9th Annual NIHR Trainee Meeting24 November 2015

Julia DickinsonMRC Programme Manager

• Established 1913• Funded by UK taxpayers

Dedicated to improving human health through the best scientific research.

MRC: Leading & partnering research

• Encourage and support high-quality research with the aim of improving human health.

• Produce skilled researchers.

• Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness in the UK and worldwide.

• Promote dialogue with the public about medical research.

MRC mission

MRC remit and partners

• MRC: basic research to early clinical trials

– Underpinning and aetiological– Prevention– Detection and diagnosis– Treatment development &

evaluation– Phase 1 & 2 trials

• Other funders/partners– Government departments,

especially Health– Other Research Councils– Medical Charities– Industry– Technology Strategy Board

Basic research

Discovery Preclinical Early

Clinical Late

Clinical HTA

MRC

BBSRC

Medical Charities

TSB

NIHR

MRC Fellowships: More than just a grant!

Fellowships The person The project The ‘place’

Grants The project / programme The people The ‘place(s)’

• Great opportunities• Resources • Protected time• Connections, networks• Potential to establish

competitive position

• Outstanding researchers• Route to independence• Recognition• Influence

“My fellowship led directly to more opportunities and collaborations…”

MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow

Grant support

MRC support at different career stages

Clinical Research Training

Fellowship”

MRC Senior Fellow

“Transition to Leadership”

Acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies through systematic instruction

Acquisition of knowledge, skills and

competencies, technical

and transferrable

through original research

Consolidation of research skills and

confirmation of medical research as

personal career choice

Exploration of personal

capacity and aptitude for

independence

Leading independent

research plans and

establishment of research

team

Leadership and

management of own

programme, team and resource

Setting strategic direction, leadership

and management

of multiple programmes,

teams and resources

Skills Development Fellowships

MRC Units and Institutes

Post-docs on grants New

investigator grants

“Transition to Independence”

Studentships

Research Training Fellowship

For medical, dental, clinical psychology and veterinary graduates with little/no research experience, to pursue training in a research lab towards a PhD.

Considered three times a year.

Intermediate Clinical Fellowship

For clinicians to continue research at a postdoctoral level and develop towards independence. Considered twice a year.

Senior Research Fellowships

For outstanding clinical researchers to establish themselves as leading investigators in clinical academic medicine.Considered three times a year.

Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers

Clinical Fellowships

Postdoctoral Research Training Fellowship

For Clinicians

For clinicians who have recently gained a higher degree to undertake a postdoc that will help them address a longer term research vision. Or for individuals who undertook a PhD early in their career (eg, through an MB/PhD Programme) who wish to regain momentum..Considered three times a year.

Clinical Research Training Fellowships

• 2-4 years support to obtain a PhD• Early career entry for those with minimal previous lab

experience• Combining research with 1-2 clinical PAs

Pre-doctoral Full salary 20k p.a research expenses Animal/second centre/healthy volunteer costs

Post-doctoral “catch-up” time to re-enter research

• Joint funding with charities and Royal Colleges• 2 rounds a year (submissions January and September)

Clinician Scientist Fellowship

• Transition to independent investigator • Usually 1-5 years post-doc experience• 4-5 years' support• Salary, research expenses (inc. support staff) & travel

costs • Average £1m per award

• Next deadline April 2016

Routes in

PhD/training fellowship

Clinical Lectureship

Clinical Training/post-CCT

Postdoc/Co-I on grants

Skills Development Fellowships

• Early post-doctoral career stage / changes in discipline • Focussed on priority areas requiring capacity building at this level

Quantitative Expertise: mathematics, statistics, computation and informatics applicable to any biomedical or health related data sources, from molecular to population level. Interdisciplinary skills: All interfaces inc. chemical/ physical/ engineering, social/economical and clinical, applied to e.g., imaging, health economics, antimicrobial resistance and translational medicine.

• Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent)• 3 years support: full personal salary costs, consumables expenses,

travel costs and capital equipment• Support for periods overseas, at a 2nd UK institution, or within industry • Next deadline: 16 June 2016

Research Grants

• Support: flexible, for high quality investigator-initiated research • Eligibility: UK Universities or NHS Trusts• Duration: generally 3 to 5 years • Funding: no pre-set limits – subject to peer review of ‘value for

money’• Principal investigator: proven track record delivering research

projects and outputs

• Co-investigators: assist the PI in the management and leadership of the research project

• New Investigator Research Grants (NIRGs): First grant as PI

New Investigator Research Grants (NIRGs)

• Support: clinical and non-clinical researchers in their first steps as independent principal investigators

• Duration: minimum 3 years• Applicants:

Post-doctoral Minimum 10hr/week potential source of research funding for fellows whose

awards only cover a personal salary• Funding:

Research, technical or other post; consumables, equipment & travel costs

No limit – value for money Research Organisation must contribute to salary &

demonstrate they will consider you for a permanent position

Assessment of Fellowships

The Process:Peer Review

Shortlisting

Panel Interview

Two-stage Review Process

• Referee Assessment • Detailed evaluation of candidate potential, scientific

quality and level of resourcing• Inform short-listing decisions and interviews/funding

decision

• Panel Assessment • Short-listing decisions based on referees’ assessment• Interview candidates to make funding decisions

Fellowship Applicants – Right scheme?

16

Sources of advice …

• Funder• Website, helpline • Named contact

• University Grants office• University requirements• Costing software• Assistance in preparing grant applications

• Writing workshops• Helpdesk

• Experienced colleagues and collaborators• Past evaluation committee members• Successful grant applicants

More information

www.mrc.ac.uk fellows@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk