A new national resource has been launched to make clinical academic careers more visible and accessible for healthcare professionals across the UK. The Clinical Academic Training & Careers Hub (CATCH) brings together information on training routes, funding opportunities, career pathways, case studies and practical guidance into one central, easy-to-navigate platform. The hub also hosts a national cross funder map which for the first time maps funding opportunities across UK funders, providing a clearer and more coherent view of how clinical researchers can progress from early training through to independent careers.
Clinical academic careers are vital for advancing evidence-based practice, improving patient outcomes and training the future workforce, yet many professionals report that pathways are difficult to navigate. CATCH aims to remove these barriers by providing clear, comprehensive information covering multiple professions and career stages.
CATCH is managed by the Medical Schools Council. Dr Katie Petty-Saphon, Chief Executive, said:
“The relaunch of CATCH comes at a time when we need to strengthen and sustain the clinical academic workforce. Numbers of clinical academics are under pressure and it is essential that we support the pipeline by making routes into these careers as clear and accessible as possible. By bringing together guidance and real-world examples in one place, we hope to help more healthcare professionals see that a clinical
academic career is both achievable and supported.”
The updated hub is free to use and currently covers information for nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists, veterinarians, doctors, dentists and other healthcare staff interested in combining clinical practice with research and education.
CATCH will continue to evolve with new content and resources to reflect developments across the clinical academic landscape and to support workforce growth.
