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Surveying Action Medical Research’s past fellows
For over 35 years, Action Medical Research has been awarding Research Training Fellowships (RTFs) to promising doctors and scientists. The RTF scheme aims to support the development of the research leaders of the future, to help achieve the charity’s goals of improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease and disability. In 2008 the charity surveyed past fellows to see how their early training is now impacting on science and healthcare. The fellowships surveyed cover the award period 1973 to 2005, representing an investment of about £7.6m. The survey was sent to 130 fellows, with an 84% response rate.
Where are they now?
The survey found that, almost without exception, the fellows continued to work in medicine and/or research. The majority were working in the National Health Service or in a university or research institute. They have filled an array of important positions. Many were consultants and/or lecturers and around a quarter were in very senior positions including directors, department heads and CEOs. They were working in a range of medical areas, with a wealth of expertise in paediatrics and neurology. For the most part they worked in the UK.
Furthering science and developing research capacity
Medical advances often begin with the dissemination of research outcomes in journals. The fellows had published an average of 42 scientific papers each so far in their career. The more time that had passed, the more papers published. Almost all had presented at an international conference, 65% as an invited speaker, a mark of high regard. They had also contributed to science dissemination by reviewing for journals or serving as an editor.
Demonstrating their influence in research funding or policy, over a third had served on advisory boards for medical research. Many have also had their skills recognised with awards for achievements like excellence in teaching or innovation in healthcare. Investing in an RTF can also help develop other talented researchers: more than two thirds of fellows had gone on to train others. In addition, many of the fellows’ research resulted in the formation of new collaborative links.
Changing clinical practice
The impact of research on clinical practice, and so on patients, is extremely important to charities. More than forty per cent of fellows reported that their research had led to a change in clinical practice or service improvements. The majority felt this resulted from research that was part of their RTF project or developed later from it. Almost a third reported that the findings from their research had been incorporated into clinical guidelines, which can be an important part of improving patient care.
Individual survey responses revealed that the fellows’ work had benefitted patients in a wide range of ways. It had led to improved diagnosis and better treatments. It had affected surgical practice, improved patient consultation and paved the way for better management of at-risk patients. Their efforts had played a significant role in the development of potential new medicines and therapies. A small, but significant proportion of fellows’ research had also helped reduce healthcare costs and led to broader economic benefits. Fellows had also contributed to policies and clinical guidelines on topics like vaccine use, head injury and pregnancy management.
Additional benefits
Over the years, fellows have maintained their relationship with the charity in different ways. They have used their medical expertise to serve as advisory panel members for the charity, supervised other RTFs awarded by the charity, and applied for, and been awarded, additional grants as more established researchers. Many have also assisted the charity by presenting at functions or participating in fundraising events.
Long-term investment
The translation of research into patient benefit can take a long time, so we would expect to observe greater impact from fellows the longer it has been since their award. Survey responses suggest this is indeed the case – the greater the time since the fellowship, the greater the proportion of fellows who reported that their research had led to benefits to patients. This is also evident for fellows who responded that their research had been incorporated into clinical guidelines and had led to a change in practice.
Conclusions
The impact of the Action Medical Research RTF scheme is diverse and grows as the years pass. The charity is proud that our funding of these high-fliers has reaped such rewards. With our ongoing support, these long-term investments should deliver healthy returns for years to come.
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