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
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
21
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