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Department of Public Health and Primary Care (PHPC)

 

Getting involved in research as an individual

There are many ways you can get involved in primary care research as an individual primary care practitioner, from learning about research and increasing your awareness on how to incorporate changes into your daily practice that help with research, through to completing further training or obtaining funding for protected research time.

Developing an interest in research can broaden your career, strengthen evidence-based practice, and contribute to improving patient outcomes.

Learning more about research

If you have minimal experience with research, learning more about research may be the first step. You can watch our video podcasts to learn more about types of research in primary care: link to podcast page.

Links to external websites (independent of CARE-PC) where you will find further resources to learn about research:

Initial involvement in research 

You can deepen your understanding of research by contributing to existing studies, collaborating with academic partners, or developing small pilot projects aligned with your clinical interests.

Protected research time/fellowships

Increasing your research experience can be difficult without protected time. Obtaining a Master’s level qualification or having protected time in the form of a fellowship to undertake research under supervision, is usually required to make you a competitive applicant for future research posts.

The MPhil in Population Health Sciences hosted by the Primary Care Unit, University of Cambridge, provides the opportunity to undertake your own research under expert supervision, alongside the completion of varied research modules, providing training in a variety of research methodologies. In addition to five core modules, you choose at least six student-selected modules under the themes of: Primary Care Research, Global Health, Public Health, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases and Health Data Science.

The course can be undertaken part-time, alongside clinical practice.

You can apply for funding to support attendance on the MPhil course. Some funding options provide further support beyond tuition. See further information on potential funding opportunities here: link to MPhil funding opportunities  

Further information on the MPhil: 

https://www.phs.group.cam.ac.uk/mphil-population-health-sciences/

https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvphmpphs

Predoctoral Fellowships:

There are several fellowships available for healthcare professionals with minimal research experience. These are funded programs aiming to help individuals develop essential skills and experience which improve their suitability as candidates for further research posts such as PhDs. Fellowships typically support costs of salary, training and supervision for 1-2 years.

Some fellowships will provide funding to participate in courses such as the MPhil above.

Fellowships that might be particularly relevant for professionals working in primary care are detailed below. Depending on your area of research, there may be other opportunities available. Search our list of funding opportunities for further information: link to funding opportunities.

NIHR Predoctoral award

        • Opens in late January, closes mid-March each year.
        • Open to GPs, dentists, and registered healthcare professionals working in primary care settings, alongside those working in a local authority, or an associated setting.
        • Provides funding for salary (including employer’s contribution to NI and pension), full masters fees at the UK rate or £5000 per year for masters-level training, £1000 for working with people and communities, £1000 supervisory fees, £1000 conference and associated fees.
        • Further information including a webinar about the benefits and how to apply: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/research-career-funding-programmes/predoctoral/predoctoral-award

 

ARC Fellowships (NIHR funded)

        • Deadline usually in January each year
        • Aimed at people working in health, care and voluntary service settings in the East of England.
        • These fellowships support individuals to lead small-scale academic projects.
        • Research fellowships for local applied research and evaluation projects
        • Impact fellowships for people interested in implementing and disseminating evidence-based improvements in health and care settings.
        • ‘Backfill’ funding with payment to your employing organisation of up to £12500 across 12 months to release you from normal duties for one day (Thursday) per week.
        • More information: https://arc-eoe.nihr.ac.uk/training-development/arc-research-and-impact-fellowships

 

PhD Fellowships

PhD fellowships allow primary care professionals to undertake funded PhDs (usually with salary covered as well). You often need some experience in research before applying to these.

Particularly relevant PhD fellowships include:

PhD Programme for Health Professionals

        • Offering up to 7 fellowships a year, application in early December.
        • Open to medical and dental professionals who are of a training grade (pre-CCT), non-medical healthcare professionals at different stages of their clinical careers (including nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists etc.)
        • Supported by University of Cambridge, University of East Anglia or Wellcome Sanger Institute
        • https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcbpdwtc

 

NIHR Doctoral Award

        • Opens for applications twice a year, between April and June and October and January.
        • Applicants can be from all professional backgrounds within health and social care.
        • If you are interested in applying for this award, and are not sure where to begin, or who might be an appropriate person to contact as a potential supervisor, please get in touch with CARE-PC and we can connect you with academics within the Primary Care Unit.
        • Further information: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/research-career-funding-programmes/doctoral-award

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