Principal Investigators

An introduction to the National Institute for Health and Care Research. 

Click here to enrol. 

This course is for those new to the role of PI, but can also be helpful for those more experienced who want a refresher or those considering the PI role and need more information.

Click here to enrol

Click here to enrol onto the Real-Time Virtual session

This Master Class has been designed specifically for PIs to offer practical solutions to enhance effective study oversight and management.  This is not a GCP training session, and prior knowledge of GCP will be assumed.

The Master Class is made up of five modules.  Each module includes an activity which will be used to facilitate further discussion within the group in order to share practice experiences.  Each module will also offer a tool which may be of use in order to effectively document PI oversight.  At the end of each module you will be asked to consider what you will do differently in your future practice.

Click here to enrol onto the Real-Time Virtual session 

This e-Learning course explains why inclusive research matters and how cultural understanding, values and beliefs can impact on research participation. The module concludes by exploring practical recommendations for removing barriers to inclusion that have come from the findings of the NIHRs Include project.

The course will take approximately 40 minutes to complete.

Click here to enrol

A bitesize training video for any research staff that have a role in Archiving a Research Study.

Click here to enrol

This course is aimed at those new to research and also more experienced staff who would like to know more about safety reporting. This package is aimed at staff who will be undertaking safety reporting. Ideally, you should have some knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards.

Click here to enrol

This course is aimed at those new to site files and also more experienced staff who would like a refresher. You should have completed Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training and it would be useful if you have seen a site file.

Click here to enrol

The NIHR Clinical Research Network Yorkshire and Humber Introduction to Informed Consent workshop is designed for all staff wishing to gain a better understanding of the informed consent process required to enrol participants into a research project. It is also suitable for those working with participants engaged in research activity who may not be directly cared for in a clinic or hospital setting.

It is essential that you seek further support and guidance from your local R&D department, research leadership and/or line manager prior to undertaking informed consent for research activities. Whilst this workshop forms an element of your learning in this area you may be required to complete competency documents and follow organisational/Trust guidance in your place of work. 

This workshop builds on the areas discussed in Good Clinical Practice therefore training and prior knowledge of GCP is assumed.  

Click here to enrol onto the Real-Time Virtual session

Click here to enrol onto the Face-to Face session

This course is aimed at those new to research and also more experienced staff who would like to know more about data quality. This package is aimed at staff who will be undertaking data entry or data collection. Ideally, you should have some knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards

Click here to enrol

A short online module on how to complete in the Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Template. 

Click here to enrol

CPMS is an online database used for the management of all study records within the NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio. This training will help you understand how the system works. 

Click here to enrol.

Developed by NIHR Newcastle BRC, this digital tool can help you embed PPIE activities into your projects at all stages of the research cycle. The questions asked in this planner are all the types of questions a PPIE professional would pose to a researcher to help them develop the best possible PPIE plans.

Access the plan4ppie Digital Planner here 

For staff working to support research delivery, e.g. caring for a patient who is also a research participant. This online course has been designed for those working on studies delivering without 'freedom to act.' This training is limited to working under standard operating procedures and instructions.  

Click here to enrol.

This resource has been developed to support researchers to better understand how to embed EDI in research design and to meet the NIHR’s EDI requirements. The toolkit advocates for best practice which goes beyond the NIHR's current requirements. 

Click here to visit the the EDI Toolkit page.

Whether you are new to leadership or well-seasoned, this suite of modules will provide you with the opportunity to build skills, learn about the latest leadership tools and reflect and practise new approaches. The self-led, e-learning modules will provide you with thought provoking content and insights, key learnings and practical ideas to support you in developing your leadership capabilities. And being self-led, means you have the freedom to choose which topic area feels most relevant to your needs at the time. 

Click here to enrol to the ELearning.

This four-week clinical trials course is designed to create awareness about the availability and use of digital tools for the recruitment and retention of participants within clinical trials.

