The new investment that was announced in August 2023 is in addition to the already established NIHR funding streams for research capability building. The package of new funding has been badged for all Health Care Professionals (HCPs), with an express commitment to support previously under-represented sectors of the workforce, which is particularly welcome news for our AHP disciplines.
Listen to this introductory video message from the NIHR’s Associate Director Professor Anne-Maree Keenan, where she provides an overview of all the new funding streams. Anne-Maree is herself a Podiatrist and has championed these new opportunities for the benefit of all AHPs.
Here below is the full list of the new NIHR research capacity building package for HCPs, as described in Anne-Maree’s commentary. Please discuss this with colleagues in your own organisation, to begin planning for how you can pro-actively prepare applications that directly link with local strategic priorities.
| 1 | Expansion of INSIGHT Programme Target Group: UG Students and new graduates | Aim: To engage and support HCPs early in their career This funding will build on the regional HEI funding to offer more places to – Develop engagement programmes for undergraduate and pre-registration students – Research Masters studentships for early post registration HCPs |
| 2 | Expansion of the ICA Internships Target Group: HCPs who are interested in research but have limited experience | Aim: An introduction to clinical research Internships provide opportunities for qualified HCPs professionals to get short-term R&D experience and serve to open them to potential career opportunities. We expect to award 300 internships per annum. This is increased from 100 and will be spread across the regions. Salary costs for days out of practice, plus additional costs for supervision. |
| 3 | NIHR Pre-application support fund Target Group: For underrepresented HCPs with no research experience | Aim: To support those with little or limited research experience to have time to develop a research application This is a light touch scheme for up to 12 months is for people who require additional time to put an application in. Costs can include salary buy out, training & development and mentorship/supervisory costs. |
| 4 | Bursaries for HCP Credentialing Target Group: Research delivery HCPs | Aim: to provide formal support and training for research delivery staff This scheme provides the skills and recognition needed for HCPs to support and lead clinical research delivery as Principal Investigators/Chief Investigators. Based on the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework, bursaries will increase from the current level of 30 PGCert and 30 MRes per annum to 120 PGCert and 140 MRes per annum. MSc modules to increase skills, confidence and build networks for individuals in Research Delivery roles. |
| 5 | In-practice Fellowships Target Group: HCPs in primary and community practice | Aim: To provide bespoke support for HCPs to become involved in community and primary care The current NIHR In-Practice Fellowship offers pre-doctoral academic training to General Practitioners (GPs), General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and Community Dentists, at all career stages to provide entry level training for clinicians who potentially haven’t held any previous formal academic post undertake formal research training. This will be expanded to a wider range of primary care professions by extending the eligibility criteria and the number of posts available to allow professionals working in practice such as community nurses, health visitors and community pharmacists to gain access to research training, giving them the skills, experience and confidence to develop a career involving research and practice. The expanded number of posts will be for non- medical professions who have not previously been able to access the scheme. |
| 6 | Additional DSE Awards Target Group: Early post doc | Aim: To increase access for the skill development of early post-doc Widening the eligibility criteria for DSE award to all early post docs and not just NIHR Academy members |
| 7 | Accelerate for Impact (A4i) Awards Target Group: Early post doc | Aim: To increase the skill development of early post-doc HCPs A new stream to the current DSE scheme, these awards will accelerate post-doctoral careers through individual role development and the impact of research that addresses the needs of local, regional and national populations. The programme will be open to all HCPs within 5 years of PhD completion to increase the access to career critical postdoctoral development. |
| 8 | NIHR Application Development Awards Target Group: HCPs with research experience | Aim: To expand support for HCPs through NIHR Application Development Awards We will provide targeted investment for HCPs through existing NIHR Application Development Awards to provide funding to carry out preparatory work prior to a standard NIHR research application. These awards support activities that will develop academic and/or practitioner research networks or partnerships, whilst undertaking underpinning development work to add to the current knowledge base to ultimately support and inform applications to NIHR Programmes via a commissioned call or researcher-led workstreams. There will be further calls through Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) targeting under-represented professions as lead applicants, which will cover HCPs and see an increase in HCPs as CIs, and the development of HCP Early Career Researchers, within NIHR research programmes. |
| 9 | New Generation Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Awards Target Group: Established HCPs researchers with a PhD | Aim: To support HCPs in their post doc careers, with a focus on those within the NHS. The New Generation Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award, with offer ongoing support and career development for those with a research qualification. The posts will offer greater flexibility in terms of research commitment (up to 50% research time but at least one day a week) and longer duration to encourage sustainability (up to 5 years). The scheme will be open to all clinicians but prioritised towards under-represented professions and specialties. This will enable HCPs to be prioritised to ensure all fundable applications from this group are ultimately funded. |
| 10 | Clinical Research Leadership Programme for AHPs Target Group: Senior AHPs involved in research | Aim: To promote leadership opportunities for AHPs involved in research For AHPs there is significant underrepresentation of clinical research leadership in comparison to those in the medical, nursing and midwifery professions. We will establish a new Clinical Research Leaders programme for AHPs to run alongside the existing Senior Research Leaders Programme for Nurses and Midwives. This will be a 3 year programme with an annual intake. |
| 11 | NIHR Associate Director for Allied Health Professions Target Group: Senior AHPs involved in research | Aim: To provide leadership, representation and oversight for NIHR AHP activities The AHP community is made up of an extremely diverse range of professions. NIHR needs to ensure shared and profession-specific challenges are considered in our activities, which is currently underrepresented in the NIHR leadership. Therefore, building on the success of the NIHR Director of Nursing and Midwifery post, we propose an additional Associate Director post focussed on AHPs who will work with the NIHR Director of Nursing and Midwifery to assist with the strategic development and implementation of these initiatives. |
| 12 | NIHR Regional Research Leadership Offices (RRLOs) for HCPs Target Group: Everyone | Aim: To promote and support sign posting to regional NIHR and other research opportunities regionally To promote and coordinate opportunities across all non-medical professions, we will establish infrastructure to support HCP development through 12 Regional Research Leadership Offices. These will cover the same footprint as the 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks and will be established from September 2024. The NIHR Regional Research Leadership Offices (RRLOs) will be a small team that provide a focal resource at a regional level (with national reach) to coordinate, facilitate, harmonise and drive research career development, training and support, building upon existing support and opportunities such as those provided through NIHR Infrastructure. This will increase coordination and support, including sharing of best practice, for all forms of research capacity and capability development, promote and sign-post national and regional opportunities; facilitate cross-organisation system working to ensure consistent and equitable opportunity for research-related training and career development. |
Also available to download HERE is a pdf copy of this highly informative guide to the new funding streams. This slide deck was produced by NIHR, specifically to encourage all Health Care Practitioners to take advantage of these funded opportunities.
