1. Wellcome - Funding Opportunities for Clinical Academics
26 March 2018
I’m here today to take you through the funding opportunities available at Wellcome for clinical scientists at the postdoctoral level. So I’ll start by giving you a bit of background on our vision overall as a funder, and then I will go into detail on our funding schemes.
Julia Kowalczyk
Grants Adviser 1

2. Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive.
We support scientists and researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate.
Advancing ideas
We support great ideas and inspired thinking
Seizing opportunities
We bring ideas together to make a difference
Driving reform
We change ways of working so more ideas can flourish

3. Science Funding

4. Consolidation & exploration
Research Careers Framework
Supervised
Guided
Independent
Training:
PhD programmes
Consolidation & exploration
Independent Research
Research Skills Training, Leadership Development and Mentoring

5. Clinical Pathway Clinical Training
Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship
Stage 1 – Consolidation
Stage 2 – Early independence
Up to 8 years support in total.
Clinical Training

6. Clinical PhD Programmes
Consolidation and Exploration
Clinical PhD Programmes
Supervised research training
Structured and mentored training environment
Cohort of Fellows - additional support, training and development opportunities
Research opportunities for clinicians from a range of specialties
Wellcome Imperial Immunity, Inflammation, Infection and Informatics (4i) Clinician Scientist Programme
Programme Director: Professor Matthew Pickering

7. Host institution
Title of programme
University of Cambridge
PhD Programme for Clinicians
University College London
UCL Clinical Academic Training
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Clinical Academic Training
University of Liverpool
Clinical PhD Programme in Global Health
University of Oxford
Doctoral Training Fellowship Scheme for Clinicians
Universities of Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield
4ward North Clinical PhD Academy
Universities of Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter
GW4 Clinical Academic Training Programme
Imperial College London
Imperial Immunity, Inflammation, Infection and Informatics Clinician Scientist Programme
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Clinical PhD Programme in Global Health Research
Keele University
Clinical PhD Programme for Primary Care Clinicians
Institute of Cancer Research
Clinical PhD Programme in Cancer Research
University College Dublin
Wellcome – HRB Clinical Academic Training Programme

8. Clinical Pathway Clinical Training
Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship
Stage 1 – Consolidation
Stage 2 – Early independence
Up to 8 years support in total.

9. Clinical Research Career Development Fellowships
Stage 1: Consolidation and Exploration
Stage 2: Independence
Clinical Research Career Development Fellowships
For medical, dental, veterinary and clinical psychology graduates to continue their research at postdoctoral level and develop scientific independence
Eligibility: Higher degree and clinically active, with a clear plan for completing clinical training
Replacing previous schemes
Postdoctoral Research Training Fellowships for Clinicians
Intermediate Clinical Fellowships.
Structure: Flexible two-stage funding structure to fit around clinical training

10. Different Stages - CRCDFs
Guided
Early independence
Stage 1
Consolidation of research skills
Exploration of new research areas
Finishing clinical training
Stage 2
Independent Research
CCT
SCF or
Senior
Clinical
Lectureship
‘Gate’
Demonstrate skills to drive independent research programme and potential to be a leader in chosen field
Achieved international standing in field and leading own programme
Duration: Up to 8 years, split over two stages: for early and intermediate career levels. Up to 5 years in any one stage
Candidates who are ready for independent research can apply to stage 2 directly, without completing stage 1 first.

11. Stage 1 versus Stage 2 Stage 1: Consolidation and Exploration
Stage 2: Independence
Stage 1 versus Stage 2
Stage 1 - To consolidate research skills and explore new research areas.
To be competitive for a Stage 1 award, applicants must demonstrate:
A commitment to a clinical academic career.
A clear plan for integrating their research and clinical training (if appropriate).
A good track record for their stage in their research career.
Stage 2 - To support fellows to establish themselves as independent investigators.
To be competitive for a Stage 2 award, applicants must demonstrate that they have:
The research maturity, skills and vision to lead an independent research programme.
A plan to lead an innovative and creative research programme.
The potential to be a future international leader in their area of research.

12. Clinical Research Career Development Fellowships
What we offer:
Salary (can be consultant level)
Research expenses
Equipment and maintenance
Staff (only for stage 2) assistance for Stage 2.

13. Research Enrichment funding
Research Enrichment funding supports activities by Wellcome grant holders that will increase the impact of their work. 
We offer enrichment funding in the following areas:
public engagement
inspire, consult or collaborate with the public about your work
open research
develop innovative ways to make their research open, accessible and reusable
diversity and inclusion.
trial new approaches to diversity and inclusion

14. Support and flexibility for our researchers
Generous maternity/paternity/adoption sick leave supplements and extensions
Flexible (part-time) working

15. Assessment Process – Key Features
Full application
Shortlisting
Interview
Expert peer review
Application process takes approximately 5 months, from full application to decision.
2 rounds a year. Next deadline: 13 August 2018
Details of the Clinical Interview Committee which shortlists applications and interviews candidates is available on our website:

16. CRCDF – Assessment Eligibility and suitability (career stage, remit)
Appropriate running costs
Track record for your career stage (taking into account career breaks)
Research question (important in field, clear aims, achievable?)
Approach (rationale, expertise, feasibility)
Environment (suited to the research?)
Support from your host organisation (space and resources, mentorship)

17. Peer reviewer comments
“…the work described in this application is overambitious, it could not be achieved in the lifetime of the investigator.”
“…it involves techniques with which the applicant appears to have no prior experience and for which no preliminary data are proposed…”
“The poor writing, referencing and proof reading of this application significantly detract from its overall quality.”
“…one weakness in this proposal is that there is no alternate plan should the proposed approach not yield information relevant to the hypothesis proposed…”

18. General application tips
Understand the purpose of the scheme to which you wish to apply
Think carefully about application timing – think ahead!
Read the application form and guidance notes carefully
Ask for feedback on your application from individuals within and outside your field
Preparation, preparation, preparation!

19. Advice and information……….
Julia Kowalczyk
Grants Adviser
Kiri Tan
Clinical Activities Manager

20. Thank you

21. Current award holders Postdoctoral schemes Equivalent to Stage 1.
Apply directly to Stage 2.
Exceptional cases can request some further Stage 1 funding (5 years total for Stage 1 and Stage 2)
ICFs
Equivalent to Stage 2.
Apply for SCF or Seed Award/IA (if secure Senior Clinical Lectureship).
Case by case basis-consider a further year’s funding for those who only received 4 years.
Terminated or NCE-no option of additional year.

22. Senior Research Fellowships
For established researchers leading their own independent research programme.
The programme of work you propose must be innovative and ambitious.
you have made important contributions to your area of research, eg publications, patents, software development or an impact on policy
you have an international reputation as a research leader in your field
you have a track record of sustained research support from major funding bodies
you’re committed to developing and mentoring less experienced researchers.