Clinical Research Investment Scheme
Healthcare professionals with research experience are invited to apply for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre’s (BRC) new Clinical Research Investment Scheme (CRIS).
Are you a registered healthcare professional passionate about returning to research? Do you want to build a sustainable career in early-phase translational research, working alongside leading biomedical researchers?
The Clinical Research Investment Scheme (CRIS) offers you the chance to unlock protected research time (up to 0.2FTE for two years) and access vital project funding. This unique opportunity supports healthcare professionals in senior roles who may have stepped away from research to focus on clinical work. If you’re eager to reconnect with experimental medicine and drive forward innovative research, CRIS is here to help you make it happen.
What we offer:
- Protected research time (up to 0.2FTE per year)
- Small-scale project funding (£5,000 including VAT) for research consumables
- Mentorship and comprehensive training from the NIHR Manchester BRC
- Core infrastructure support, including public engagement, digital and methodological advice
- Hands-on skills development in early-phase trials and translational research
Eligibility:
- Registered healthcare professionals in a senior role (e.g., NHS Agenda for Change Band 7+, consultant) with a substantive contract at an NIHR Manchester BRC partner Trust (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust)
- Hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent research experience with strong outputs
- Not currently undertaking substantive research (less than half a day per week dedicated to research)
- Be working at a senior level with specialised knowledge and have demonstrated some capacity for professional independence/leadership
- Have the support of your NHS organisation or equivalent who can guarantee your research time will be protected during this grant
- A commitment from your NHS organisation to protect your research time beyond the tenure of the award
Project proposal areas
We are looking for experimental medicine / early phase translational research projects and training programmes that are focussed on your area of interest and expertise and align with Manchester BRC Strategic Objectives and themes of work such that the collaboration is mutually beneficial. This award looks to develop skills around early phase trials and provide you with on-the-job training. The awards will be flexible based on your needs. We would welcome research aligned with on-going early phase trials and projects across Manchester BRC/NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF), which will then be able to support you with your research.
Why apply?
This scheme is designed to reignite your research career and help you build lasting connections within Manchester BRC. Whether you’re exploring early-phase clinical trials or developing new treatments, CRIS provides a launchpad for future success. By the end of the two years, we aim for you to be on a sustainable research pathway, continuing your work in experimental medicine.
Applications are encouraged from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender, gender expression, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status, and all awards are made on merit.
We are especially committed to supporting applications from under-represented groups, including Nurses, Midwifes and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).
Assessment criteria
Applicants to this scheme will be expected to demonstrate a keen interest in early phase, experimental medicine aligned with the BRC, and a clearly articulated plan for how the award will support future research, including skills and experience that you hope to gain through undertaking the award.
The panel will assess the award based on the following criteria:
- The applicant is committed to integrating future skills into their work and research
- The quality of the research and training proposed and alignment with BRC themes and strategic objectives
- The provision of an environment for you to develop research and skills
- Appropriateness of the proposed academic support and mentorship
- A clear commitment from the host Trust to continue supporting you to deliver translational / EM studies and trials beyond this funding period (e.g., letter)
Further Information
For more information, please download this PowerPoint presentation from our general information session on Thursday 12 December 2024.
When and how to apply
The scheme is currently closed for applications but will reopen in 2026. Stay tuned for updates on application timelines and requirements.
Successful candidates – 2024
Following a competitive application and shortlisting process, we are delighted to announce that 6 colleagues have been recruited to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)’s new Clinical Research Investment Scheme (CRIS).
The overall ambition of CRIS is to invest in and increase the capacity of research-qualified healthcare professionals focusing on experimental medicine and early phase translational research across Manchester BRC’s NHS partner Trusts.
While 3 colleagues will be fully funded by Manchester BRC, the substantial level of interest led to the securing of additional funding from The Christie Charity to support 3 more awardees.
The successful candidates and their projects are:
Paul Marsden, Honorary Senior Lecturer and Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine, at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Neural Correlates of Low Dose Opioid Therapy in Refractory Chronic Cough.
- Theme: Respiratory Medicine
Laura Jane Forker, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Cancer Sciences and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: A phase 1 study of carbogen and nicotinamide with stereotactic MR guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) for pancreas cancer.
- Theme: Advanced Radiotherapy
Safwaan Adam, Honorary Senior Lecturer and Consultant Endocrinologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Using home-based salivary testing, predictive modelling and a national registry to improve screening, risk prediction and understand long-term health outcomes.
- Theme: Living With and Beyond Cancer
Kathryn Banfill, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Optimising cardiovascular health in patients with lung cancer – Christie Charity funded.
- Theme: Living With and Beyond Cancer, Advanced Radiotherapy, Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine
Emma Searle, Honorary Senior Lecturer and Consultant Haematologist, at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Trial of Prevention of ImmunoCytokine Adverse events in MyeLoma (TOPICAL) – Christie Charity funded.
- Theme: Cancer Precision Medicine
Paul Sutton, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Cancer Sciences and Consultant Colorectal, Pelvic and Peritoneal Surgeon at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Studying the immune response to total neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer – Christie Charity funded.
- Theme: Living With and Beyond Cancer, Advanced Radiotherapy, Cancer Precision Medicine
Paul Marsden, whose BRC-funded project began in October, said: “The patients I see will be able to take part in cutting-edge translational research in Refractory/Unexplained Chronic Cough, which is an under-recognised and extremely distressing condition with few treatment options. The data from my project will hopefully further our understanding of treatment mechanisms within the central nervous system with an aim to develop new treatments with fewer side effects in the future.”
Laura Jane Forker, whose BRC-funded project is beginning in January 2025, said: “This is an extremely important opportunity for me to be able to continue translational research work alongside my practice as an NHS Consultant. I hope that it will lead to further protected academic time in the future to allow me to pursue research studies to improve radiotherapy for my patients.”
About CRIS
CRIS aims to provide an opportunity to those who want to build on their existing skillset to pursue a sustainable career in early phase experimental medicine and provide a catalyst for them to continue in research once the scheme has been completed.
Professor George Moulton, Academic Career Development Lead, at Manchester BRC, said: “Our Clinical Research Investment Scheme received an overwhelming amount of interest which clearly highlights the importance and demand for a scheme of this nature within our research community. It will play a vital role in expanding clinical academic capacity across the next generation of clinical leaders enabling them to thrive and advance in experimental medicine and early phase translational research across Manchester BRC. We can all look forward to the impactful contributions that will develop from this initiative.”
Further information about the progress of these projects will be announced.