About the NIHR Academy

We develop researchers to deliver leading research. We attract, train and support health and care researchers. 

What we offer

We fund and support:

• personal career development funding awards
• institutional career development funding awards
• training within NIHR infrastructure or capacity building structures

Do we fund professional qualifications?

Our awards can include a professional qualification, such as a Masters or PhD. Some awards also include funding for a research project within NIHR’s remit. 

Our flexible academic training can be combined with clinical training and professional practice. Our career development awards are available at different career levels, from undergraduate to professorships. 

Aims and goals

Our mission is to develop a highly skilled academic research workforce that is capable of advancing the best research. This will benefit society and improve our health and the economy. We will address the health and social care challenges of the future.

We fund and support groups that are typically underrepresented in research. We want to ensure a diverse range of people have a successful career in research.

We make sure researchers are supported at critical stages and transitions in their careers. We have collaborated with other funders to set out principles and obligations for clinical academic training for:

• medics and dentists
• nurses, midwives, AHPs and other health and care professionals

Our people

Professor Waljit Dhillo is Dean of NIHR Academy. He is supported by:

• Professor Lorraine Harper, Associate Dean 
• Professor Anne Maree Keenan, Associate Dean 

Watch our NIHR Academy leadership webinar to find out more about our team.

Our programme teams

Our career development awards and training opportunities are managed by our programme teams. Each personal award has a programme manager, who provides support throughout the duration of an award.

IAT Leads support those on our Integrated Academic Training (IAT) programme. 

Academic Career Development Leads support those training within NIHR. 

Academy Members

Our Academy Members are award holders and those training within NIHR. They are from a range of professional backgrounds and work in settings such as hospitals, universities, local authorities and in the community across:

• health
• public health
• social care
• global health 

Anyone with a recognised NIHR role that supports academic career development is also a member of NIHR Academy. Associate Members are those who are part of the NIHR research training ecosystem.

Find out more about eligibility for membership of the NIHR Academy

Global Health Academy Members

Our Global Health Research Academy supports those receiving funding or support from an NIHR Global Health Research Programme. 

Find out more about the NIHR Global Health Research Academy

Partners and collaborators

Our partners include charities and industry organisations. We work closely with them to:

• coordinate training 
• provide a wide range of opportunities
• offer jointly funded Partnership Fellowships

Our current collaborations offer innovative career opportunities for health and social care researchers:

• the Cancer Research Transatlantic Development and Skills Enhancement Award is funded by the NIHR and the MRC, with in-kind support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) NCI in the USA
• Clinical Academic Research Partnerships (CARP) scheme is run in partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice  in the USA are co-funded by the NIHR and the Health Foundation
• Zinc Innovation Fellowships are facilitated by Zinc