Research opportunity for Front-line health professionals

The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) and the Dunhill Medical Trust (DMT) are inviting front-line health professionals to apply for a Doctoral Training Fellowship to undertake vital research relevant to age-related diseases and frailty. This is the third year of the joint scheme, offering funding for doctoral research that will ultimately benefit healthcare for older people.

Eligible candidates for the clinical research fellowship include doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working with older people. One award will be made, with the award covering the costs of the Fellowship on a part-time or full-time basis. The Fellowship is open for research projects that have the potential to prevent, delay or reduce future health and social care requirements and to improve older people’s functional ability.

New research that enables high-quality, person-centred care for older people remains vital. This is not only due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has disproportionately affected older people, but also in light of the UK’s ageing population. While COVID-19 remains a serious concern for the UK health system, further understanding and treatment of other age-related conditions and frailty must be a priority if the NHS is to meet the needs of older people in future. The Fellowship will accept projects related to COVID-19 but also encourages research proposals on other age-related conditions including frailty.

The deadline for applications is 16 July 2021 and shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in the autumn. Applicants must be a member of the British Geriatrics Society for the lifetime of the grant and meet the requirements for a programme of PhD study at a UK-based University. The grant will cover salary and tuition fees, as well as appropriate running expenses and travel costs.

Dr Jennifer Burns, President of the British Geriatrics Society, commented:

“Front-line health professionals who care for older people have a unique insight into what research is needed, but they don’t always have opportunity to undertake these projects and may not have access to training in research skills. This Fellowship allows members of the British Geriatrics Society to use their clinical expertise and skills to improve understanding of age-related conditions, develop as researchers and improve quality of life for older people living with frailty and multiple health problems.”

Susan Kay of the Dunhill Medical Trust, commented:

“The Dunhill Medical Trust has made a strategic commitment to capacity-building and researcher career-development in ageing-related research. This Joint Doctoral Training Fellowship is very much part of this commitment and we look forward to welcoming yet another Fellow to our Early Career Researcher Network.”

For further information, or to make an application for the Joint BGS / DMT Doctoral Training Fellowship, visit the DMT’s “Apply for funding” page.