Published: 06 November 2023
The NIHR is calling on healthcare professionals in the NHS and beyond to shape the future of healthcare and be part of the next generation of researchers.
The NIHR is launching phase two of its NHS 75: Shape the Future campaign. It runs from November 6 to 30.
The campaign is helping healthcare professionals, undergraduates and medical school students explore research careers. It assists them in developing careers in research through mentoring and learning new skills.
Healthcare professionals can develop their research knowledge without needing to leave their current roles. The campaign is supporting the NHS research workforce as this year is the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
Clinical academics
The NIHR will highlight schemes and support available for researchers at all levels and from all specialties. The campaign also showcases the flexibility, inclusion, and diversity of roles. For example, it will highlight the role of clinical academics.
A clinical academic is a qualified health or care professional. They balance their time between working with patients, and conducting research. This research contributes to the scientific understanding of their field.
They may also be teaching the next generation of clinicians, practitioners and researchers. Most clinical academics work for the NHS and a university. This dual role provides a flexible career with an exciting and varied workload.
Besides this, the NIHR has a wide variety of awards, schemes and support available. NIHR awards and schemes are open to healthcare professionals at any stage of their careers.
Link and Learn
The NIHR is offering Link and Learn. This is a matchmaking service connecting healthcare professionals with established researchers. These researchers will help guide new researchers in one-to-one conversations. Sign up as either a mentor or mentee here. Link and Learn aims to help those new to research to gain unique insight, share experiences and ask questions.
Other ways to develop your career
NIHR awards and schemes that can help healthcare professionals develop their careers include:
- Associate Principal Investigator (PI) Scheme
- Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework
- Principle Investigator Pipeline Programme (PIPP)
- Senior Research Leader - Nursing & Midwifery Programme
- Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (DCAF)
- Advanced Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (ACAF)
- NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship
To get involved in the campaign or to find out more, please visit the campaign webpage.