Guidance for Medical and Dental Applicants (Consultants and GPs)

Who can apply?

You are eligible if you are:

• a consultant, general practitioner, or equivalent clinical academic.
• hold a PhD, or UK-awarded MD/MS.
• employed by an NHS organisation in the East Midlands.
• able to identify an academic supervisor within the EM-RACR partnership. 

Career breaks and less-than-full-time working will be taken into account when assessing eligibility.

What if I don’t meet the current application criteria?

If you do not meet the current criteria but would like to discuss whether an application may be appropriate, please get in touch with the team and we would be happy to advise.

What support is available?

Successful applicants will receive:

• Funding for two programmed activities (PAs) per week (approximately 20% time).
• Protected research time for up to 12 months.
• Access to academic infrastructure across Leicester, Nottingham and Lincoln.
• Dedicated supervisory and mentoring support.
• Up to £5,000 research development funding.
• Access to regional training and networking opportunities. 

The expectation is that NHS employers will support the release of time through normal job-planning processes. 

What is EM-RACR looking for?

This scheme is aimed at clinicians who have completed academic training but now face challenges maintaining research momentum after appointment as a consultant or GP.

Applicants should demonstrate how EM-RACR support will help them:

• maintain research activity during the transition to independent practice.
• develop research leadership.
• build a sustainable academic programme.
• secure future grants and fellowships that include protected investigator time. 

Application expectations

A clearly defined funding target

Applications should identify:

• the specific grant or fellowship you intend to apply for during/after the funding period.
• the anticipated submission date.
• how EM-RACR support will increase your competitiveness.

Examples might include:

• MRC experimental medicine schemes
• Programme development grants
• Wellcome funding schemes
• NIHR advanced fellowships
• Other investigator-led grant programmes. 

A focused research development plan

Your proposal should explain:

• What research activities will be undertaken during protected time.
• How the award will strengthen your future application.
• What outputs will be generated.
• Why EM-RACR support is required at this stage of your career.

Research leadership potential

Assessors will be looking for evidence that applicants are progressing towards independent research leadership, including:

• publications
• research collaborations
• leadership within projects or studies
• previous fellowship or clinical academic training experience.

What will make a strong application?

Strong applications are likely to show:

• a clear commitment to an academic consultant or GP career.
• an ambitious but achievable plan.
• strong institutional support.
• excellent alignment between proposed activities and future funding objectives.
• potential to become an independent research leader.
• engagement with cross-disciplinary and regional opportunities.

Expected outcomes

The primary measure of success will be submission of a competitive funding application that includes protected academic time. Additional indicators of success include:

• fellowship success.
• publications and presentations.
• new collaborations.
• sustained engagement in research leadership activity.