Postgraduate training
NHS Scotland offers an integrated training and career development pathway for doctors wishing to pursue a clinical academic career. Unlike other areas of the UK, there are no exactly equivalent posts to Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs).
Clinical Lectureships
Clinical Lectureships are available to trainees once a National Training Number (NTN) has been obtained (e.g. encompassing the typical period of an ACF and beyond). These enable clinicians to pursue concurrently or sequentially academic and clinical training within the NHS. It facilitates both the attainment of a senior clinical academic appointment and the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
There are two common pathways for these Clinical Lectureships:
- The Scottish Clinical Research Excellence Development Scheme (SCREDS) funded by universities and/or NHS Scotland. Trainees can join the programme at predoctoral or postdoctoral levels.
- The university-specific “Clinical Academic Track” (CAT) funded by the Wellcome Trust. Trainees trainees will join the programme at predoctoral level to complete a PhD which is followed by a guaranteed postdoctoral clinical lectureship.
These aim to allowing sufficient academic time to maintain research momentum and to develop and apply for an Intermediate Fellowship. These appointments are made by universities with the support of the relevant postgraduate dean. They provide "in-programme" clinical specialty training while focusing on preparation for competitive entry to phase (ii). In addition, they enable completion of clinical training where phase (ii) is substantially concluded.
Clinical Lecturers will typically spend 20% of their time in research training and 80% in clinical training. This is a guideline ratio which may be interpreted flexibly over the period of the appointment.
Appointments to undertake Out Of Programme (OOP) research (Clinical Fellowships)
The SCREDS and CAT schemes both offer opportunities to undertake Out Of Programme (OOP) research. However, MD/PhDs can be completed as an OOP trainee for those not on those schemes as a Clinical Fellow. They may be funded by universities but generally require funding to be obtained from a body recognised by the Chief Scientist Office e.g. the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, British Heart Foundation, Chief Scientist in Scotland, etc.
Further reading:
- The Scottish Clinical Research Excellence Development Scheme (SCREDS)
- Postgraduate training in Scotland
- University of Aberdeen Clinical Academic Training
- Dundee Clinical Academic Track
- Edinburgh Clinical Academic Training
- University of Glasgow Clinical Academic Training
- University of St Andrew's
Postdoctoral training
NHS Scotland offers an integrated training and career development pathway for doctors wishing to pursue a clinical academic career. This is called the Scottish Clinical Research Excellence Development Scheme (SCREDS). SCREDS enables clinicians to pursue concurrently or sequentially academic and clinical training within the NHS. It facilitates both the attainment of a senior clinical academic appointment and the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
Clinical Lectureships
As with the NIHR in England, the SCREDS pathway offers Clinical Lectureship posts. Unlike in England, these are available at both postgraduate and postdoctoral level. At postgraduate level, these are broadly equivalent to an Academic Clinical Fellowship in England & Wales.
These appointments are made by universities with the support of the relevant postgraduate dean. They provide "in-programme" clinical specialty training while focusing on preparation for competitive entry to phase (ii). In addition, they enable completion of clinical training where phase (ii) is substantially concluded. They are funded either directly by universities or by NHS Education for Scotland.
A clinical lecturer on the SCREDS scheme will typically spend 20% of their time in research training and 80% in clinical training. This is a guideline ratio which may be interpreted flexibly over the period of the appointment.
Appointments for advanced academic career development
The SCREDS pathway also offers academic positions after successful completion of a PhD or MD, that may be entered either before or after the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) .
Before CCT these would include posts such as Clinician Scientist or other Intermediate Clinical Fellowship award. If entered after the award of CCT trainees may enter into an Intermediate Fellowship at Consultant level, Senior Clinical Fellowship awards funded by the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust or the Scottish Funding Council.
Further reading