manager
Trainees Coordinating Centre

2. National Institute for Health Research
Established 2006 as a vehicle for implementing Government’s strategy for applied health research
£1b annual spend
Vision:
To improve the health and wealth of the nation through research

3. NIHR Remit People and patient based applied health research
Research capacity to improve health/healthcare
Patients, samples or data from patients, people who are not patients, populations, health technology assessment and health services research
Clearly demonstrate the potential to have an impact on the needs of patients and the public within 5 years of its completion
No basic research or work involving animals and/or animal tissue
NIHR is also prepared to support research into medical education

4. Medical Education Research
‘The NIHR is also prepared to support high quality research into 'medical education' (defined broadly as education for healthcare providers).  Whilst this area of research need not fulfil the criterion of having 'potential for benefiting patients and the public within 5 years of its completion', it is expected that the research will have the potential to have practical application.’

7. NIHR Fellowships Programme
Salary
Full tuition fees (for PhD)
Research costs
Full training and development
Awards 3 years full time (part-time options of 75% or 60%) or up to 5 years for SRF
Can be based at HEI or NHS Trust
Annual competition for all levels
Next launch – October 2016

8. Post Doctoral Research Fellowship (NIHR PDF)
NIHR Fellowships
Doctoral Research Fellowship
(NIHR DRF)
Post Doctoral Research Fellowship (NIHR PDF)
Doctoral Training Award
3 Years Full Time
Applicant:
Some previous research experience
Some outputs from research
Evidence of commitment to research
career
Early Post Doctoral Fellowship
3 years Full Time
Eligibility: ≤3 yrs WTE post-doc research experience
Applicant:
PhD submitted by 20th January 2016
and awarded by 29th April 2016.
Outputs from research
Evidence of commitment to
research career
Research experience from award of PhD to application 8

9. Senior Research Fellowship (NIHR SRF)
NIHR Fellowships
Career Development Fellowship
(NIHR CDF)
Senior Research Fellowship (NIHR SRF)
Later Post-Doctoral Fellowship
3 Years Full Time
Eligibility: ≤ 7/8 yrs WTE post-doc research experience
Applicant:
PhD/MD and postdoctoral experience
Significant output from research
Evidence of increasing independence
Experience of developing research skills of others
Most Senior NIHR Fellowship
5 years ( Chair)
Applicant:
Significant postdoctoral experience
Outstanding publication record
Independence
Leadership potential
Record of research capacity
development
Add – usually more senior people already have another NIHR fellowship 9

10. NIHR Fellowships Transitional Research Fellowship (NIHR TRF)
Postdoctoral award (≤ 5 yrs WTE Post Doctorate)
18 months to 2 years FT or PT
Applicant:
PhD/MD and maybe postdoctoral experience
Individuals from any scientific discipline wanting to contribute to improving health or healthcare e.g. basic scientists moving to applied health research
Individuals who have had their research careers interrupted e.g. career break, who can identify clear training needs
Proposed research must be within the NIHR remit

11. NIHR Fellowships Doctoral Research Post Doctoral Career Development
Senior Research
Transitional Research
Total
Round 3
(Awarded 2010)
158 32 59 7 35 4 10 1 -
262 44
Round 4
(Awarded 2011)
155 28 82 16 58 11 19 2
314 57
Round 5 (Awarded 2012)
217 34
105 41 6
382
Round 6
(Awarded 2013)
185 30 86 15 5 3
337 54
Round 7
(Awarded 2014) 99 55 18
367
Round 8
(Awarded 2015)
162 33 96 61 8
335

12. NIHR Fellowships – application numbers

13. NIHR Fellowships – success rates

15. Assessment Process Eligibility and fit with remit TCC Shortlisting
Lead reviewers
Whole Panel meeting
Peer review (post doc levels)
Relevant expert reviewers
Interview

16. Interview
Panels between members + NIHR/HEE/DH staff and observers
5 minute presentation
2 lead interviewers
1st focusses on research project
2nd focusses on training plan, supervision, career
Open questions from whole Panel
Public Panel members
Focus on PPI
Practice, Practice, Practice!!

17. Pre-application Know the process and the remit: Know your audience:
Look at the website
Read the guidance
Contact the NIHR TCC with any queries
Know your audience:
Look up previous award holders, panel members, topics
Start early:
Identify supervisors and collaborators
Speak to the Research Design Service
Consider all options

18. Application Person Trajectory Career outputs
Project or programme of research
Scientific quality and sound methodology
Appropriate scale and scope
Relevance of the Question
Literature Review
Impact of Findings
Fit with Remit
Involvement of patients and the public

19. Application Training Meets needs of candidate and project
Host environment (institution, supervisor, mentor)
RAE/REF rating
Track record in relevant field
Time and commitment
Take Advice from:
Supervisors / mentors
Collaborators
Methodologist (s)
Finance Lead
Patients

20. Application Do not miss the deadline!! Approvals and sign off
Are the relevant people available
Don’t be last minute and…
Do not miss the deadline!!
(Check your spelling)

21. Interview Practice Mock interviews are usually the worst Presentation
Not too many slides
Don’t go over time
Behaviour
It is OK to be nervous
Confident but not over confident
Don’t get defensive
Admit what you don’t know and be happy to take advice
Relax and be yourself

22. Interview The project Know it inside and out
Has anything altered since submission?
Know the methods and identify the expertise
Think through alternatives
Training and Development
Identify your training needs
How will the training support your project and future career intentions
The future you
Be clear where you want to be
What is does this fellowship mean to your career

23. NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre Leeds Innovation Centre
103 Clarendon Road
Leeds LS2 9DF
Tel:
Fax:
@NIHR_trainees