1. Biomedical Science Funding at the Wellcome Trust Dr Kathryn Adcock Senior Portfolio Developer Neuroscience and Mental Health / Clinical Activities

2. The Wellcome Trust an independent research- funding charity.
established 1936.
funded from private endowment.
interests range from science to history of medicine to public engagement.
Grant spend 2008/09: c£550m

4. Our new vision and mission
Our vision is to achieve extraordinary improvements in human and animal health
Our mission is to support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities
Our breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health

5. Three focus areas… Supporting outstanding researchers
supporting the best researchers at all stages of their careers; creating the best research environments; influencing the policy landscape
Accelerating the application of research
stimulating Technology Transfer, clinical research and uptake to policy & practice
Exploring medicine in historical and cultural contexts
fostering medical humanities, education & public engagement

6. Five major challenges…
Maximising the health benefits of genetics and genomics
Understanding the brain
Combating infectious diseases
Investigating development, ageing & chronic disease
Connecting environment, nutrition and health

7. Implementing the Strategic Plan: Funding for Biomedical Science
Investigator Awards
replacing project, programme, equipment, resources, technology development, flexible travel awards
Fellowships
Clinical, Basic & ‘Tropical’
Training, Intermediate & Senior
Strategic Awards
Themed Initiatives

8. Senior Investigator awards New Investigator awards
Investigator awards and
Fellowships
Senior Investigator awards
New Investigator awards

9. Fellowships

10. Why apply for a fellowship ?
Allows protected research time
All of our current Senior Clinical Fellows have previously held competitive fellowships from a major funder during their research career

11. Clinical Research Fellowship schemes

12. The future for academic trainees (in England)
integrated academic foundation programmes
dedicated academic training programmes, consisting of two phases:
academic clinical fellowship phase
clinical lectureship phase
senior lectureship posts

13. Personal support schemes for clinicians
Senior
Principal Research Fellowships
Senior Clinical Fellowships
Intermediate
Intermediate Clinical Fellowships
Postdoctoral Training Fellowships for MB/PhD Graduates
Training
Research Training Fellowships
Interdisciplinary Training Programmes for Clinicians in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
PhD Programmes

14. PhD programmes for clinicians
Complement Research Training Fellowships
Tailored to the unique needs of clinician-scientists
Programmes provide:
a structured, well-mentored environments
access to high-quality research environments
170 training slots over five years training slots available annually
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Imperial College London
University of Edinburgh
University of Dundee
University of Liverpool
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

15. Joint Basic and Clinical PhD Programmes
scheme to support the most promising basic or medically qualified clinicians who wish to undertake both rigorous basic and clinical science research training
Two Programmes have been established based in centres of excellence
University of Birmingham
Institute of Cancer Research

16. Interdisciplinary Training Programmes for Clinicians in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
high-quality integrated research training programmes for clinicians
will provide clinicians with the expertise to design and conduct studies that aim to develop and evaluate novel therapies in humans
partnerships: from a single academic institution and industrial partner
programmes provide a range of training opportunities tailored to a clinician's needs at several levels
Imperial
Edinburgh
Cambridge
Newcastle
Case control – matched by geographical region
Choice of SNPs – all nonsynonymous coding SNPs plus 70Mb of the genome including HLA region
Use of Illumina custom chip containing 100,000 selected SNPs.
Two stage analysis of the genome:
Type 10,000 DNA with 100,000 SNPs
1% of SNPs in 1,000 additional cases per disease

17. Research Training Fellowships
For medical, dental and veterinary graduates who have little or no research training but who wish to develop a career in academic medicine
Applications from individuals who wish to undertake a high-quality research training leading to a PhD
high-quality research project that balances provision of training with the opportunity to advance knowledge in a given area
Research Training Fellowship – 3-year award (Clinical salary and research expenses)
Considered three times a year with interviews in December, April and June/July - no preliminary application.
Next deadlines for full applications:
21 January 2011

18. Issues to think about when considering a training fellowship
Pull of a purely clinical career
clinical training to do
Quality of research environment
Mentorship
Supervisor
Training
The project should be about you – you’re not just a pair of hands! 4
What is the Trust?

