Clinical researchers are a huge driving force behind ensuring everyone can age well yet clinical research in the NHS is declining. We have a key aim to build a strong ageing research workforce and have a number of schemes open to healthcare professionals to build capacity in clinical research especially.
These schemes are tailored for a broad range of roles — because we believe anyone with a great idea to support ageing well should have the opportunity to do research. They’re also designed to support clinical researchers all the way from undergraduate level through to leading independent research.
PhD funding for registered healthcare professionals
Joint with the MRC, our predoctoral clinical research training fellowship funds registered healthcare professionals to undertake a PhD. It’s open to any registered healthcare professional including nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, GPs, dentists and more. We co-fund the fellow’s salary and all eligible project costs for three years.
This scheme is ideal for those looking to pursue a research career but who still intend to be clinically active during or after their PhD. Applicants do not need to have previous formal research experience and for some it’s also possible to do the award part-time.
We welcome applications that fit both our’s and the MRC’s remit. Applications may range from basic research into age-related disease mechanisms, to translational and developmental clinical research focussed on ageing well. With funding rounds opening every January, June and October, there are many opportunities to apply.
PhD funding to launch a career in ageing-related clinical research
Joint with the British Geriatrics Society (BGS), our doctoral training fellowship also provides PhD funding to delve into a research topic relevant to older people’s healthcare. Open to all frontline healthcare professionals working with older people — including allied health professionals, doctors and nurses — applicants can apply to cover their salary, tuition fees and relevant research costs.
Applicants must be based at a UK university and while most fellowships run for three years, we also offer flexibility for those who need to be part-time.
We fund those looking to do clinical research around understanding and treating ageing-related diseases and frailty. We are particularly interested in research that has the potential to improve the health and social care of older people within five years of the end of the fellowship.
Funding rounds open every year in December and you can read about what our current and past fellows say about their experiences.
Seed funding for research-active clinical lecturers
Clinical lecturer posts come with a salary, but typically do not support the costs of research. Joint with the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS), starter grants for clinical lecturers are designed to bridge this gap by providing funding for 1-2 years of research. Open to clinical lecturers at UK institutions, this scheme is best for those who are in the earlier years of their appointment and haven’t already obtained substantial funding.
As one of the many supporters of this AMS scheme, we fund clinical lecturers looking to apply their knowledge and skills to improve the quality of life, functional capacity and well-being of older people. It’s ideal for research-active clinical lecturers who want to gather data in order to strengthen bids for longer-term fellowships and funding.
The scheme opens twice a year, in July and January with deadlines in March and September. You can read about our 2024 award-holders who also benefit from the AMS’s PILLAR community.
Other schemes open to healthcare professionals
- Joint with the BGS, our undergraduate research placement scheme enables ageing-related research centres to provide undergraduate research placements.
We want supervisors to apply who can demonstrate their centre’s strategic commitment to ageing-related research — whether long-standing or emerging. This scheme aims to increase opportunities for undergraduate students from any discipline — including healthcare professionals — to test and develop their interest in ageing-related research at an early stage.
Open annually each summer.
- Healthcare professionals can apply to our early career postdoctoral fellowship scheme which supports those wanting to become independent researchers.
Applicants should have up to three years’ post-doctoral research experience and can apply for a maximum of three years funding if full-time or six years if part-time. The scheme opens annually in the Spring. You can also read more about our 2024 fellows.
- Proleptic postdoctoral fellowship scheme supporting postdoctoral researchers to transition into a permanent academic position.
Aimed at postdoctoral researchers — including healthcare professionals — with three to ten years’ experience and who have demonstrated excellence and a capacity for independent work. We co-fund fellows with the host institution with our support tapering over-time so that, by the end of the fellowship, the institution fully funds the individual and has committed to providing them with a permanent academic position.
The scheme runs yearly, opening to applications in the Spring. You can read more about our 2023 and 2024 proleptic postdoctoral fellows.
- By joining our Academy, healthcare professionals can also apply to our Ignition Fund.
This ‘always open’ funding pot offers up to £5,000 that can be used for establishing networks or collaborations, short secondments, visiting other institutions, courses to develop new skills, and much more.
Apply for funding
By funding clinical fellows and offering schemes for healthcare staff, we’re helping to build up the number of research-active healthcare professionals interested in healthier older age. Guidelines for all of the calls above can be found on our funding page. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about our events and funding opportunities. Or join our Academy to connect with others in the ageing-related research community.