Jointly funded clinical research training fellowship
The MRC provides opportunities for additional clinical research training fellowships through collaborations with Royal Colleges and Charity funders.
Jointly funded awards
Any jointly funded fellowships will be offered under standard MRC terms and conditions and at the same funding level as any other MRC clinical research training fellowship.
Not all jointly funded opportunities are available for each competition round; please see the competition deadlines for information on which funders are offering award for that competition.
MRC/Asthma UK
One junior clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by the MRC and Asthma UK, the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people with asthma. Applications from those wishing to focus their research to understand the causes of asthma and identify treatments to control and prevent asthma are welcomed.
Asthma UK has developed a comprehensive research strategy in consultation with experts but innovative applications outside of these priority areas will also be considered.
MRC/British Association of Dermatologists/British Skin Foundation
One clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by the MRC and the British Association of Dermatologists and the British Skin Foundation. The British Association of Dermatologists and the British Skin Foundation support and promote all aspects of dermatology research to improve the understanding, diagnosis and management of skin disease.
MRC/British Infection Society
The British Infection Society (BIS) aims to promote the science of medicine in relation to infection and to foster research in the subject. The Fellowship is open to UK clinicians who are training in an infection-related speciality (for example infectious diseases (ID), microbiology, ID/micro, paediatric infection) and who wish to undertake a period of clinical, epidemiological or laboratory-based research in an infection related area. Further information on the BIS and its research schemes can be found at www.britishinfectionsociety.org
MRC/British Lung Foundation/Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Fund
One clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by the MRC, British Lung Foundation and Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Fund. The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease. The BLF focuses its resources on providing support for people affected by lung disease today; and works in a variety of ways, including funding world-class research, to bring about positive change to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by lung disease now and in the future. The Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund aims to raise awareness of mesothelioma, fund crucial research projects, and improve diagnosis, treatment and care for mesothelioma sufferers. Applicants must focus their work on mesothelioma.
The British Lung Foundation's research strategy, which details its research priorities, can be found here: www.lunguk.org
MRC/Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust
One fellowship will be awarded under this scheme aimed to support clinicians wishing to pursue research into understanding and treatment of Chronic Granulomatous Disorder (CGD).
If you have any queries about the MRC/CGD Research Trust Fellowship or your proposed research area please contact Susan Walsh or visit CGD research website for further information.
Contact: Susan Walsh
Email: cgd@cgdrt.co.uk
MRC/Cystic Fibrosis Trust
The purpose of this fellowship is to provide an opportunity for the scientific training of a young clinician who wishes to pursue research into the pathogenesis and treatment of Cystic Fibrosis.
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust funds ground-breaking research that is of imminent and/or important clinical relevance to people with Cystic Fibrosis. It particularly wishes to support translational research that is likely to have an impact on the clinical care of people with Cystic Fibrosis in the near future.
Please visit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust website for further information or email any specific questions to
Email: researchgrants@cftrust.org.uk
MRC/Fight for Sight
A clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by the MRC and Fight for Sight, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease. Applications for this first joint award are invited from clinicians wishing to pursue a clinical scientist career in any area of vision research relevant to the charity's aims. Nursing and allied health professional graduates (including optometrists and orthoptists) are also eligible to apply. Please visit the Fight for Sight website www.fightforsight.org.uk for further information or email any specific questions to grants@fightforsight.org.uk
MRC/Kidney Research UK
Two fellowships per year will be awarded in a renal field under this new scheme, jointly funded by both the MRC and Kidney Research UK, which is the leading medical research charity, funding research dedicated to improving the understanding of kidney disease, its causes, prevention and treatment.
The first joint award with the MRC is dedicated to individuals who wish to pursue research in the field of Experimental Medicine.
Kidney Research UK supports a wide range of research projects and fellowships through open calls to UK scientists.
If you have any queries about the fellowship or your proposed research area, please email:
Email: fellows@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
MRC/MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships
This scheme aims to support clinicians wishing to pursue research into the pathogenesis and treatment of motor neuron disease. Awards under this scheme are available for Clinical Research Training Fellowships (CRTF), Senior Clinical Fellowships (SCF) and Clinician Scientists Fellowships (CSF). If you have any queries about the fellowship or your proposed research area, please contact Dr Brian Dickie or visit the MND Association website for further information.
Contact: Dr Brian Dickie
Email: brian.dickie@mndassociation.org
MRC/Multiple Sclerosis Society Clinical Research Training Fellowships
One fellowship per year is awarded under this scheme, aimed at researchers who are involved in treating patients and who wish to pursue research into understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis.
If you have any queries about the MRC/Multiple Sclerosis Society Training Fellowship please contact:
NMHB Team
Email: nmhbenquiries@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
MRC/Novo Nordisk UK Diabetes Research Foundation (NNUKDRF)
One junior research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by the MRC and the Novo Nordisk UK Diabetes Research Foundation (NNUKDRF). NNUKDRF is a charity supporting diabetes research, funded by, but completely operationally independent of Novo Nordisk UK. The charity’s objectives and research strategy can be accessed at www.novonordiskfoundation.org.uk. The charity awards two fellowships per year, one jointly with the MRC. The purpose of the Joint Fellowship is to support a young doctor in obtaining a higher degree in clinical research into diabetes.
