Clinical Academic Training Hub

NIHR Infrastructure at the University of Exeter

The University of Exeter and the wider South West region host multiple NIHR infrastructures that our research community can access and benefit from. These include the NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Clinical Research Facility, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, NIHR School for Public Health at Exeter, NIHR School for Primary Care at Exeter and the NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula. Details of each, alongside relevant opportunities for registered health and social care professionals seeking clinical academic training and support are outlined below.

NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre

The National Institute of Health and Care Research Exeter Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Exeter BRC) is hosted by the  Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Exeter and in collaboration with South West NHS organisations and St George’s University Foundation Trust in London. The first of its kind for the South West Peninsula, the Centre’s fundamental objective is to improve health outcomes for patients and the public by translating scientific breakthroughs into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies. The five core research themes are as follows: neurodegeneration, rehabilitation, genetics and genomics, diabetes and clinical mycology.  

The NIHR Exeter BRC are committed to developing and nurturing a diverse and rich pipeline of talented researchers by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to excel and contribute significantly to the local and national economy via the delivery of high-quality and impactful translational biomedical research. Expertise will be harnessed from across the partnership to deliver the best possible training and career development opportunities. 

'To be kept up to date with relevant news and opportunities, sign up to the BRC newsletter and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Internships

The NIHR Exeter BRC internship programme aims to engage and attract students (doctors, nurses and radiographers) at the University of Exeter in the early stages of their academic studies to consider a career in health and social care research. These funded internships will be offered within one of our five research themes on a part-time basis, allowing students to fit this around other commitments.  

The most recent call for applications has recently closed, please check back here for opportunities in the future. Further details can be found here on our website.

Mid-Career Fellowships

The NIHR Exeter BRC are seeking mid-career clinical academics in and around the region wishing to develop an independent fellowship or substantial research grants and to progress their clinical academic career, taking advantage of the support and mentorship offered. The fellowships will provide funding to support part-time research alongside clinical commitments.

We have just concluded the latest round of recruitment for these fellowships but please do keep an eye out for future rounds. Further details can be found here on our website.  

NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility

The NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility (NIHR Exeter CRF) is a partnership between the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter. The NIHR Exeter CRF supports and conducts clinical research studies and is based in a purpose-built unit within the Research Innovation Learning & Development (RILD) Building at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. It has highly trained 'research dedicated' nurses, scientists, doctors and support staff. The centres outstanding research facilities include bespoke wards and consulting rooms, sample handling laboratories and specialist equipment for investigating exercise, physiology and metabolism.  

Placements for student nurses

These placements within the CRF enable student nurses to actively engage with early phase and experimental medicine clinical research and gain understanding of how research findings are effectively translated into clinical care. These placements are typically 8-12 weeks duration and are available for students during their 1st and 2nd years of training. For further details, follow this link.

Support for healthcare professionals

Staff within the NIHR Exeter CRF, in collaboration with other members of the Research and Development directorate and national NIHR Research Support Service staff, are able to offer support to healthcare professionals interested in developing their own research projects.

Nurses, midwives and allied health care professionals interested in developing a clinical academic career can contact Prof Maggie Shepherd at m.h.shepherd@exeter.ac.uk to discuss opportunities.

Training in monogenic diabetes

The Exeter team runs a national education programme which trains nurses and other health care professionals in monogenic diabetes.

The award winning Genetic Diabetes Nurse (GDN) project has used an innovative approach to the dissemination of research findings in the field of monogenic diabetes. Training takes place in Exeter three times each year and further details can be found here.

NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula 

The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC) is a partnership of local providers of NHS services, local providers of care services, NHS commissioners, local authorities, the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and charities across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly). Working alongside health and social care professionals, researchers and local communities, they aim to address the immediate issues facing the health and social care system through applied health and care research. The five core research themes are as follows: complex care, dementia, mental health, public health and methods for research improvement.  

