1. MRC Opportunities for Clinical Academics
Julia Dickinson
Programme Manager for Clinical Careers Strategy

2. Contents
MRC – mission, structure and remit
MRC’s support for capacity and skills
Funding for clinical academics
Impact of MRC funding
Peer review process
Top tips for grant writing & sources of advice

3. MRC: Leading & partnering research
Dedicated to improving human health through the best scientific research.
Established 1913
Funded by UK taxpayers
1 of 7 Research Councils
UK Research and Innovation - April 2018

4. MRC mission
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.

5. MRC strategy – skills in context
New frontiers
Living a long and healthy life
Global and population health
Supporting Scientists
Nurture and support the next generation of research leaders in discovery science
Develop and foster innovative and creative researchers
Strengthen and sustain a skilled workforce
Providing a world-class research environment
MRC supports:
~ 2,500 staff in units /institutes,
has 1200 live grants
supports around 1,600 PhD students and
200 post-doctoral fellows.
MRC is about the people it nurtures and supports to become tomorrow’s leaders in world class discovery science.
MRC has committed to continuing to prioritise investment in skills to develop and foster innovative and creative researchers

6. 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
Innovate UK
Basic
research
Discovery
Preclinical
Early
Clinical
Late
Clinical
HTA
MRC
BBSRC
NIHR
Medical Charities
TSB 6

7. Skills Development Panel
MRC Structure
Strategy Board
Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board
Population and Systems Medicine Board
Infections and Immunity
Board
Neurosciences and Mental Health
Board
Population Health Sciences Group
Methodology
Panel
and Translational Stem Cell Research Committee
Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme Panel
Translational Research Group
Global Health Group
Training and Careers Group
Non-Clinical Panel
Clinical Panel
Skills Development Panel

8. Contents
MRC – mission, structure and remit
MRC’s support for capacity and skills
Funding for clinical academics
Impact of MRC funding
Peer review process
Top tips for grant writing & sources of advice

9. MRC Fellowship Support
MRC fellowships are personal awards for talented researchers to support key transition points in their careers. They support:
Individuals transitioning to the next level in their careers, normally through a change from an existing / current role
Protected time to focus on your own research, shielded from other professional commitments (e.g. teaching). Clinical fellows may undertake clinical duties as part of their award
Funding for a challenging research project and an ambitious programme of research training which offers accelerated personal and career development
Progression towards fulfilling long term career goals, which includes an aspiration to strengthening the UK research base
A clear commitment from the Research Organisation to supporting, developing and mentoring the fellow

10. Supporting flexible careers
Existing flexible funding policies
No age limits
Return from a career break
Awards can be held P/T
Support for parental/sick leave
Increased support for flexible careers
Time since PhD eligibility criteria removed
Career breaks – guidance for reviewers and applicants
Increased support for career re-entry scheme
Supporting transitions

11. MRC: support for capacity and skills
Supporting tomorrow’s leaders in discovery science:
Establish career framework across medical research
Ensure enhanced career support via flexible mechanisms
Acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies through systematic instruction
Acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies, technical and transferrable through original research
Consolidation of research skills and confirmation of medical research as personal career choice
Exploration of personal capacity and aptitude for independence
Leading independent research plans and establishment of research team
Leadership and management of own programme, team and resource
Setting strategic direction, leadership and management of multiple programmes, teams and resources

12. MRC Supporting Key Career Stages

13. Cross-funder statement launched Jan 2017

14. Review of clinical and health fellowships

15. Live fellowships in England March 2017
07/11/2018

16. Distribution of medically qualified fellows by medical specialty and career stage

17. Contents
MRC – mission, structure and remit
MRC’s support for capacity and skills
Funding for clinical academics
Impact of MRC funding
Peer review process
Top tips for grant writing & sources of advice

18. Clinical Research Training Fellowships
Early career research training
Joint funding with charities and Royal Colleges
3 rounds p.a. (submissions Jan, April and Sept)
Pre-doctoral
Supports clinicians (medics, dentists, vets, nurses, allied health professionals etc.) undertake a PhD
Up to 20% time for clinical sessions to maintain skills
For salary, research expenses (£20k p.a.) & animal/second centre training costs
Post-doctoral
“catch-up” time to re-enter research 18

