West Midlands Regional Accounts for Clinical Researchers (WMRACR)

The WMRACR Awards are designed to:

• Support the development of future clinical professionals;

• Enable protected research time alongside clinical practice;

• Foster interdisciplinary and translational research;

• Strengthen collaboration between universities, NHS organisations, industry, and non-academic partners.

Award holders will join a regional network of clinical academics and receive:

• Tailored mentorship and career development support;

• Access to research training;

• Opportunities to engage with industry and translational partners;

• Support to prepare competitive applications for future national fellowship schemes;

• Participation in a collaborative regional research community.

• Bursary of up to £10,000 for research expenditure and training

• Resident and consultant level doctors; registered health and care professionals at a developmental stage appropriate for progression towards independent clinical academic research funding;
• Holders of a PhD or MD;
• Researchers whose work is within the MRC’s remit;
• Working within the West Midlands region.

We particularly welcome applications from:

• Individuals from underrepresented backgrounds;
• Specialties and professions traditionally underrepresented in MRC funding.

Please note that you will need to secure the support of your NHS employer for you to undertake this award, and evidence this via a letter of support (from your CSL, department manager, or line manager).

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

• Strong potential for development as a clinical researcher;

• Commitment to clinically relevant research within the MRC remit;

• A clear vision for future research career progression;

• Willingness to engage with regional collaboration and mentorship opportunities.

Awards will provide:

• Protected research time (flexible but usually up to 0.5WTE for 12 months);

• Research development support;

• Mentorship and networking opportunities;

• Access to regional training and development activities.

Please complete the following documents: 

• WMRACR application form (DOCX, 41 KB) 

• WMRACR CV template document (DOCX, 46 KB) 

• An MS Form providing anonymous personal EDI data
  
  
• You will also need to provide a letter of support from your employer.

Please then confirm that you are submitting an application via the Expression of Interest form and return your application documents to icat@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Application deadline for Cohort 1: Friday 11 Sept 2026 17:00

Further information about the role can be found by downloading the Further Particulars document (DOCX, 110 KB). For informal enquiries, please email icat@contacts.bham.ac.uk

All WMRACR award holders will have access to the Fellowship Academy at University of Birmingham and be able to take advantage of the range of opportunities provided within. This includes workshops on grant writing, publication writing, interview preparation and more. All partners offer local training opportunities, which are accessible to participants. Each awardee will also be matched with a mentor from a different host organisation to provide independent guidance.

• University of Birmingham -  Professor Lorraine Harper
• University of Keele - Professor Jo Protheroe
• University of Warwick - Professor Joyce Yeung
• University of Aston - Dr Zaki Hassan-Smith

For general queries of the programme please contact icat@contacts.bham.ac.uk