PenARC research internships

PenARC runs research internships in collaboration with the NIHR CRN South West Peninsula. These fully funded, flexible internships are designed as an introduction to research, helping local staff to develop their careers whilst also benefiting the local population and services. The internships have been designed with the needs of demanding roles and work-life balance in mind, with each taking place over approximately 30 days (225 hours) taken flexibly over a 12-month period. During the internship there will be the opportunity to develop research knowledge and skills through a multitude of ways. PenARC intends to run further research internships for health and care professionals in the future. Follow PenARC on social media for the latest news on these opportunities: X: @Peninsula_ARC, LinkedIn: PenARC.

Health Services Modelling Associates (HSMA) Programme

Learn how to use data modelling to tackle an issue in your organisation through our national, free, accredited, flexible, online programme. Registration for 2024 opens on 13 December 2023 and is coupled with an online open day on the same day, which you can dip into to meet our tutors and hear how previous associates have positively impacted health services. Outside of the registration window you can learn more about our annual HSMA programme via its webpages.

Patient & Public Involvement & Engagement Advice Clinics

Whatever your query, from finding out more about Patient and Public Involvement to creating a PPI strategy for a research bid, you can speak to one of PenARC’s researchers for advice.

Virtual Ideas Cafes with PenPEG

These 30-minute slots have been organised for you to give a 5 minute pitch about your research idea followed by an informal chat with members of the Peninsula Public Engagement Group (PenPEG). Members are keen to be more involved in early research development, so don’t worry if your idea is only half-formed.

Searching and Review Clinics

These clinics have been set up to help the PenARC Evidence Synthesis Team manage and respond to systematic review-related queries from within the South West region. Whether you are an academic or a health/social care professional who needs to know where to start on the systematic review process or how to go about designing a search strategy, you can book an appointment with one of our reviewers or information specialists. 

NIHR School for Public Health Research at Exeter  

The NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR) is a partnership between nine leading academic centres with excellence in applied public health research in England, of which the University of Exeter is a member.  The School for Public Health Environments Research at Exeter (SPHERE) is committed to building research capacity in public health.

SPHR provides a range of training opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in public health research including internships, PhD studentships, and pre and post-doctoral fellowships.  Please go to the SPHERE website to find out more. 

Summer internship programme

Offering undergraduate students with an interest in public health the opportunity to carry out a 6-8 week project supervised by SPHR academics. Applications are encouraged from those undertaking training in healthcare profession disciplines. 

NIHR Three Research Schools Prevention research programme - Pre and Post-Doctoral Fellowships and Career Development Awards 

The NIHR Three Research Schools Prevention research programme is inviting applications for Pre and Post-Doctoral Fellowships and Career Development Awards.  Applications should be co-developed with members of at least two of the Three Research Schools (Public Health, Primary Care, and Social Care Research). Fellowships are to start no earlier than January 2025 and Career Development Awards no later than April 2025.  Awards will only be made to NIHR Three School Member Institutions. Applications should be submitted by 17:00 on Friday, 13th September 2024.  

Further details about these calls, including what the funding offers, eligibility criteria, application process, selection criteria, timelines, and commissioning process can be found via the call links towards the bottom of the page here. 

Any queries should be sent to sphr.prevention@ncl.ac.uk.

NIHR School for Primary Care Research at Exeter

The Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) is an established centre of excellence for primary care research and education, and is a member of the NIHR School for Primary Care.  With a strong track-record in collaborative, impact-focused, multidisciplinary and innovative research, the work of APEx informs and responds to international, national and local priorities. APEx brings together primary care researchers, healthcare professionals and educators, and the infrastructure to interact with partners in the NHS, wider health and social care system, voluntary sector and industry.

APEx seeks to maintain and grow a dynamic community across professional groups (e.g. GPs, nurses, physiotherapists, other allied health professions) and academic disciplines (e.g. statistics, psychology, social sciences, health economics) relevant to primary care research and education and does this partly through a dynamic training programme involving undergraduate and taught postgraduate students, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and those combining clinical and research roles. 

