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).
The overall ambition of the CRIS is to invest in and increase the capacity of healthcare professionals with research experience focusing on experimental medicine/early phase translational research across Manchester BRC.
This opportunity is for registered healthcare professionals in substantive posts to have protected research time of up to 0.2FTE over 2 years with a small amount of project funding to conduct a piece of high-quality research, or high-quality early translational research training supported by leading biomedical researchers from across Manchester BRC, whilst developing ‘on the job’ skills around early phase trials.
This scheme will provide an opportunity to those who are not currently undertaking research, but do have some research experience and want to build on their existing skillset to pursue a sustainable career in early phase experimental medicine. This includes but is not limited to: nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, doctors, pharmacists, and clinical scientists from Manchester BRC partner Trusts.
We expect that this support will help you build your network and provide a catalyst for you to continue in research once you complete the scheme.
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.
How to apply
The recruitment of Round 2 will be advertised later in 2024.