Candidates are advised to show these guidelines to their intended supervisor. Please note that competition for these awards is intense.

Our remit

From 2009 the research we support will focus on child health to include problems affecting pregnancy, childbirth, babies, children and young adults. It is likely that some research projects will help all age groups and these applications should state their relevance to children.

We support a broad spectrum of research with the objective of:

• preventing disease and disability and
• alleviating physical disability

Please note that our emphasis is on clinical research or research at the interface between clinical and basic science.

Within the above criteria we also support Research and Development of equipment and techniques to improve diagnosis, therapy and assistive technology (including orthoses, prostheses and aids to daily living).

Please note that we do not provide:

• grants towards service provision or audit studies
• grants purely for higher education, e.g. BSc/MSc/PhD course fees and subsistence costs
• grants for medical or dental electives
• grants specifically for PhD studentships (although researchers are encouraged to independently register for a higher degree)
• grants for work undertaken outside the UK
• any indirect costs such as administrative or other overheads imposed by the University or other Institution
• 'top up' funding for work supported by other funding bodies
• costs to attend conferences (current Action Medical Research grantholders may apply separately)
• grants to MRC Units, other than RTF awards where the training/facilities cannot be offered elsewhere
• grants to other charities
• grants for research into complementary / alternative medicine
• grants for research into drug abuse / alcohol abuse / obesity research/ smoking-related projects

Closing dates for applications

The deadline for outline proposals for the 2009 round is on or before Monday 1 September 2008 by 5pm.

Purpose of award

These prestigious Research Training Fellowships are for training in research techniques and methodology in a subject relevant to the overall aims of the Charity. These awards are intended for medical and science graduates. We welcome applications from clinicians, scientists, bioengineers, research nurses and allied health professionals. The scheme aims to help build the UK research base by training the research leaders of the future.

Limitations

Studentships

The awards are not intended as project grants or specifically for the purpose of higher/postgraduate education. It is expected that candidates will register for a higher degree (PhD/MD/MRes/MPhil).

Experience

Candidates are expected to have at least some experience of research following their first degree. Medical graduates should have had limited research training but wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine in the UK. They should not be more than 6 years post MRCP (or equivalent). Scientists are normally expected to be at the PhD or postdoctoral level and should not have more than 3 years research experience from the date of their doctoral degree (PhD viva).

Please note, these awards should not be viewed as project grant applications to simply extend current research as candidates will be expected to demonstrate a significant training element to their project. For scientists, for example, it is less likely that we would support someone for postdoctoral work continuing in the same laboratory as their PhD.

Period

Up to three years considered. Extensions are not allowed.

Host Institution

University departments, Teaching Hospitals or other recognised research centres within the UK. Applicants should not be based in an MRC Unit, unless the training/facilities cannot be offered elsewhere. It is essential that a laboratory or unit appropriate to the research proposed is selected, and the necessary equipment and facilities required for the proposed research must be available to the candidate.

Please note, Action Medical Research is not a research institution itself, and cannot offer research facilities to candidates.

Salary

Starting salary will be dependent on qualifications and experience.

Success rate and costs

Over 75 outline applications were received for the 2008 RTF scheme.  59 of these were invited to complete a full application form.  46 full applications were received and sent for peer review, 9 candidates were shortlisted for interview and 3 awards made with an average cost of £165,600. Applications with requests above £200,000 will need a clear justification for the high cost and may be less likely to gain funding.

Consumable research expenses essential for the period of research training will be awarded.

Please note that the claims for consumable expenses must be fully justified and will be scrutinised by our reviewers. Items of capital equipment cannot be considered.

Expectations

Applicants

All applicants must comply with Home Office requirements and, where appropriate, hold a valid work permit to cover the period of the Research Training Fellowship. Preference will be given to candidates resident in the UK.

Applicants have an opportunity to undertake a period of research training which will be relevant to their future careers. Applicants should demonstrate that they have the necessary ability, enthusiasm and commitment to follow through any training and should provide evidence that they will be given guidance/training in appropriate research techniques and methodology (which may include experimental design, statistics, computing, writing scientific papers/grant applications). This should be summarised in the form of a timetable drawn up in conjunction with their supervisor.

It is expected that applicants will be involved in oral presentations of their work and that they join journal clubs etc. as available.

It is a condition of any award that yearly reports are provided by the applicant and endorsed by their supervisor. Research Training Fellows are treated as all grantholders within the Charity and are expected to speak on their work at fundraising events or scientific meetings if required.

Fellowships must be taken up within one year of the award.

Supervisors

Supervisors should discuss the basis of the application with the applicant thoroughly to ensure that a sensible programme of training is pursued and to advise on additional experience which may be needed (for example, by way of design, statistics, computing and writing scientific papers/grant applications). Applicants should be provided with an adequate and specific work area for both research and writing, and given an opportunity for oral presentations of their work, and the encouragement to join journal clubs etc. as available.

How the application will be judged

The Research Training Fellowship Scheme is run on the basis of an open competition. Consideration is given to the worthiness of candidate, the value of the training proposed in relation to the ability of the candidate and his/her chosen career path, and the reputation of the host Institute. The scientific merits of the project are assessed in terms of the basis on which suitable training can be provided. Short listed candidates will be invited for interview. The final selection will be made on the advice of the interviewing panel drawn from relevant scientific advisers of the Charity.

The above set of guidelines is aimed to help applicants and is in no way a comprehensive set of rules and regulations.

How to apply

Preliminary proposal

Please ensure that you have thoroughly read these guidelines before submitting your application.

The purpose of the preliminary proposal is to establish that your proposed work clearly falls within our remit. At this stage there is no scientific assessment of your work, so there is no need to include scientific data.

If the preliminary proposal is acceptable, an application form will be forwarded to you and you will be advised of the likely timetable.

If your work is considered peripheral to our aims, or clearly falls within the remit of another funding organisation, and in cases where demand on our funds is exceptionally severe, we may be unable to pursue an application from you.

All would-be applicants should complete the one page outline form and email to the Research Manager (address below), summarising the research proposal and giving an estimation of costs. Details should include the potential clinical application of the work and the number of people who stand to benefit from the results. A blank form is available to download at the bottom of this page.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants cannot apply to both Research Training Fellow and Project Grant schemes in the same year.

Email address: rtf@action.org.uk

Application form

• Outline form (Word, 63 kB)