Click here to enrol

Whether you are new to leadership or well-seasoned, this suite of modules will provide you with the opportunity to build skills, learn about the latest leadership tools and reflect and practise new approaches. The self-led, e-learning modules and webinars will provide you with thought provoking content and insights, key learnings and practical ideas to support you in developing your leadership capabilities. And being self-led, means you have the freedom to choose which topic area feels most relevant to your needs at the time. 

Click here to access the course

The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) launched in October 2023, providing free and confidential advice and expertise for health and care researchers in England.  The RSS provides support at every stage of the research journey, from pre-application through to post-award delivery.

The core services offered by the NIHR RSS include:

• Pre and post-award advice from methodologists. This includes statisticians, qualitative researchers, health economists, social scientists, behavioural scientists, clinical trialists and others with expertise in study development

• Advice on patient and public involvement and engagement

• Advice on developing and delivering inclusive research

• Support for clinical trial development and delivery

• Opportunities to collaborate with centres of research excellence

• Signposting to other sources of advice and support

To find out more about the NIHR RSS or to request support from one of the RSS hubs visit the NIHR Research Support Service website.

The Conversation is an independent source of news analysis and expert comment written by academic experts, working with professional journalists who help share their knowledge with the world. It offers short courses that cover how to pitch and write for The Conversation and reach non-academic audiences.

To find out more and complete these courses, visit the conversation website. 

The University of Sheffield offer media and social media training sessions throughout the academic year. You can register your interest on their website. The courses offered are:

• Introduction to social media for researchers

• Advanced social media for researchers

• Twitter for Researchers

• Introduction to vertical short form video for researchers

Find out more about these courses.

STEP UP have created a hub of learning resources and training materials from trusted external sources to help facilitate inclusive clinical trial design and delivery.

Visit the STEP UP site to access these resources here.

About the course:
The course will cover the timeline and stages of setting up a clinical trial from the point of receiving the funded grant application to opening the first site. It will provide a practical insight into the individual steps of setting up a clinical trial, with the aim for participants to be able to leave the course feeling confident and ready to set up and manage their own trial (be that multicentre or single site research). The course will be aimed at people working with human participants, specifically within healthcare and / or the NHS.

Who will benefit from the course?
It will be designed for new study managers from across the UK, but would also be relevant to research assistants, new trial managers, PhD students hoping to conduct NHS research, research fellows and associates. Please note that this course is aimed at those working on UK-based clinical trials due to the UK's unique framework of rules.

Register your interest here.

The UK's clinical research infrastructure has developed to adopt and use remote methods in clinical trial delivery. From remote monitoring to remote consultations, there is expertise and willingness to embed innovative approaches to clinical trial delivery. For those looking to incorporate remote methods into their clinical trial design, there are many aspects to consider. The following content aims to  help design and delivery teams and trial sponsors consider and implement remote methods in their studies.

Visit the information site here.

To support and guide researchers and support staff through the HRA Approval process.

Access the training resources here.

This course explains the regulations and considerations relating to mental capacity and research. It is aimed at those involved in designing or undertaking, supporting or reviewing research, and takes account of research seeking to include adults lacking capacity as well as research where some participants may lack capacity or lose capacity.

Access the e-learning here.

This course explains the regulations and considerations for research involving ionising radiation. It is aimed at those involved in designing or undertaking, supporting or reviewing such research.

*The HRA is currently working to implement updates to this module to reflect The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017. 

Access the e-learning here.

This module is designed with a number of pathways to allow users to select a role which reflects their own professional interest.

Access the e-learning here.

Are you planning to apply for an NIHR Career Development Scheme in the future?

The NIHR Pre-Application Support Fund scheme provides funding which can be used to help you prepare a larger application to the NIHR. It is aimed at individuals that require additional support to submit a competitive application. Through providing additional funding, the Pre-Application Support Fund aims to enhance the opportunities available to those that otherwise would not have sufficient support to apply for NIHR career development funding. 

