MRC Clinical Pharmacology and Pathology Fellowship Programmes
This fellowship programme is now closed for applications and is only available for reference purposes.
In response to a critical skills gap within the UK, MRC is launching a new £3.7 million call for two flagship fellowship training programmes in clinical pharmacology and pathology.
- Background
- Scope
- Funding available
- A non-prescriptive package
- Assessment
- Key dates
- How to apply?
- Related opportunities
Background
The MRC is committed to supporting the training and development of a skilled research workforce, and responding to strategic skills needs in healthcare research in the UK.
As highlighted in the recent Office for Life Sciences Life Sciences Blueprint, clinical pharmacology and pathology skills underpin the development of safe and effective innovative treatments. However, there is strong evidence that these skills are in sharp decline in the UK. To help address this critical skills gap, the MRC is launching a new £3.7 million call for two flagship fellowship training programmes in clinical pharmacology and pathology.
Scope
The MRC Clinical Pharmacology and Pathology Fellowship Programmes will attract and develop research leaders of the future in these critical areas. In applying for the scheme, research organisations will need to demonstrate:
- Provision of advanced skills training in clinical pharmacology and/or pathology embedded in excellent organ, tissue or systems based research;
- A record of successful integration of research training and clinical specialty training;
- Exposure of fellows to a world-class fundamental, translational and clinical research environment;
- Well-established NHS and industry partnerships, offering trainees an integrated ‘without walls’ research experience.
Submissions must demonstrate that they will build on existing research and training excellence and will serve to strengthen the UK skills base.
Further information including criteria for assessment can be found in the outline application guidance notes.
Funding available
Research organisations are invited to submit proposals for a package of research training in clinical pharmacology and/or pathology costing up to a maximum of £1.85 million.
The core component must be a minimum of three doctoral clinical research trainees, but there is flexibility in how the remainder of the package is developed.
Please note that a research organisation may only submit one application for an MRC Clinical Pharmacology and Pathology Fellowship Programme.
- See guidance notes for further details.
A non-prescriptive package
The programmes will consist of a non-prescriptive package centred around doctoral clinical research trainees, but also including flexibility for provision of pre-doctoral training components, more senior clinical research fellowships or any additional activities in support of the training programme.
The duration of the programme may be between 3-5 years, allowing for:
- A staggered intake of trainees, over two years, initiating in 2010;
- The duration of any post-doctoral fellowships.
The MRC is working with other funders to ensure these new schemes complement their own initiatives. Applications which add value to, and gain value from, other research and training programmes will be accepted, where clear distinction of the MRC Clinical Pharmacology and Pathology Fellowship Programme is maintained.
Assessment
Proposals will be assessed in a two-step process with awards being made in April 2010. The first stage involves the submission and review of outline proposals, which will be considered by a sub-group of a specially-convened panel. Successful applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals, including provision of feedback, based on the review of outline proposals, where appropriate.
Key dates
Initiative launch |
July 2009 |
Deadline – Outlines |
7 October 2009 |
Panel meetings to assess outlines |
November 2009 (TBC) |
Feedback & invitation to submit full proposals |
November/December 2009 |
Deadline for receipt of full proposals |
28 January 2010 |
Panel meeting to assess full proposals |
March 2010 (TBC) |
How to apply?
Following the review of outline proposals received, successful candidates have now been invited to submit full applications. The MRC anticipates making final funding decisions in April 2010.
Related opportunities
These fellowship programmes form part of a suite of schemes developed by the MRC to stimulate collaborative research across academia and industry and deliver the skills and capabilities needed by the healthcare industry in the UK. Other schemes include:
- People Exchange Programme: Research Leader Fellowships
- is a new scheme providing personal awards of up to £75k to experienced research scientists to exchange knowledge and forge successful partnerships between industry and academia.
- Industrial CASE studentships
- PhD studentship scheme aims to provide a challenging training experience through collaboration between academic and industry partners. The 2009 call for Industrial CASE studentship applications is now open.
- MRC Industry Collaboration Agreement (MICA)
- to provide flexible support for academic-industry biomedical research collaborations.
For more information, contact:
Dr Rhoswyn Griffiths
Programme Manager – Research Career Awards
Email: rhoswyn.walker@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk