Pillar 4: Sustainable Funding and Research Infrastructure
4a: Diversify our funding base
We will build upon our already diverse funding sources across UKRI, major charities, international funders, UK industry, and philanthropic donors. A weekly funding bulletin will promote funding opportunities to the School. We will link infrastructure development to strategic research themes, and, through a School Operations Committee, ensure transparent and strategic allocation of internal resources, aligned to research activity and impact.
4b: Alignment to MVLS and University core assets
We will leverage the expertise and cutting-edge resources already available across the University to enhance the quality and impact of our research. This includes strengthening links to high-quality SCMH core facilities, as well as utilising the technical expertise and world-leading facilities provided by the MVLS Shared Research Facilities. We will build strategic links to the Centre for Data Science and AI to advance our experience in data-driven research and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, we will utilise the extensive Research, Innovation and Engagement support available within MVLS to ensure our research is of the highest standard and delivers maximum impact.
4c: Recruitment strategy
The mix of clinical – discovery scientists is a strength in our School which we will maintain and build through our recruitment strategy.
Recruitment of discovery scientists will align with current curricular and research priorities. To diversify our workforce and support early career researchers, where possible we will promote exceptional quality postdoctoral staff via fellowship positions (typically 5 years) when vacancies become available.
Options for supporting clinical academics include:
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Boosting SCREDS Clinical Lectureships which are funded at 20% for research, compared with the NIHR Clinical Lectureships scheme in England which are appointed at 50% for research, typically a 5 year appointment (30% FTE).
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Post-CCT fellowships to allow for intermediate-level fellowship applications, typically 2-3 years (50-80% FTE).
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Supporting staff recently appointed to full time NHS positions to come back into research, offering an alternative to schemes that have recently been withdrawn (e.g. MRC CARP), typically 2-3 years (20-50% FTE).
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Appointing Senior Clinical Lecturers in the relevant field (typically a substantive appointment).