You can request funding and support for:

• A contribution to your salary to buy out the necessary time to prepare an application

• Training and development, mentorship or supervisory costs specifically associated with developing an application

• Other costs where the additional support required to submit an application extends beyond the categories outlined above

Funding can be requested for up to 12 months to develop an application for an NIHR career development scheme, including:

Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

Doctoral Fellowship

Development and Skills Enhancement (DSE) Award

Advanced Fellowship

Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) and Advanced Fellowship (EME-AF)

Population Health Career Scientist Award (PHCSA)

Research Professorship.

NIHR Global Health

Global Research Professorship

NIHR Integrated Pathways Programmes

Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (PCAF)

Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (DCAF)

Advanced Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (ACAF)

In-Practice Fellowship

Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award.

NIHR Local Authority Academic Fellowship Programme

Pre-Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship Scheme (PLAF)

Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship (DLAF)

Advanced Local Authority Fellowship (ALAF)

For more information about this award, please visit the NIHR page 

The NIHR Advanced Fellowship is a postdoctoral Fellowship aimed at anyone with a PhD who hasn’t yet been appointed to a professorial post. The Advanced Fellowship supports individuals undertaking research in any scientific discipline or sector that can demonstrate a contribution to improving health and/or care.

Researchers from any professional background are eligible to apply for Advanced Fellowships, whether clinical or non-clinical. Applicants who are active clinicians/practitioners can request up to 40% of time be dedicated to clinical/professional service/development, which will be covered by the Fellowship.

The Fellowship funds:

• full salary support, including protected time to concentrate on research

• research costs, and

• a bespoke training and development programme to meet individual needs.

The Fellowship is a flexible award, with individuals able to choose a duration of between 2 and 5 years Whole Time Equivalent (WTE). It may be taken up on a part-time basis between 50% and 100% WTE.

For more information and to apply, click here. 

The Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award provides up to 5 years of funding for individuals at post-doctoral level to engage in research activities. The award will provide funding for between 20 and 50% protected time from within the individual’s current role to cover salary, training, and development.

The award offers applicants flexibility in that they can propose a broad range of research activities to support their career development. Example activities include: 

• leading research projects

• preparing for future applications for research funding

• undertaking strategic leadership around research delivery e.g. delivery methodology

• identifying research priorities

• identifying knowledge mobilisation topics

• undertaking research relevant training and development

The scheme is also aimed at individuals that require additional support to develop their track record as an academic leader which could enable them to submit a competitive application for further funding, eg NIHR career development funding, such as an NHSE/NIHR Advanced Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (ACAF) or take up a Senior Clinical Academic role at their host organisation. 

The SCPRA does not provide funding for a research project.

All applicants must:

• be based at a host organisation based in England

• have the relevant professional registration in place by the award start date

• have a PhD/MD in a relevant subject area

• be able to demonstrate evidence of clinical/practice leadership

Find out more here. 

The NIHR Undergraduate Internship Programme (UIP) aims to engage and attract students from underrepresented professions in the early stages of their academic studies to consider a career in health and social care research.

Early to mid-career researchers (the applicant[s]) can apply to host up to 3 interns. Interns will undertake a fully funded and flexible placement in the area or discipline they are interested in pursuing, whilst the applicant(s) will have an opportunity to gain valuable supervisory and grant application experience.

At present, the NIHR will prioritise funding internships in the following disciplines/professions of strategic importance:

• Health Care Professional’s (HCP’s)

  • Nursing

  • Midwifery

  • Allied Health Professionals

• Pharmacy

• Healthcare Science

• Social Care

• Research Methodology

• Public Health

• Data Science

If successful, early/mid-career researchers will recruit interns via the host organisations normal recruitment processes.

You must hold a PhD or have equivalent demonstrable years of research experience to apply to host an undergraduate through this scheme. 

For more information, please visit the NIHR Page. 

The DSE Award is a post-doctoral level funding opportunity aimed at supporting early to mid-career researchers in gaining specific skills and experience to underpin the next phase of their research career. 

A DSE Award provides funding for:

• the salary of the award holder for up to 1 year Whole Time Equivalent

• training and development costs of up to £5000

• conference costs of up to £1000, and

• mentorship costs of up to £1000

Find out more here. 

The NIHR Research Professorships aim to fund research leaders of the future to promote effective translation of research and strengthen health, public health and care research leadership at the highest academic levels. The objective of these awards is to fund leaders in the early part of their careers to lead research and to strengthen health, public health and care research leadership at the highest academic levels

Each award will consist of a package to support a professorship, including one doctoral and two post-doctoral appointments, research running costs, a travel fund, a leadership and development programme (including access to the NIHR Leadership Programme) - the opportunity to request a sabbatical and the basic salary costs of the individual (plus indirect costs, for the lead nominating body. 

The 5-year award allows outstanding academics of all professions to work at professorial level based at a higher education institution (HEI), in partnership with an NHS organisation or another provider of health, public health and/or care services.

The support offered includes:

• three support posts

• research costs

• a leadership and development programme

The NIHR Research Professorships funding call is now open. The scheme funds research leaders of the future to promote effective translation of research and strengthen health, public health and care research leadership at the highest academic levels.

The 5-year award allows academics to work at professorial level based at a higher education institution (HEI), in partnership with an NHS organisation or another provider of health, public health and/or care services.

Candidates must demonstrate they are on a steep career trajectory over the last 5-10 years and are on course to becoming an outstanding research leader. You need to currently be at an early career stage having spent no more than five years at their current level of seniority at the time of application (whether as a Professor, Reader, Senior Lecturer/Fellow, Clinician Scientist, Group Leader or similar).

NIHR Senior Investigators are not eligible to apply as they are considered to be already beyond the scope of this scheme. 

Find out more here. 

The Global Research Professorship programme awards outstanding academics up to £2 million over 5 years to work at a professorial level. The programme funds researchers undertaking research that aims to specifically and primarily benefit people in LMICs eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The scheme is open to all health, public health, social care research and methodology professions. The award provides an extensive support package alongside the professorship, to include support posts, research costs and a leadership and development programme.

Find out more and apply to the Global Research Professorship programme.

Programme Development Grants are available for researchers to undertake preparatory work to develop a future programme of research (Stream A). PDGs are also available for researchers to develop and enhance the quality and value of an ongoing or recently completed Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) award (Stream B).

Find out more here. 

Partnership and impact (P&I) awards are designed to accelerate the adoption of existing 3Rs models, tools and technologies into routine practice. Awards are for up to 24 months with the amount requested dependent on the science and limited to a maximum of £200k (80% FEC). As part of their continued collaborations with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and British Heart Foundation (BHF), additional joint awards are available for grants seeking to achieve a 3Rs impact within cancer or cardiovascular research fields, respectively. The budget for the 2024 call is £1.075M.

Applicants should be UK-based researchers who can demonstrate that they:

• Will direct the proposed research.

• Will be actively engaged in accomplishing the project’s aims.

• Hold a graduate degree – the minimum formal qualification required. However, it would normally be expected that an applicant has been awarded a PhD. Applications involving less experienced researchers should be made in collaboration with a more senior colleague. 

They particularly welcome applications from currently under-represented groups in the research and innovation community (including, but not limited to, early career researchers, women, those with a disability, and members of minority ethnic groups). 

Find out more here. 

The Clinical Entrepreneur Programme is an award winning, NHS initiative, delivered by Anglia Ruskin University. Launched in 2016 the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (NHS CEP), is a free entrepreneurial work force development programme aimed at NHS staff and healthcare professionals.

The programme is part of the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) which brings together industry, government, regulators, patients and the NHS to remove barriers and accelerate the introduction of new ground-breaking treatments and diagnostics which have the potential to transform care.

Eligibility: All NHS workforce staff (including NHS Scotland, NHS Wales and Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland) and those providing NHS Services such as: GP’s, dentists, pharmacists, physios, are welcome to apply, including those in both clinical (including clinician academics who work in research/university) and non-clinical roles. If you are working as a locum, or in a hospice you can also apply. 

Find out more and register here.