Cancer Research UK 91直播 Centre to receive 拢8.5m boost for clinician scientist training
Cancer Research UK has announced today that universities across Scotland and England including the Cancer Research UK 91直播 Centre are set to receive a multimillion-pound cash injection to train more doctors as clinician scientists, so they can undertake cancer research. Cancer Research UK are investing a total of 拢58m, with 91直播 set to receive 拢8.5m.
The Clinical Academic Training Programme will invest 拢58.7m at nine research centres including the Cancer Research UK 91直播 Centre in partnership with the Christie NHS Foundation and The University of Manchester and The University of Leeds.
Clinician scientists play an essential role in translating cancer research, helping to bridge the gap between scientific research carried out in laboratories and clinical research involving patients. Working across both research settings, their contributions to new knowledge and its translation to clinical practice are critical for cancer research.
Cancer Research UK鈥檚 Clinical Academic Training Programme Award will continue to transform clinical research training at nine of its research centres over the next five years. It builds on the 5-year 拢50.7 million investment awarded by the charity in 2019. In total, the Cancer Research UK will have invested more than 拢109 million in this programme over ten years, signalling the critical role the charity plays in supporting the UK鈥檚 life sciences ecosystem.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK鈥檚 Chief Executive, said: 鈥淐linician scientists have a very important role to play by bringing their knowledge and experience of treating people with cancer to scientific research.
鈥淲e need all our doctors and scientists to be able to reach their full potential, no matter their background. That鈥檚 why we are continuing to provide flexible training options for early-career clinician scientists. After the success of the first five years of this programme, we want to encourage even more clinicians to get involved in cancer research to help us get closer to a world where everybody lives longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.鈥�
Becoming a clinician scientist usually involves doctors taking time out of their medical training to undertake a PhD, before returning to train in their chosen specialisation, but many clinicians don鈥檛 come back to research after qualifying as consultants.
To address this problem, Cancer Research UK awarded funding to provide flexible training options alongside mentorship and networking opportunities to better support clinicians who want to get involved and stay in cancer research, through building stronger clinician scientist networks within and across research institutes.
In particular, the funding allows universities to offer combined Bachelor of Medicine-Doctor of Philosophy (MB-PhD) qualifications to early career clinicians 鈥� which allows medical students to complete a PhD earlier in their medical training.
Data from the Medical Schools Council Clinical Academic Survey reports a decline in the number of clinical academic positions between 2011鈥�2020. US data also suggests that offering combined qualifications retains more women in clinical research roles.
This continued investment by Cancer Research UK will deliver a highly enthusiastic, educated, and diverse workforce in the UK who will help bring new cancer treatments and diagnostic tests to those who need it most
Welcoming Cancer Research UK鈥檚 renewing of clinical training funding in Scotland, the Director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Professor Charlie Gourley, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to gain further Cancer Research UK funding and to work with colleagues across Scotland to offer doctors new and flexible training opportunities so that they can become the clinical cancer researcher leaders of the future.
鈥淚t is vital for our laboratory scientists to be able to work with clinicians at all levels and specialities to find new and better treatments for cancer. This will undoubtedly lead to benefits for cancer patients in the longer term.鈥�
The Cancer Research UK 91直播 Centre is one of eight centres in England receiving further CATP funding The Director of the Cancer Research UK 91直播 Centre and Professor of Cancer Studies at The University of Manchester, said: 鈥淩enewing funding for this programme of training and support for clinician scientists is another step forward. The increased flexibility offered, and additional funding and support after doing a PhD will allow more time for doctors to do research, no matter their background and personal circumstances.
鈥淭his continued investment by Cancer Research UK will deliver a highly enthusiastic, educated, and diverse workforce in the UK who will help bring new cancer treatments and diagnostic tests to those who need it most.鈥�
Medical student, transferred to a CRUK-funded MB-PhD course in 2020. Under the supervision of , her PhD focussed on using a new way of measuring obesity-related factors in individuals, called 鈥渙verweight years鈥�, similar to how 鈥減ack-years鈥� is used to measure an individual smoker鈥檚 tobacco use.
She completed her PhD studies in 2023 and should complete her medical degree next year, with her gained research experience informing her studies and medical practice.
Reflecting on her MB-PhD studies, Dr Nadin Hawwash said: 鈥淭he MB-PhD pathway to become a clinical scientist stood out for me, because it helps medical graduates to stay in research following undergraduate training.
鈥淭he course allowed me to: undertake data science-focused cancer research; create international collaborations; assemble and analyse a consortium with over 1.4 million individuals from 10 countries; and present my research globally.
鈥淚 am thrilled that more aspiring researchers will be able to train as clinician scientists in 91直播 and elsewhere, to contribute to cutting-edge cancer research projects that will ultimately benefit patients.鈥