Associate Principal Investigator (PI) Scheme
The Associate Principal Investigator Scheme aims to develop health and care professionals to become the Principal Investigators (PIs) of the future.
What is the Associate Principal Investigator Scheme?
The Associate PI Scheme is a six month in-work training opportunity, providing practical experience for health and care professionals starting their research career.
People who would not normally have the opportunity to take part in clinical research in their day-to-day role have the chance to experience what it means to work on and deliver an NIHR portfolio trial under the mentorship of an enthusiastic Local Principal Investigator (PI). A Principal Investigator is an individual responsible for the conduct of a research study at a site.
Associate Principal Investigators receive formal recognition of engagement in NIHR Portfolio research studies through the certification of Associate PI status, endorsed by the NIHR and Royal Colleges.
The video below explains the scheme:
How the Associate PI Scheme works
The scheme is open to any health and care professional willing to make a significant contribution to the conduct and delivery of a study at a local level over a period of six months.
- The health or care professional will work alongside the Local PI for 6 months on the study. During the 6-month tenure we refer to them as an 'Associate PI trainee'.
- The Local PI will act as a mentor to the Associate PI trainee, helping them to understand what it means to be a Local PI on an NIHR portfolio study.
- During their time on the Associate PI Scheme, the Associate PI trainee must complete a learning pathway on NIHR Learn, which includes a checklist of mandated study activities to complete. This checklist needs to be signed off by the Local PI and a member of the National Study Team at the end of scheme.
- The NIHR Associate PI Scheme team will then issue a certificate confirming Associate PI status, which can be added to their training portfolio.
How to get involved
Apply to be an Associate Principal Investigator
Register your study for the Associate PI Scheme
List of registered studies
“A fantastic opportunity to take part in research and gain detailed experience and learning about what conducting clinical trials truly entails.”
Specialties
- Ageing
- Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Children and Young People
- Critical Care
- Dementias and Neurodegeneration
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Ear, Nose and Throat
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
- Haematology
- Hepatology
- Health Services Research
- Infection
- Mental Health
- Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Neurological Disorders
- Ophthalmology
- Oral and Dental
- Primary Care
- Renal Disorders
- Reproductive Health and Childbirth
- Respiratory Disorders
- Stroke
- Surgery
- Trauma and Emergency Care
To find out what studies we currently have registered, please visit our 'Where can I take part?' dashboard.
Royal College Endorsements
- Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Royal College of Emergency Medicine
- Royal College of Physicians
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons (England)
- Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Royal College of Midwives
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
- Council for Allied Health Professions Research
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists
- Faculty of Physician Associates
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- College of General Dentistry
- College of Radiographers
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine
Please note: if the Royal College you are affiliated with is not listed this does not prohibit you from participating in the scheme.
The ambition is to obtain endorsement from all the Medical Royal Colleges and implement this scheme across all appropriate specialty areas.
“The Associate PI Scheme provides participating health and care professionals with hands-on research experience as a development opportunity that addresses many of the GMC's generic professional capabilities through a research lens. It also supports doctors to demonstrate many of the expectations in Good Medical Practice for appraisal purposes, and assists in further embedding a culture of research.”
Further information
If you have any questions about the scheme, including the eligibility of an applicant or a study to join, please contact the Associate PI Scheme central team at associatepischeme@nihr.ac.uk.
FAQs
You may find the answers to some of your questions in our Associate PI Scheme FAQs.
Resources
Visit the Associate PI Scheme resources website to browse our toolkits, 'how to' guides, publications and resources for all key stakeholders who play a part in the Associate PI Scheme.