19. Next deadline 2011 – keep your eye on the website

20. Intermediate Clinical Fellowships
For outstanding individuals to continue to develop their research career through a period of post doctoral research training
Will hold a PhD/MD and have published papers in good quality journals
Four year award (fellowship salary and research expenses) for applicants who have completed, or are about to complete, their clinical training
‘Clinician Scientist’ five year award (fellowship salary and research expenses) allows applicant to complete clinical training
Considered twice a year with interviews in December and June/July.
Next preliminary application deadlines:
early 2011

21. Issues to think about when considering an intermediate fellowship
Pull of a purely clinical career
Still have clinical training to do
Research momentum
Want to/need to move
Want to go abroad
Quality of PhD
Competition 4
What is the Trust?

22. Senior Research Fellowships for Clinicians
For outstanding individuals of exceptional ability to
continue their independent programmes of research
4–~6 years’ postdoctoral research experience
5-year award funded in full (fellowship salary and
research expenses) by the Trust
Renewable for five-year periods with 50% fellowship
salary funded by the host institution
Annual competition
Next preliminary application deadline will be
summer 2011

23. Issues to think about when considering a senior fellowship
Senior Fellowship or Tenure Track position e.g. NIHR/HEFC Senior Clinical Lectureship
Research momentum
Can you visualise your research question over a 5 year funding envelope
Competition – Intense
Am I being realistic ? 4
What is the Trust?

24. Fellowships – the process

25. Assessment Criteria Person the candidate's track record
the candidate's vision of how the Fellowship will contribute to their career development
the candidate's longer term aspirations.
Project
the importance of the research question
relevant background information
the feasibility of the approach
resources requested – are they appropriate?
Place
the candidate's choice of appropriate research sponsors
Quality of research environment
Comparison with other applications of the same type
– It is a competition.

26. Application process for personal support schemes
Pick the best scheme for you and check details
Preliminary application
Assess eligibility and suitability of person (and project) in relation to the scheme
Decision on whether to invite full application
Full application
Detailed external peer review of person, project and place
Application and referees’ reports assessed by appropriate Wellcome Trust Funding Committee
Decision on whether to invite candidate for interview
Interview
Decision on whether to make an award

27. Tips on writing a good application

28. A ‘Good’ Application A strong and original central hypothesis
Evident knowledge of the area
Consider what’s already known, address conflicting opinions, use appropriate citations and references.
Clear research plan
Is the technical approach feasible? Is the timescale realistic? What are the potential pitfalls and your fall-back plans? Are the requested resources appropriate?
Convincing preliminary data
Not over- or under- ambitious
Appropriate expertise
Sponsors, co-applicants, collaborators and
research team.

29. A ‘Good’ Application Easy to understand and read
Consider all readers, avoid jargon and
abbreviations, check grammar and spelling
All staff, equipment and materials & consumables
should be fully justified
Animal use should be carefully justified and
power calculations provided, where appropriate
Should offer the very best value for money

30. Before starting your application….
Read the application form and guidance notes
carefully and think about the answers to all
the questions
Check deadlines to avoid rushed applications and accept what the word “deadline” means e.g. it’s not necessarily ready to submit when you have finished with it as it must have been through your admin office too
Queries? Concerns? Contact the Trust for advice

31. Peer Review Assessment
Fellowships: person, project, place:
Standing of the candidate, e.g. track record
Candidate’s suitability for the type of fellowship - e.g. vision
of how the award will enhance their career development
and their longer term aspirations
Importance of the research question
Relevance of background information
Strengths and weaknesses of application; quality of science, feasibility.
Resources requested; are they appropriate?
Candidate’s choice of appropriate sponsor & what that
location offers
Comparison with other applications of the same type
– it’s a competition

32. The Interview

33. Before the Interview Practice, practice, practice!
There is no substitute for mock interviews
Know your application backwards – own the project!
Know recent data in the field
Be prepared to give a concise summary of your proposed project and your research career to date

34. Final issues to consider
Have I built a competitive CV?
Do I have the right sponsor, supervisor and mentor?
Is this the ‘right’ project for me?
When is the best time in my career to do research?
Am I being realistic?
Will I enjoy it?

35. For more information and contact details visit our website: