NIHR Trainees
The NIHR funds research trainees whose work focuses on people and patient-based applied health research. This ensures that the NHS develops and retains research skills within its workforce and that the NIHR builds a leading Research Faculty.
The NIHR offers a number of training schemes to support Clinical Lecturers, Academic Clinical Fellows, Clinician Scientists and Research Fellows. The following is a list of the training opportunities available. All schemes are managed by the NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre (NIHR TCC) and more detailed information on accessing and applying for each scheme can be found on the NIHR TCC website.
· NIHR Integrated Academic Training awards University/NHS Trust/Deanery partnerships (through rounds of competition and formula allocation) pre-doctoral Academic Clinical Fellowships and post-doctoral Clinical Lectureships which enable doctors and dentists to combine research and professional training.
· NIHR Fellowship Programme is open to all health and non-health professions. The programme includes a Doctoral Research Fellowship (NIHR-DRF) designed for individuals, of outstanding potential, early in their research careers. It aims to fast-track trainees through a customised research training programme in an environment reflecting their individual talents and training needs. The Post-Doctoral Fellowship (NIHR-PDF) is designed for individuals who are able to demonstrate their potential as researchers but do not, as yet, have sufficient experience to be fully independent. The Career Development Fellowship (NIHR-CDF) is designed for individuals who have significant and successful post-doctoral experience. The Senior Research Fellowship (NIHR-SRF) is aimed at outstanding individuals who are currently independent researchers and can demonstrate the potential to become academic and research leaders within the duration of the award.
· Clinical Academic Training for Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals is funded by the Chief Nursing Officer in collaboration with the Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and managed by the NIHR. This scheme provides an integrated clinical academic training programme for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals and includes Masters, PhD, Clinical Lectureship and Senior Clinical Lectureship awards.
· Chief Scientific Officer Healthcare Scientists Research Fellowship Competition has been established by the Chief Scientific Officer for England and is managed by the NIHR. The programme supports the development of healthcare scientist research capacity and capability building, by providing funding to undertake research for patient benefit.
· NIHR Research Methods Programme supports the development of individuals with expertise in research methods including health statistics, medical statistics, health economics, clinical trial design, and operational research and modelling.
Dean for the NIHR Faculty Trainees
Professor James Neilson, Dean for the NIHR Faculty Trainees represents the NIHR Faculty within the NHS and the academic community on behalf of the Director General of Research and Development for the Department of Health. Professor Neilson's role is also to ensure that the training provided for the health researchers of the future is of the highest quality.
NIHR Trainees events
The first NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Experimental Medicine Summer School took place in June 2010. The aim was to provide delegates with advice and information about developing their experimental medicine research career. A short report is available.
More information
NIHR Faculty Frequently Asked Questions
NIHR briefing document: