Opportunities for Clinicians from MRC

Dr Adam BabbsMRC Programme Manager

University of Leeds Medical Academic Trainees’ Event

10 November 2014

Content

• About the MRC

• Mission, Strategy and Remit

• MRC funding relevant to you

• Clinical Fellowships & NIRGs

• Application Process and Tips

• Established 1913• Funded by UK taxpayers• One of seven Research Councils

Dedicated to improving human health through the best scientific research.

Leading & partnering research

• Encourage and support high-quality research with the aim of improving human health.

• Produce skilled researchers.

• Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness in the UK and worldwide.

• Promote dialogue with the public about medical research.

MRC mission

Delivering MRC strategy

• New frontiers– Stratified medicine– Regenerative medicine– Systems medicine

• Living a long and healthy life

– Mental health & wellbeing– Lifestyle behaviours and health

• Global and population health

– E-health– Infections

• Safeguarding the UK skills base

– Protecting intermediate & strategic skill fellows

– Developing world class leaders

MRC Fellowship Priorities

• Integration of biological & engineering technologies

• Development & application of innovative maths & stats methods

• Innovative methods at the interface of preclinical & clinical medicine and in population health sciences

• Fellows developing careers at the academic-industry interface

MRC remit and partners

• MRC: basic research to early clinical trials• Underpinning and aetiological• Prevention• Detection and diagnosis• Treatment development & evaluation• Phase 1 & 2 trials

• Other funders/partners• Government departments,

especially Health• Other Research Councils• Medical Charities• Industry• Innovate UK (Formerly TSB)

Basic research

Discovery Preclinical Early

Clinical Late

Clinical HTA

MRC

BBSRC

Medical Charities (e.g. Wellcome Trust, CRUK, BHF etc)

Innovate UK

NIHR

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Molecular and Cellular

Medicine Board

MRC Structure

Strategy Board

Population and Systems

Medicine Board

Infections and Immunity

Board

Neurosciences and Mental

Health Board

Population Health Sciences Group

Translational Research Group

Global Health Group

Training and Careers Group

Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme Panel

MethodologyPanel

and Translational

Stem Cell Research

Committee

Strategic Skills PanelClinical PanelNon-Clinical Panel

Content

• About the MRC

• Mission, Strategy and Remit

• MRC funding relevant to you

• Clinical Fellowships & NIRGs

• Application Process and Tips

MRC Research Fellows

Fellowships• The person• The project• The ‘place’

Grants• The project /

programme• The people• The ‘place (s)’

“The thing I enjoy so much is that my work has direct application to people…” MRC/Academy of Medical Sciences Clinician Scientist

Great opportunities

Outstanding researchers

Fellowships: More than just a grant!

“My fellowship led directly to more opportunities and collaborations…”

MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow

• Resources • Protected time• Connections, networks• Potential to establish

competitive position

• Route to independence• Recognition• Influence

Great opportunities

Outstanding researchers

MRC Fellowships Non Clinical, Clinical and Strategic Skills fellowships

MRC has a leading role and complementary partnerships in clinical research training

Clinical Panel

Clinical Research Training Fellowship

Clinician Scientist Fellowship

Senior Clinical Fellowship

MRC Fellowship & Studentship Panels

Training and Careers Group

Non-Clinical Panel

Career Development Award

Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship

Strategic Skills Panel

Career Development Award inBiostatistics / Methodology Research / Economics of Health / Population Health Scientist / Biomedical Informatics Fellowships

Industry Collaborative Training & Careers Panel

MRC Industry CASE Studentships

MCMB/PSMB/IIB/NMHB

Population Health Sciences/Translational Research/Global Health Groups

Methodology/Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme/Developmental Clinical Studies Panel

Clinical Research Training Fellowships

• Early career entry for those with minimal previous lab experience

• Joint funding with charities and Royal Colleges

• 2 rounds p.a. (Jan and Sept)• 40-50 awards p.a.• Pre-doctoral

• Combining research with clinical training

• For salary, research expenses (£20k p.a.) & animal/second centre training costs

• Post-doctoral • “catch-up” time to re-enter research

Great outcomes Sample of MRC clinician PhDs (CRTFs) training in 1993

• 65% now hold a senior academic position

• 37% are NHS consultants

• 85% are both clinically and research active

• 76% are leading research

• 63% have secured further funding

Effect on career: Most = “Significant” or “Very Significant”

Strategic Skills Fellowships

• 3 years, ~£350k • Population based research &

methodological training• Promotion and

maintenance of health• Frequency, burden and

causal pathways of ill-health,

• Effectiveness of interventions to reduce or prevent ill-health

• 1 round p.a. (June)• 8-10 awards p.a

Population health scientist fellowship

Clinician Scientist Fellowship

• Post-doctoral

• Transition to independent investigator

• 1-6 years post-doc experience

• Up to 4 years' support

• 5 years if 40% clinical work involved

• Salary, research expenses (inc. support staff) & travel costs

• Average £1m per award

• 1 round p.a. (April)

• 7-10 awards p.a.

Senior Clinician Fellowship

• Post-doctoral

• Independent investigator

• Up to 10 years post-doc experience

• Up to 5 years' support

• Salary, research expenses (inc. support staff) & travel costs

• Average £1.6m per award

• 1 round p.a. (April)

• 2-3 awards p.a.

Content

• About the MRC

• Mission, Strategy and Remit

• MRC funding relevant to you

• Clinical Fellowships & NIRGs

• Application Process and Tips

Assessment of Fellowships

The Process:Peer Review

Shortlisting

Panel Interview

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Understand how peer review works

External referees

Committee scores & ranks

Reports & scores

Committee feedback

Shortlisting

3 per 3-yr Proposal

By Committee subgroup

National Institutes of Health (NIH)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBDxI6l4dOA

Learn from your mentors, peers & funders how peer review works

Two-stage Review Process

• Referee Assessment • Detailed evaluation of candidate potential, scientific

quality and level of resourcing• Inform short-listing decisions and interviews/funding

decision

• Panel Assessment • Short-listing decisions based on referees’ assessment• Interview candidates to make funding decisions

Writing fellowship & grant proposals

1. Don’t be boring (“So what?”)

2. Be ambitious, original and credible

3. Structure a clear, logical plan to achieve challenging objectives

4. Explain pilot data & others’ inputs

5. Risks are inevitable: Have a Plan B

6. Write clearly, for experts & non-experts in your field. Make your proposal easy to read!

7. Invite tough criticism from peers, mentors & friends before you submit

Excite & don’t annoy your reviewers

Remember…

Your application will only be as strong as its weakest link

Deliverability

Resources

Design

Need & Potential for Impact Ethics

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Sources of advice …

• Funder• Website, helpline • Named contact

• University Grants office• University requirements• Costing software• Assistance in preparing grant applications

• Writing workshops• Helpdesk

• Experienced colleagues and collaborators• Past evaluation committee members• Successful grant applicants

More information

www.mrc.ac.uk Julia.Dickinson@headoffice.mrc.ac.ukProgramme Manager: Clinical Fellowships