The new NIHR funding streams for research capability building for all Health Care Professionals (HCPs) have been developed to better address identified disparities between disciplines, geographies, work sectors and protected characteristics. There is also a specific focus on support to grow the HCP research community across all career stages, including boosting opportunities for pre-registration students. There are now more opportunities for early to mid-career professionals to access research training, as well as increased pre-application support for Fellowships. For more advanced career researchers there are increased opportunities for them to be retained in/return to health and care settings; with an even higher commitment for awards to be made to previously under-represented, or under-recognised groups of HCPs.
This Infographic (designed by the CNO Policy and Strategy Unit, Nursing Directorate at NHS England), is a really useful visual to highlight these increased opportunities across all career stages, with a clear focus on strengthening support for a pipeline of developing research careers for individuals from pre-registration, up to senior research leaders. Download the Infographic here below to share with colleagues and help you identify which of the funding streams are most directly relevant to help you to progress your own research career.
Over the past decade, NIHR has been the largest and most important investor in nursing, midwives, AHPs, pharmacists and healthcare scientists, as cited in the Best Research for Best Health strategy. Their established programmes include
● HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic Programme (ICA)
● NIHR Senior Research Leaders Programme (previously70@70 Nurses & Midwives)
● Individual programmes through the NIHR Infrastructure
● CRN Development Activities such as greenshoots schemes, internships and fellowships.
In 2022, two national Summits were facilitated by NIHR (for Nursing and for AHP Research). The recommendations from these events highlighted the need to widen eligibility and to support increased success rates across a wider range of Health and Care Professionals (HCPs). Follow this link to read to Briefing Papers and Full Report of the AHP Research Summit held in November 2022.
Some of the specific barriers for HCPs to develop in their research careers included the following challenges:
* Poor understanding of research and visibility of research as a career option for HCPs in pre- registration programmes.
* Limited introduction to research opportunities for HCPs at early career stages.
* Lack of recognition and career development for research delivery staff.
* Minimal sign posting for opportunities locally, such as local schemes, access to research infrastructure, networking and peer support leading to a poor geographical spread and patchy provision of research opportunities.
* Lack of career pathway for post-doctoral careers, particularly within the NHS .
* Reduced opportunities to access multi-disciplinary research communities.
* Poor diversity amongst clinical academics, specifically in leadership positions, with a lack of role models.
In January 2024 the Dean of the NIHR Academy, Professor Waljit Dhillo, posted a statement about the NIHR’s plans to ensure there are career paths for researchers from all backgrounds and professions, specifically to address these identified barriers. Read the full statement HERE.
Read more detail on the new package of funding streams on the next Tab.