Starting your research career

In a nutshell: The Research in Practice Programme aims to increase confidence while growing knowledge, skill, and insight to help increase research participation opportunities for healthcare professionals and patients everywhere.

Who's it for? Clinicians who have been in practice for approximately four years or more, without post-graduate academic research training, and with little experience of research delivery. 

In a nutshell: The NIHR Associate Principal Investigator (PI) Scheme is a six month in-work training opportunity, providing practical experience for healthcare professionals starting their research career. 

Who's it for? All health and care professionals who do not have research as a core part of their role but wish to gain skills and experience in participating in NIHR Portfolio research. 

In a nutshell: 'Starting out in Health and Social Care Research' gives step-by-step guidance on every stage of the research process to kickstart your career in health and social care research.

Who's it for? Anyone starting a career in health and care research or wanting to find out more about clinical research. 

In a nutshell: The free, 4-week, online course, 'Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research' helps you learn how medical treatments are discovered, tested and evaluated to improve healthcare for all..

Who's it for? Anyone interested in taking part in health research or discovering how to get involved in supporting health research.

In a nutshell: The CRN East of England Research Internship Scheme provides dedicated funding and support for clinical staff to work alongside experienced research teams in order to gain research knowledge that they can build on in their clinical role. 

Who's it for? Clinicians, nurses, midwives and allied healthcare professionals (NMAHPs) who are new to research.

In a nutshell: The Health Education England (HEE) / NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Programme offers four schemes (to suit different research career stages) providing awards to develop careers that combine research and research leadership with continued practice and professional development. 

Who's it for? Health and social care professionals, excluding doctors and dentists. 

In a nutshell: The NIHR and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) national framework of Master’s level qualifications provide the necessary networks, skills and confidence needed to lead and support clinical research delivery.

Who's it for? Experienced healthcare practitioners who have no/limited research experience or are currently working in research delivery, who aspire to take on leadership roles in clinical research delivery, such as Co-Investigator or Principal Investigator (PI). 

In a nutshell: The NIHR Fellowship Programme been designed to support individuals at various points of their development in becoming leading researchers, from initial pre-doctoral training to senior post-doctoral research. 

Who's it for? Clinical and non-clinical applicants, varying from those 'new to research' to established research leaders.

In a nutshell: The NIHR Local Authority Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (LA SPARC) Scheme is a programme of fellowship schemes and short placement awards to support individuals based within English local authority settings to develop as health and/or social care researchers whilst retaining their existing employment and salary. 

Who's it for? Individuals working in Local Authority settings and NIHR Academy members.