New personal award schemes launched through Health and Care Research Wales Faculty

A new range of personal award schemes is being launched through the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty to promote research across sectors and boost the number of emerging independent researchers in Wales.

The schemes are structured across two main areas - the Researcher Development Award Scheme (with a range of award pathways aligned to our vision of more developmental opportunities for Welsh researchers), and the Doctoral, Next steps and Advanced Fellowship Schemes. Award holders will be able to access personal and researcher development opportunities through Faculty membership for the duration of their award.

The schemes will be available to all health and social care researchers, with high quality applications accepted irrespective of where they work (with the exception of the Research Training and Emerging Researcher awards, which are only open to those working in NHS or social care settings).

While specific details of how each award will work in practice are still in development, processes will be in place to ensure equal access to schemes, including calls and highlight notices that target under-represented groups and disciplines / specialisms.

Professor Monica Busse, Director of the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty said: “Following a joint review of the career and training / development pathways for health and social care researchers published last year, we recognise the need for more funding in research careers for all disciplines, across all sectors, and at all stages of the research career pathway.

“In particular, the review highlighted the importance of working towards cross-sector research capacity building and a coordinated strategic approach to enhancing research careers pathway for health and social care in Wales. I am delighted to announce the launch of this new suite of schemes which will complement and support our existing investment in training and career development opportunities over the last decade.”

Michael Bowdery, Head of Programmes at Health and Care Research Wales, added:

Our personal award programmes fund some of the most vitally important research opportunities across Wales, and by making these new schemes available to everyone involved in health and social care research we can ensure that we are supporting a holistic, system-wide approach to improving health and care.”