The NIHR Academy is responsible for the development and coordination of NIHR academic training, career development and research capacity development.
The academy plays a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best health and care researchers to tackle the complex challenges of the future. The training and career development awards provided complement the additional NIHR investment in world-class research facilities and a skilled research workforce.
In 2016 we initiated a Strategic Review of Training across the NIHR to review the past and look proactively at future training needs. This led to the re-shaping of our current training programmes and the establishment of the NIHR Academy.
The purpose of the NIHR Academy is to develop a highly-skilled academic research workforce capable of advancing the best research which improves health, and benefits society and the economy.
The NIHR Academy recognises and rewards:
There is a wide range of NIHR training and career development awards available at different levels, and accessible by different professional backgrounds. These awards are all managed by the NIHR Academy and comprise both personal awards, which can be applied for directly, and institutional awards which should be applied for through the host institution.
To find out more about the individual awards and career development training opportunities available, please visit the following pages:
NIHR Awards
Career Development Training
Career Recognition Awards
As an NIHR Academy Member, you will have access to relevant academic training programmes, career development training, networking events and mentoring.
The NIHR Academy holds several events for members throughout the year, including the NIHR Academy Conference, which provides members with the opportunity to network, present posters of their research and take part in workshops. Members will be contacted directly and invited to any relevant events.
The NIHR Academy comprises of members and associates. (Further information on people across NIHR who are members and associates can be found in Appendix 1)
There are two categories of individuals belonging to the NIHR Academy:
Members
Members include those on an NIHR academic path and those who play a recognised NIHR role supporting academic career development. They form a key part of the national health research system that is the NIHR.
NIHR Academy Members range from Masters Studentships through to Professorships and Senior Investigators. Some also work closely with industry, developing a cadre of research leaders with combined academic, NHS and industry insight and experiences.
Members are able to access a portfolio of NIHR Academy development and support activities. They are able to access NIHR research training and career development programmes to help ensure that their research meets the current and future needs of patients and the public, as well as developing and sustaining training routes for research skills to support the development of future leaders across all professions and disciplines.
Members are invited to join peer group communities to help enhance the career development support to members and facilitate networking opportunities around our research capacity development activities. They also play a key role in the strategic direction and development of the NIHR Academy through representation on the NIHR Academy Forum and other advisory groups.
In addition to the awards themselves, the NIHR also provides a range of leadership and mentoring programmes to complement its training programmes, regular networking opportunities, bespoke workshops and events and personal advice and guidance on funding opportunities.
All NIHR Members must demonstrate that their research projects have clear potential for benefiting patients within five years of completion and the NIHR expects the active involvement of members of the public in the research that it funds.
Associate Members
Associate Members are those who are part of the NIHR research training ecosystem. They are either on a research career trajectory or play an NIHR role in supporting research training.
Associates will have access to NIHR Academy webinars and online resources.
It is possible for individuals to move between the different categories and also move in and out of the NIHR Academy as part of career progression. NIHR will remain flexible and accommodate individual needs on a case by case basis.
Eligibility for each membership category
|
Members Those on an NIHR academic path |
|
Senior Investigators NIHR Research Training Award Holders:
Research Professors - associated support posts Advanced Fellowship holders - associated support posts |
|
Members Those playing an active/formal role supporting those on an academic path |
|
NIHR Academy Dean and Associate Deans Infrastructure Training Leads (BRC, CLAHRC, PSTRCs) IAT Leads Incubator Training Leads (Bioinformatics, NIHR Schools) Global Health Training Leads (GH Centres and Units) NIHR Academy Funding Panel members Mentors on NIHR mentorship schemes (includes SIs and RPs) NIHR Advocates NIHR Senior Research and Midwife Research Leaders (70@70) |
|
Associates On a research career path and at the interface with NIHR academic career path |
|
ACFs and CLs - locally funded which are not NIHR badged Trainees in Infrastructure <25% funded. Trainees in ‘non-capacity building’ parts of Infrastructure (HPRUs, MICs, CRFs) Research delivery staff (CRN and Infrastructure) Medical/Dental Trainees undertaking NIHR-funded or supported research PIs + Co-Investigators on any NIHR funded grant – supported posts doing PhDs PIs + CIs NIHR portfolio studies |
|
Associates Those playing an NIHR role in supporting research training and research capacity development |
|
NIHR CRN Specialty Leads (National and Local) CRN AHP Research Champions Not a member but ‘involved’ e.g. supervisors of current trainees. RDS Advisors |
Email: academy@nihr.ac.uk
Telephone: 0113 532 8444
If you would like to receive information about training and development opportunities, including events and webinars, please complete the following form if you are a member and if you are not currently a member.
NIHR Members are encouraged to get involved in groups, meetings, activities, panels and committees across the NIHR, including contributing towards the strategic direction, joining funding panels and committees and joining working groups. If you'd like to register your interest to become a NIHR Academy Panel Member, please complete this expression of interest form.