MRC Great Western Clinical Research Alliance unites regional universities and NHS to support clinical research careers

The Great Western Clinical Research Alliance, a new Regional Account for Clinical Researchers (RACR) has been established with £1.4 million in funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC), bringing together the GW4 Alliance universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, alongside regional partners including the University of the West of England, Swansea University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and local NHS Trusts and Health Boards.

RACR is a pilot initiative supporting clinicians at critical stages in their research careers to stay involved in research alongside clinical practice. The initiative will strengthen the UK’s clinical research workforce, which underpins innovation, improved care and better health outcomes for NHS patients.

It aims to support the research careers of physicians, dentists, vets, pharmacists and Allied Health Professionals in the “discovery science” space who often face significant challenges as they balance clinical responsibilities with building a research career after obtaining their PhD or MD.  Pressures on time, ability to form new collaborations, limited access to funding, and insufficient opportunities for mentorship and training at critical stages can lead to talented individuals leaving the clinical academic research pathway.

Retention of clinical researchers is vital for maintaining a clinical research workforce as they sit at the interface of research and clinical practice, driving scientific discovery, deepening our understanding of disease, innovating to develop new diagnostics and treatments, and ultimately improving patient care and contributing to making the NHS ‘fit for the future’.

Professor Richard Coward (University of Bristol), who leads the new consortium said: “We are delighted to have secured this important investment. We will establish a vibrant regional discovery science ecosystem to support a Great Western Clinical Research Alliance (GWCRA) post-doctoral academy. The academy will foster a collaborative environment comprising clinical researchers, established discovery scientists and experts in health innovation. This MRC investment will also enable us to fund a variety of flexible and tailored awards to support clinical researchers at critical pinch points in their careers so they can flourish and progress as members of our region’s clinical academic workforce.”

GWRCA has also partnered with deep tech incubator Science Creates to help integrate an entrepreneurial culture within the new alliance’s clinical academic research cadre including boot-camps, mentoring and full support for accelerator awards to develop their innovative ideas to translation and commercialisation realising a ‘bench to bedside’ approach to deliver better patient care.

Professor Helen Quinn (Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust) commented: “This exciting partnership between the NHS and our region’s universities will help to ensure that clinical academic researchers benefit from robust support to help position them for future fellowship success and research independence thus securing a pipeline of clinical academic researchers for our region.”

The MRC has invested £9.7 million in this four-year pilot initiative to establish 10 Regional Accounts for Clinical Researchers across more than 50 research organisations and over 60 NHS organisations, with the aim of supporting around 200 clinicians across the UK.