Research
MRC / MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships
Central to the Association's research strategy is the need to develop opportunities for the scientific training of young clinicians, to strengthen the links between the laboratory and the clinic. In collaboration with the Medical Research Council we are delighted to announce the creation of a new Fellowship programme for clinicians.
The MRC/MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships aim to support clinicians wishing to pursue research into the pathogenesis and treatment of motor neuron disease. Awards under this scheme are available at three levels:
- Clinical Research Training Fellowships: up to three years support is available for clinically qualified, active professionals to undertake specialised or further research training. Applicants wishing to conduct patient orientated Clinical Research Training Fellowships may apply for four years funding. The scheme is designed to accommodate the dual clinical-research training career path by allowing Fellows to spend up to 20% of their time on NHS sessions. It is awarded at the clinical pre-doctoral or entry level, although medically qualified applicants who obtained their PhD some time ago may also apply. Fellows are required to register for a research degree, normally a PhD, based on research undertaken during the Fellowship. Applications are considered twice yearly. The next deadline for submission of applications is 30 January 2009. See MRC website for more details.
- Clinician Scientist Fellowships: this award is a post-doctoral Fellowship providing up to four years support for laboratory-based studies. There is also a patient-oriented version of the scheme that provides up to five years support, which is intended for research requiring up to 405 of the Fellow’s time to be spent in clinical work. At least 50% of this clinical work should be of direct relevance to the research project. Applications are considered annually. The next deadline for submission of applications is 21 November 2008. See MRC website for more details.
- Senior Clinical Fellowships: support for up to five years is awarded to clinical researchers of exceptional ability. Applicants are expected to be proven independent researchers in a field of investigation relevant to MND, to be well-qualified for academic research and to demonstrate promise as future research leaders. Applications are considered annually. The next deadline for submission of applications is 21 November 2008. See MRC website for more details.
