Applications are invited from medical graduates, clinicians, bioengineers, research nurses, physiotherapists and allied health professionals who wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine in the UK in areas relevant to child health.
Fellowships should be 24-36 months in duration. The upper limit of funding for a fellowship is £300,000.
In addition to fellowships across Action’s remit, Action is working with Duchenne UK and Muscular Dystrophy UK to offer joint fellowship awards in areas relevant to neuromuscular conditions (including Duchenne muscular dystrophy) in childhood.
Applicants should complete an outline form by 7 July 2026 at 5pm. The form is available on Action’s grant management system (GMS).
Who can apply
Fellowships should be hosted in University departments, teaching hospitals or other recognised research centres within the UK.The scheme is open to:
- medical graduates
- clinicians
- research nurses
- physiotherapists
- allied health professionals
- bioengineers/biomedical engineers
The scheme is not intended for basic biological scientists or social scientists.
Clinical applicants
Candidates are expected to have at least some experience of research following their first degree. They should have had limited research training and wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine in the UK in areas relevant to child health. They should be registered with the appropriate body e.g GMC, NMC, HCPC.
Medical graduates should not have completed their specialist training and usually should not have more than 6 years’ experience post-MRCP (or equivalent). Graduates in other health professions will normally have a Master’s degree with some research component and at least 5 years’ professional experience.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to independently register for a higher degree such as a PhD.
Bioengineers/ biomedical engineers
Postdoctoral researchers can only apply if they are bioengineers/biomedical engineers. They should be towards the beginning of their research career. We would normally expect bioengineers to have an engineering background/qualification and the fellowship should provide significant new training to pivot into child health research.
All applicants must comply with Home Office requirements and, where appropriate, hold a valid work permit to cover the period of the Research Training Fellowship. Preference will be given to candidates resident in the UK.
Scope
The fellowship should provide an opportunity for training in research techniques and methodology in an area within Action’s remit. Action’s remit focuses on child health research with the objective of preventing and treating disease and disability including:
- pregnancy and childbirth in the context of the health of the child
- babies (including unborn babies), children and young people
- biomedical clinical research or research at the interface between clinical and basic science
- medical engineering and research and development of equipment and techniques to improve diagnosis, therapy and assistive technology (including orthoses, prostheses and aids to daily living).
- conditions diagnosed and treated in the UK.
Examples of the research we fund can be found in our Research we fund section.