Primary Care Clinicians Career Progression Fellowships – this 1 year fellowship provides clinicians the opportunity to further develop their academic track record in preparation to apply for and conduct a PhD. Those successful in securing a SPCR Fellowship will become part of the SPCR Trainees community. This competition runs on an annual basis, launching in April.  

NIHR Three Research Schools Prevention research programme - Pre and Post-Doctoral Fellowships and Career Development Awards 

The NIHR Three Research Schools Prevention research programme is inviting applications for Pre and Post-Doctoral Fellowships and Career Development Awards.  Applications should be co-developed with members of at least two of the Three Research Schools (Public Health, Primary Care, and Social Care Research). Fellowships are to start no earlier than January 2025 and Career Development Awards no later than April 2025.  Awards will only be made to NIHR Three School Member Institutions. Applications should be submitted by 17:00 on Friday, 13th September 2024.  

Further details about these calls, including what the funding offers, eligibility criteria, application process, selection criteria, timelines, and commissioning process can be found via the call links towards the bottom of the page here. 

Any queries should be sent to sphr.prevention@ncl.ac.uk.

NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula 

The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) South West Peninsula, hosted by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and serving the regions of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, is one of 15 CRNs delivering health and social care research across England, helping to increase the opportunities for people to take part in health and social care research, leading to better health and care outcomes now and in the future.

The CRN are committed to supporting the ongoing professional development of health and care professionals across the South West region. Throughout the year, they offer a range of training opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills of health and care professionals involved in research and its delivery. These include: designing and leading a research study, being a co-applicant or principal investigator of a study, suggesting a research topic, advising sponsors or sites about the feasibility of their research, supporting study delivery and recruitment, keeping up to date with the latest evidence and encouraging patients or service users to get involved in research.

NIHR Learn is the online platform we use to deliver our accredited learning programmes. Our programmes have been developed by international leaders from the clinical research field and are available to anyone directly employed by the NHS, UK universities and other publicly funded organisations conducting and supporting research. You can log in to NIHR Learn to view our full range of courses. 

CRN Research Associate Awards This scheme is designed to allow time for post holders to develop knowledge and insight into the research process, supporting recruitment into NIHR Portfolio studies, whilst also acquiring skills to become future principal (PI) and chief investigators (CIs), thereby becoming Ambassadors for the NIHR CRN. The call is open to medics, NMAHP’s (nurses, midwives and allied healthcare professionals) and social care staff from health and care settings and if you're interested in applying, please contact Dr Pauline McGlone at pauline.mcglone@nhs.net for further guidance and an application form.

CRN Masters Degree in Leading Clinical Research Delivery.

Locally this Year, up to 50 bursaries to new students starting on year-one of the course are available, linked to the new NIHR £30M a year for five-years investment programme in NMAHP research capacity and capability building programmes of work. The course is accredited by the NIHR and AoMRC and follows the learning needed for their Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework, which is recognised across the clinical research network in England. The course would suit anyone currently working in or aspiring to join clinical research teams in the NHS and / or the broader healthcare environment and is open to all health and social care practitioners.

 

 

 

NIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration  

The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration (DeNPRU Exeter) is one of twenty Policy Research Units (PRUs) funded through the NIHR from January 2024.  These units undertake research to inform government and arms-length bodies making policy decisions about health and social care.

DeNPRU Exeter is one of two units focused on dementia and neurodegeneration. Hosted by the University of Exeter, DenPRU Exeter consists of a mulitdiciplinary team of researchers from collaborating partners at the London School of Economics, Newcastle University, the University of Bradford, the University of New South Wales and Innovations in Dementia Community Interest Company.

The aim of DeNPRU Exeter is to provide both long-term resources for policy research and a rapid-response service to provide evidence for emerging policy needs aimed at improving the lives of people living with dementia and neurodegenerative conditions and their families, and lead to a reduction in the prevalence of preventable conditions. To achieve this, DeNPRU Exeter will work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR, PPIE representatives and other expert stakeholder groups.

 

Clinical academic training opportunities coming soon.