Research Resources

NIHR Oxford BRC regularly update their BRC Events Page. Among their events you will find various webinars on inclusivity training.

For more, check out the link below.

If you would like to better understand NIHR funding and career development opportunities, the links below signpost current NIHR funding schemes, including fellowships, workforce development awards, and project funding opportunities. They are intended to help researchers, clinicians, and practitioners explore NIHR routes to support research and clinical academic development.

• NIHR Funding and Awards (search/apply portal)

• NIHR current funding opportunities (browse all open calls):

• NIHR career development funding programmes (predoctoral, doctoral, postdoctoral etc.)

The accompanying document linked below provides an overview of NIHR and related funding opportunities mapped across different career stages, from early career and pre-doctoral routes through to senior and established researcher schemes.

As of 16 December 2025, the NIHR has updated its guidance on payment for public involvement in research, including increased recommended payment rates. This guidance should be considered when planning, budgeting for, or delivering public involvement activities in NIHR-funded research.

The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) provides expert support and advice to applied health, public health and social care researchers on the design and delivery of research and the development of research funding applications.

RSS operate as a national service allowing researchers to access the most appropriate support, irrespective of location. The service is delivered through 8 RSS Hubs, each a partnership of research organisations, groups and clinical trials units. Each Hub offers a wide range of research support and methods expertise. In addition, the RSS has Specialist Centres with expertise in public health and social care research.

You can read more on the RSS website linked below, including a video describing their role and service, and how to get in touch with them.

CATO (Clinical Academic Training Office) is the centralised pan-professional academic training hub and the main point of contact for clinical academic trainees and researchers (medical and healthcare professions outside of medicine) for advice, best practice and information on academic careers, recruitment, training and funding.

Imperial’s Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO) are now offering research support to University of Cumbria staff (via Joy Duxbury’s Mental Health Leaders Award from NIHR), which they are extending to NCIC staff.  You can register for CATO’s online masterclasses, which are available on the CATO website for more information.  Further developments for Cumbria will be announced at NCIC’s Ascent Cumbria conference, in May 2026 following a visit to Cumbria from CATO.

CATO are also offering research support mentoring to those affiliated to the PCSM Research Hub. Clinical workers in Cumbria who are interested in taking advantage of their services should contact pscmresearchhub@cumbria.ac.uk in order to be connected.

Clinical Research Training Framework

The Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre has developed the Clinical Research Training Framework to develop the skills that an clinician of any professional background requires in order to support clinical research (Research Training Framework). The Framework supports clinical staff in partner organisations to develop a detailed understanding of research, and research skills, to allow them to become more directly involved in the mission of the AHSC: to accelerate the translation of research discoveries into improvements in human health.  The Framework will facilitate staff to support NIHR and industry trials, or develop their own clinical academic careers by proposing competencies, skills and training and suggesting opportunities and resources offered within the AHSC and beyond.

For more on CATO’s resources and services, see their website linked below.