This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New measures to support clinical academic careers
05/04/2006
Doctors and dentists will get more support in their efforts to research the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease under new measures being announced today.
The investment is the result of agreement between key bodies to increase opportunities for academics and educators who wish to combine clinical careers with research. It follows the recent publication of the Walport Report, outlining similar proposals for England and Wales.
The new package of measures, agreed in principle by the Scottish Funding Council, NHS Education for Scotland, Scotland's Chief Scientist Office and the Medical and Dental Schools contains three separate elements:
- At the pre-doctoral level, the Chief Scientist Office has agreed to provide funding for approximately six fellowships per year. These fellowships are likely to prioritise fellows working in areas where external funding is in short supply.
- At the Clinical Lecturer level, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) will create an additional 36 posts, taking the total to approximately 120. The clinical lectureships will be available in open competition, for doctors and dentists who wish to undertake an academic training programme whilst simultaneously continuing in a clinical training programme.
- At the more senior level, the Scottish Funding Council has agreed to invite an application for a Strategic Research Development Grant (SRDG) for Scottish Senior Clinical Fellowships, which would be at the level of Senior Lectureships. The SRDG bid will be developed collaboratively by the relevant Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and will be subject to international peer review.
Professor Roland Jung, the Chief Scientist said:
"CSO is delighted to be playing its part in this integrated scheme which we hope will allow these highly talented individuals to realise their careers in Scotland."
Dr Mike Watson, NES Medical Director said:
"NHS Education for Scotland welcomes the opportunity to support an integrated programme of academic and clinical training to help optimise the development of academically talented individuals, who are likely to be highly influential in the future development and delivery of clinical services within Scotland."
Professor David Gani, SFC's Director of Research said:
"SFC is delighted to see how a vision for clinical academic research in Scotland has been developed by stakeholders. We look forward to receiving an application from the Universities for a Strategic Research Development Grant to provide the complementary infrastructural investments needed to secure a coherent, sustainable and leading-edge research capability for the future."
The Principals at Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St Andrews have also added strong support to the initiative.
'Medically - and dentally - qualified academic staff - recommendations for training the researchers and educators of the future', the Report of the Academic Careers Sub-Committee of Modernising Medical Careers and the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (the 'Walport report') was published in March 2005.
There are currently 3449 WTE NHS medical consultants and 98 WTE dental consultants working in Scotland. Of these, approximately 9% (around 330) are clinical academics with a further 300 or so involved as clinical collaborators in research. The new measures proposed will ensure that this pool is maintained, by creating new opportunities at pre-doctoral, clinical lecturer and (in the future) senior lecturer level.
The new funding available will be phased in over time. If the Strategic Research Development Grant is successful, it is anticipated that the new funding available through the scheme would be approximately £8m-£10m over a 4-5 year period.
Further information can be found on the NES www.nes.scot.nhs.uk and CSO www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso websites.