MRC/Pancreatic Cancer UK Clinical Research Training Fellowship
One clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by the MRC and Pancreatic Cancer UK, the national charity dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer on all fronts (information, support, awareness and research).
In order to build critical mass in this field, applications will be welcome for high quality research into any aspect of pancreatic cancer, although a focus on early diagnosis/detection or more effective treatments would be of particular interest.
For further information, please visit www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk. For further enquires email research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk.
MRC/Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Clinical Research Training Fellowships
Applicants must fulfill the eligibility criteria for the Clinical Research Training Fellowship scheme, have a minimum of one year’s experience in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology, and hold Part One of Membership of the College. Further information is on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ website.
MRC/Royal College of Physicians Saltwell Will Clinical Research Training Fellowship
One clinical research training fellowship will be awarded in the next year, for up to three years’ research in a recognised institution into one of the following fields: cancer, rheumatism, malaria, or morbid conditions of the prostate gland.
In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria for the Clinical Research Training Fellowship scheme, applicants must hold MRCP(UK).
Further information is available on the Royal College of Physicians website.
MRC/Royal College of Radiologists Clinical Research Training Fellowships
One joint clinical research training fellowship is offered in each calendar year, open to clinical radiologists who are members or fellows of the Royal College of Radiologists, and who also meet the eligibility criteria set out by the MRC under guidance for applicants. Further information is available on the Royal College of Radiologists website.
MRC/Royal College of Surgeons of England and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Clinical Research Training Fellowships
In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria for the Clinical Research Training Fellowship scheme, applicants must be Members or Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England or Edinburgh. Further information is available on the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh websites. MRC deal with all application administration and queries.
MRC/Stroke Association
Up to two clinical research training fellowships will be awarded jointly between MRC and The Stroke Association, the only national charity solely concerned with helping everyone affected by stroke. Our vision is to have a world where there are fewer strokes, and all those touched by stroke get the help they need.
The Stroke Association’s research strategy aims to increase the UK funding base and capacity for clinical stroke research across the full stroke care pathway. Applications from individuals wishing to pursue a career in clinical stroke research are welcomed.
The Stroke Association currently does not fund studies which involve the use of laboratory animals, and is unlikely to do so under this agreement.
MRC/The Prostate Cancer Charity
We invite clinical research training fellowship proposals that aim to improve the lives of men affected by prostate cancer. Any field of prostate cancer research (“within MRC’s remit”) is eligible; however, research expected to have a direct impact on men affected by prostate cancer in the short-term (within 5 years) will be prioritised for funding. The following areas of research are of particular relevance within The Prostate Cancer Charity’s research funding strategy: i) Prevention; ii) Improving Diagnosis; iii) Psychosocial/Survivorship Issues, and iv) Advanced Cancer Treatments. For further information regarding the work of The Prostate Cancer Charity, including the research strategy and the research we have previously funded, please visit our website: www.prostate-cancer.org.uk.
MRC/The Royal College of Ophthalmologists
One clinical research training fellowship, set up to advance the science and practice of ophthalmology, will be awarded jointly by the MRC and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Applicants must be a member of the College, a UK trainee ophthalmologist and want to work towards a doctorial degree.
The fellowship will provide an opportunity for someone who aspires to a career as a clinician scientist or who wishes to strengthen their future clinical practice to undertake a period of clinical, epidemiological or laboratory based research related to eye disorders. For further details see www.rcophth.ac.uk
MRC/Wellchild
A clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by the MRC and WellChild, the national charity for sick children. For this first joint fellowship post applications are invited from those wishing to make an impact in the area of children with long term complex health conditions.
Since 1977, WellChild has had a long history of funding a wide range of innovative and transformational research in many areas of children’s health including Wolfram Syndrome, Congenital Heart Disease and Cerebral Palsy as well as infrastructure and capital projects at units across the UK including the WellChild Research Laboratory at Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, and the Children’s Research Centre at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. We continue to add new research projects to our portfolio and are currently reviewing our five year research strategy 2009-2014 which will be available on our website later this year.
For further information on the work of WellChild please visit www.wellchild.org.uk. If you have any queries about the fellowship or your proposed research area, please email fellows@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
MRC/Welsh Assembly Clinical Research Training Fellowships
The MRC and the Welsh Assembly fund two of these clinical research training fellowships per year. Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed research will contribute to the development and delivery of high quality health care in Wales.
Applications from Wales are encouraged, as are those which address prevention and risk, mental health, care of the elderly, the management if chronic disease or the health of children.
Who can apply?
All candidates who meet the competitive standard for our jointly funded awards will be offered a fellowship.
If all available jointly funded fellowships have already been allocated, the panel will offer successful candidates a standard MRC fellowship instead.
Applicants should indicate on their application form where they are eligible for a jointly funded award.
The MRC/Royal College Training Fellowships involve additional eligibility criteria relating to college membership and clinical training. If you wish to apply to one of these schemes, please contact the relevant college to discuss your application and eligibility before submitting an application to the MRC.
Guidance for applicants
- Postdoctoral application form, postdoctoral guidance notes
- Part H5 – Clinical Trials
- Current scientific priority areas
- Deadlines for applications
- Assessment criteria
- Fellowship terms and conditions
- Residence eligibility requirements
For further information please contact:
Contact: Fellowships Team
Telephone: 020 7670 5405
Email: fellows@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
