The Medical Research Council hopes ambitious UK-wide project will address numerous challenges researchers face in progressing their careers.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has earmarked almost £10 million towards a four-year pilot supporting clinical researchers across the UK.
The initiative will fund ten regional partnerships, known as Regional Accounts for Clinical Researchers (RACRs), designed to address concerns about retention and career longevity in the NHS.
One of the regional pilots will operate in south-west London, bringing together universities, NHS trusts and research institutes such as Imperial College London and Brunel University to support clinicians at critical points in their careers, such as when they transition from doctoral to postdoctoral research.
The programme will provide protected research time, mentoring, and skills development.
The MRC says the pilot will test whether regional partnerships can improve retention in clinical academic careers.
Concerns have been raised across the sector about falling numbers of clinical academics in recent years. Challenges include limited funding, inflexible training routes, and limited career progression.
The MRC says the scheme is designed to reflect regional differences in workforce pressures and research capacity.
Patrick Chinnery, executive chair of the MRC, argues that too many doctors face barriers in sustaining research alongside their demanding clinical roles.
“These challenges vary across the UK, which is why a regional approach is so important to building strong partnerships between universities and NHS trusts,” he said.
“We are investing in locally led solutions that support clinicians at critical points in their careers, strengthen research environments, and help improve patient outcomes,” he added.
Marina Botto, lead principal investigator for the MRC South-West London RACRs, says the funding will allow the group to address the challenges and encourage more clinical staff into research careers.
“As a clinical researcher, I have seen firsthand how research can improve care and outcomes for patients and the wider population,” she added.