The Institute of Cancer Research, London, will host a new clinical PhD programme in cancer research, after being awarded funding from the Wellcome Trust.
The ICR was one of seven institutions across the UK and the Republic of Ireland to secure funds for new clinical PhD programmes from the Wellcome Trust.
The competitive funding application process was led by three leading ICR clinician scientists — Professor Kevin Harrington, Professor Johann de Bono and Professor Nandita de Souza — with support from the ICR’s Academic Services directorate.
A panel of experts from around the world reviewed all proposals before shortlisted organisations had to demonstrate excellence and equality of opportunity in panel interviews.
The programme will fund two clinical research fellowships at the ICR each year for the next five years and will cover their salaries and full research costs over the course of their PhDs.
New PhDs to start in 2017
Clinicians will receive expert mentoring from the ICR’s top-class Faculty and participate in the highly successful translational research culture of the ICR and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
The new PhD programme will combine with the ICR’s Cancer Research UK Centre clinical training award, subject to confirmation of continued funding, to develop and support future leaders in clinical cancer research.
Applications for the new clinical fellowships will open this autumn, with PhDs starting at the ICR in 2017.
Dr Barbara Pittam, Director of Academic Services, said: “The Wellcome Trust’s award of funding for a clinical PhD programme in cancer research at the ICR recognises our world-class research environment and our excellent track record in training clinical academics.
“It builds on the ICR’s work to gain the Athena SWAN Silver award, to promote equality and provide support for women and men throughout their careers. These new clinical research fellows could become some of the UK’s leading clinical academic cancer experts, and pioneer the advances in treatment of the future.”