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Senior clinical fellowship

The MRC’s senior clinical fellowships aim to develop outstanding medically and other clinically qualified professionals such that they become research leaders. Applicants for senior clinical fellowships will normally hold a PhD/DPhil and have at least three years’ post doctoral research experience. They will have a strong track record of challenging, original and productive research; of effective collaboration; and of training in robust research methods and technologies. In their future plans, they will demonstrate scientific vision, insight and originality; the ability to relate their proposed research to clinical medicine and the potential to lead other scientists. Applicants may submit research projects that fit anywhere within MRC’s remit, however, it is expected that applicants’ clinical work helps to inform and strengthen their research work. Support is provided for five years.

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Who can apply?

Clinical applicants should hold a PhD/DPhil or MD and will have at least three years' relevant postdoctoral research experience. Applications from current MRC clinician scientist fellows are particularly welcome.

The senior clinical fellowship is open to hospital doctors, dentists, general practitioners, nurses, midwives and members of the allied health professions. There are no residence eligibility restrictions. However, applicants may not have held a senior clinical fellowship (from any organisation) previously.

MRC fellowships are not available to individuals who hold a tenured academic position at the time of application. If you hold a tenured position you may apply for funding under one of the MRC's grant schemes.

There are no residence eligibility restrictions for this fellowship.

As part of the MRC’s equal opportunities policy, consideration will be given to applicants who are returning to science following a career break. There are no age limits for any of our schemes and all fellowships may be held part-time to fit in with domestic responsibilities.

 

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Funding provided

The MRC provides the salary of the senior clinical fellow, who will be an employee of the host institution. The costs of research support staff, research consumables expenses and capital equipment appropriate for the research project, an annual travel allowance, and other appropriate items can be requested under full economic cost.

Up to 12 months can be spent in a research establishment overseas, with the MRC providing travel expenses, living expenses and reasonable accommodation costs. Alternatively, up to 12 months may be spent in another UK research centre or in an industrial company. The MRC will provide reasonable travel, accommodation and living costs. The aim is to provide a concentrated period of training, which could not be achieved as effectively within the academic host institution. We would normally expect you to make one visit of up to 12 months. However, the panel may agree to requests for visits to more than one centre on the grounds of training needs. These should not be simply collaborative visits. You should be prepared at interview to discuss in detail any visits proposed.

 

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 scientist fellowships (CSF). If you have any queries about the fellowship or your proposed research area, please contact Dr Brian Dickie or visit MND Association website for further information.

Contact: Dr Brian Dickie
Email: brian.dickie@mndassociation.org

 

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Deadlines and submission details

This fellowship competition is held once a year. There is no need to submit an outline application. Please see the schedule and deadlines for fellowships for closing dates.

Please apply for the Senior clinical fellowship using the RCUK Je-S application system. Your proposal must be submitted through the MRC Je-S system by 4pm on the relevant Fellowship Application deadline date.

 

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Completion of specialist clinical training

If you are medically or dentally qualified and have not already completed your specialist or vocational training, you should have a clear idea of your plans for doing so at the time of application. Applicants wishing to pursue specialist or vocational training must consult their Postgraduate Medical Dean, Regional Advisor in General Practice, and Royal College prior to submitting the fellowship application to find out if the research may be acceptable as training towards the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training. Enquiries and applications to the relevant body should be made in consultation with the prospective head of department.

Full details of the arrangements for specialist training are available in “A Guide to Specialist Registrar Training” available from

Department of Health
PO Box 777
London
SE1 6XH
Fax: 01623 724524
Email: doh@prologistics.co.uk

 

Non-UK clinicians who are still working towards accreditation through their own national systems should consider carefully whether training in the UK will count towards their accreditation.

The MRC recognises the challenges faced by clinicians in combining research training with the demands of a clinical career. We therefore try to operate the scheme as flexibly as possible. The extent of the fellow’s clinical commitment is therefore negotiable depending on the specialty and the needs of the research. Fellows may normally:

  • Spend up to two sessions a week, or three session for surgeons on NHS clinical sessions with the head of department approval.
  • Place their awards into abeyance for up to 12 months to undertake clinical training over a concentrated period, although awards should not be put in abeyance in year one.

 

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Other work responsibilities

MRC senior clinical fellows and research support staff funded through full-time fellowships may undertake up to six hours a week on teaching or demonstrating during the fellowship. Payment for this work may be retained in full if this is the host institution’s normal policy.

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Applications for other grant support

It is expected that senior fellows will seek grant support either from the MRC, through a research grant or collaboration grant, or grants from other funding organisations. Written approval must be sought from the MRC before applying for other grant support.

 

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Guidance for applicants

 

For further information please refer to our contacts page.