19. Clinician Scientist Fellowship: Transition to independence
For post-doctoral researchers who are ready to make the transition to independent investigators
No eligibility rules based on time since PhD completion
Up to 5 years support
Includes support for research training outside the UK, in UK industry, or at another UK research centre
The average cost per award is approximately £1m.
3 rounds p.a. (submissions Jan, April and Sept)

20. Senior Clinical Fellowship
Transition to Leadership – senior clinical fellowship
Enable independent researchers to make the transition to research leadership
No eligibility rules based on time since PhD completion
5 years funding
Includes support for research training outside the UK, in UK industry, or at another UK research centre
The average cost per award is approximately £2m
1 round per year – submissions in April

21. Skills Development Fellowships
Training at early post-doctoral career stage to explore, consolidate and further develop skills in a priority area.
The scheme currently focuses on: mathematics, statistics, computation, informatics, health economics and/or mixed methods research applicable to any biomedical or health related data sources, from molecular to population level.
Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent)
No eligibility rules based on time since PhD completion
3 years support: full personal salary costs, together with support for consumables expenses, travel costs and capital equipment
Mechanism of award changed in 2018 – institution-level awards to support fellows’ recruitment. More details on our website

22. Supporting the transition to independence

23. MRC as an Employer: Units and Institutes
Institutes - very long-term flexible multidisciplinary investments
Units – more focussed investments established for as long as needed to support a scientific need and/ or deliver a research vision
Centres - build on existing MRC and other support to add value and help establish a centre of excellence.
They are expected to recruit and, in partnership with the HEIs and other organisations, develop outstanding researchers with specialist and transferable skills for academic research, the health services and the national economy.
Find out more:

24. Contents
MRC – mission, structure and remit
MRC’s support for capacity and skills
Funding for clinical academics
Impact of MRC funding
Peer review process
Top tips for grant writing & sources of advice

25. Great outcomes MRC clinician PhDs (CRTFs) training in 1993
Effect on career: Most = “Significant” or “Very Significant”
65% now hold a senior academic position
37% are NHS consultants
85% are both clinically and research active
76% are leading research
63% have secured further funding

26. Impact of fellowship funding:
Clinical academic careers

27. Impact of fellowship funding:
Clinical academic careers

28. Contents
MRC – mission, structure and remit
MRC’s support for capacity and skills
Funding for clinical academics
Impact of MRC funding
Peer review process
Top tips for grant writing & sources of advice

29. Assessment of Fellowships
The Process:
Peer Review 
Shortlisting
Panel Interview

30. Two-stage Review Process
Referee Assessment
Detailed evaluation of candidate potential, scientific quality and level of resourcing
Inform short-listing decisions and interviews/funding decision
Panel Assessment
Short-listing decisions based on referees’ assessment
Interview candidates to make funding decisions

31. Contents MRC – mission, structure and remit
MRC’s support for capacity and skills
Funding for clinical academics
Impact of MRC funding
Peer review process
Top tips for grant writing & sources of advice

32. Plan Ahead Check… Funder’s remit and interests Eligibility Scheme aims
Medical Research Council
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. 32
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33. Fellowship Applicants – Right scheme?

34. Application Process and Tips
Complete application form
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
They submit to the funder
Submit application
Research office may need a couple of days to do this – build in time! 34

35. An application will fail because:
Unfocused, overambitious project
Unoriginal, pedestrian approach, “so what?”
No clear hypothesis, or not hypothesis-driven
Lacks a logical plan, methodology not sufficiently detailed
Lacks preliminary data, rationales for approaches
No plan B
Centre has no standing in research area, lack of infrastructure/facilities
Unclear how the fellowship will position you
Lack of ownership of the project
Right person - wrong project, and vice versa

36. Sources of advice … Funder Website, helpline Named contact
Medical Research Council
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 36
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37. Support on mrc.ac.uk Why do a CRTF The 3 Ps – person, project, place
Preparing a proposal
Preparing for interview
Mock interview
> Skills and Careers > Fellowships > Clinical Fellowships > CRTF
Or search for MRC CRTF

38. More information