Newcastle awarded 42 training fellowship posts by the NIHR
Tuesday September 5, 2023
Newcastle has been awarded 42 training posts to support the next generation of clinical academics.
Funding from the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) will support the posts, which include 28 medical Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs), two dental ACFs and 12 medical Clinical Lectureships (CLs) for researchers across a wide range of clinical specialities.
The investment over the next two years (2024-25), which represents a significant increase in funding will enable Newcastle to develop and expand its Integrated Academic Training (IAT) programme for clinical academic trainees. This will be supported by Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP) Academy, the training and career development structure for NHIP, the Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) for the city.
The ACF posts will provide three years of clinical training, supported by 25 per cent of protected academic time to develop research to then take forwards and undertake a higher degree. ACF posts are for doctors and dentists in the first few years of specialist clinical training.
The CLs are post-doctoral awards that provide four years of clinical and academic training for doctors and dentists who are at later stages of specialist clinical training. Posts are spread across a number of research themes, including: digital, prevention and public health, clinical therapeutics and pharmacology and industry, multiple long term conditions, dementia, clinical education research and mental health.
NHIP Academy provides the infrastructure and ecosystem to support the development and training of clinical academics in Newcastle. The investment into these roles means that the Academy can provide support through all stages of academic careers – from academic foundation to NHIP senior clinical lecturer or honorary consultant.
Professor Dave Jones OBE, Director of NHIP Academy and former Dean of the NIHR Academy, said: “I am absolutely delighted with this award. It recognises the success of our approach to training and career development in the NHIP Academy and will allow us to provide fantastic research career development opportunities to even more of the brightest doctors and dentists here in the North East”
Malcolm Brodlie, Lead for the NIHR Integrated Academic Training Programme, added: “This is a fantastic result that builds on the excellent track record that we have in Newcastle. It is testament to the commitment across Newcastle University, NHS England Education North East and NHS Trusts to deliver clinical academic training.”
Doctors and dentists can learn more about the IAT programme and other training and support programmes available from NHIP Academy here: https://www.newcastlehealthinnovation.org/training-and-education/nhip-academy/training-for-doctors-and-dentists/