University Hospital Southampton supports next generation of research leaders
The first ten researchers have been awarded fellowships through the Research Leaders Programme, launched last year by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS).
The RLP programme is open to all healthcare professionals substantively employed by UHS. This includes nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals, clinical scientists and doctors.
It covers salary costs for at least one day a week (20% whole time equivalent) for up to three years, providing protected time so they can take their research to the next level.
Supporting future leaders
The RLP was established following significant investment in research and development by the UHS Trust Board. It is overseen and managed by the Southampton Academy of Research (SoAR).
The programme aims to identify staff of all clinical disciplines with research leadership potential. It gives them time, training and personal development to help them move towards their agreed research career pathway.
The programme aims to enable substantively employed UHS healthcare professionals to build a portfolio of research activity. This will attract funding and help research become a significant and sustainable part of their job plan within three years. The fellowships are offered competitively.
It offers two different types of awards, with an option for these to be combined if explicitly agreed; the Research Delivery Focused/Growing Principal Investigators (PI) award and the Clinical Academic Focused/Growing Chief investigators (CI) award.
First ten fellows
Following a competitive process, in which their applications were judged by a panel, the first ten researchers have been awarded an RLP fellowship.
They are:
- Dr Mark Banting, palliative medicine consultant
- Dr Jessica Bate, consultant paediatric oncologist
- Dr Ahilanandan Dushianthan, consultant in critical care medicine
- Dr Matthew Guy, clinical lead for medical physics and head of imaging physics
- Dr Philip Hyde, consultant paediatric intensivist
- Dr Katherine Lachlan, consultant clinical geneticist
- Dr Stephen Lim, consultant geriatrician
- Dr Hitasha Rupani, consultant respiratory physician
- Prof Bhaskar Somani, consultant urological surgeon
- Dr Matthew Wheater, consultant medical oncologist
A further call will be going out for round two applications in due course. Please visit the SoAR website or contact the team at SoAR@uhs.nhs.uk for more information and how to apply.