The 4Ward North PhD Academy for Health Professionals has been created thanks to a £7.5 million award from Wellcome for the Universities of Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield to combine their strengths in biomedical and health research.
Our aim is to raise the quality of clinical academic research training in northern England.
About the programme
We will make 25 funded PhD fellowships available over five years. Successful applicants will become 4Ward North PhD fellows, a prestigious marker of esteem for a future career combining research with clinical practice.
Each individual PhD will be hosted by one of our four institutions: The University of Manchester, the University of Leeds, Newcastle University and The University of Sheffield.
We will collaborate with the Francis Crick Institute (FCI) in London, The Alan Turing Institute and the Nuffield Research Placements (NRP) Programme over training opportunities both during and after the PhD programme.
Those successful in securing a fellowship from the Academy will receive:
- a training programme with leading clinical academics and bespoke mentoring;
- a personalised training plan with one of the Programme Directors;
- an opportunity to compete for our Leading Scholars’ Programme in collaboration with the FCI, which offers 12 months of research support immediately after the PhD to pump-prime postdoctoral clinical career development applications;
- a key skills development opportunity by supervising and mentoring NRP students.
This award replaces the legacy Wellcome Clinical PhD funding stream, which covered a salary and pension contributions, plus project running costs and an annual training allowance.
Those who are shortlisted but are not successful in securing a fellowship will receive:
- help in building their project;
- guidance, advice and mentorship through the application process for an equivalent research training award from other funders.
We welcome applications from actively practicing healthcare professionals from all clinical areas. The programme is open to UK-based applicants.
Fellows recruited to a programme must be practicing healthcare professionals and be registered with a professional regulatory body in the UK/Republic of Ireland, such as the General Medical Council or the Health and Care Professions Council.
Medical graduates must be registered on a UK/Republic of Ireland specialist training programme or must be a registered GP.
Fellows must have completed their undergraduate degree and be registered with the relevant professional body.
These include:
- nursing
- midwifery
- allied healthcare professions
- pharmacy and healthcare sciences
- veterinary medicine
- dental and medical specialties.
The maximum award available for each fellowship is capped (current salary/registration fees and reasonable running costs).
Your research must be within the Wellcome research remit.
You may have previously undertaken published research, written up case reports, and/or undertaken research as part of your degree.
Our scheme is unique in that we want to help more than the 5 people who are awarded our 4Ward North Clinical PhD Fellowships.
Stage 2 applications are now open for shortlisted candidates.
- Find out how to apply.
Key dates
- Deadline for Stage 1 applications: Monday 30 October 2023
- Stage 1 outcomes communicated: Week beginning 20 November 2023
- Advice panels for Stage 2 applicants: Week beginning 4 December 2023
- Deadline for Stage 2 applicants: Monday 26 February 2024
- Stage 2 outcomes communicated: Week beginning 25 March 2024
- Interviews: Week beginning 22 April 2024
You can browse our supervisors by university or research area.
Supervisors by university
Supervisors by research area
You can search our site for supervisors who work in the area you are interested in by typing in a keyword or phrase on our search page.
There are opportunities for our Academy Fellows to both supervise young students on research placements and take up a post-PhD placement with the Francis Crick Institute.
During your PhD
Supervising Nuffield Research Placements (NRPs)
Supported by the Nuffield Foundation and UKRI, NRPs provide real-life research placement opportunities to 1,000 Year 12 (16 to 17-year-old) students from low socio-economic and/or first in family backgrounds from across the UK to support their progression to STEM further study or employment.
During the second and/or third year, successful 4Ward North PhD Academy fellows will become placement providers and supervise one or more students for 2-3 weeks over the summer.
As placement providers, fellows will:
- receive full training and support from a local NRP regional coordinator to understand programme requirements and expectations;
- develop key mentoring, coaching and management skills while building relationships with future researchers;
- work with bright, capable students to gain valuable assistance with project work;
- help inspire the next generation of STEM researchers;
- forge strong links with schools and colleges in local area and fulfil public engagement or outreach goals.
More information can be found in our PDF leaflet. There is also further information on the Nuffield Research Placements website, and regular communications will be provided throughout the fellowship.
Post-PhD
Leading Scholars’ Programme at the Francis Crick Institute (FCI)
To support our very best fellows, we will launch our Leading Scholars’ Programme feeding straight into the postdoctoral period during Year 4.
This will fund three fellows during the course of the programme for a 12-month placement directly after the PhD at the FCI (accommodation in Perrin House), but not precluding other internationally leading institutions.
We have existing experience of a pilot International Scholars’ Programme.
See profiles of our Academy Fellows, including project details.
4Ward North is led by a board and executive management team.
Board
Includes the four University Deans and the nominated lead Postgraduate Dean (PGD) for clinical training.
Professor Mark Kearney
Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of LeedsProfessor David Burn
Pro-Vice Chancellor, Newcastle University
Professor Graham Lord
Vice President and Dean, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester
Professor Chris Newman
Dean of Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, The University of SheffieldView Chris’s profile
Executive management team
Comprises the eight Academy Directors, a clinical academic training manager from each site.
Professor Anne Barton
Professor of Rheumatology, University of Manchester
Professor Dame Nicky Cullum
Professor of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester
View Nicky’s profile
Professor Hemant Pandit
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Leeds
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
View Hemant’s profile
Professor Ann Morgan
Professor of Rheumatology and Hon. Consultant Rheumatologist, University of Leeds
View Ann’s profile
Professor Jim Wild
Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics, University of Sheffield
View Jim’s profile
Professor Alison Condliffe
Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Sheffield
View Alison’s profile
Professor Justin Durham
Professor of Orofacial Pain, Newcastle University and Hon. Consultant Oral Surgeon
View Justin’s profile
Dr Laura Jardine
Associate Clinical Lecturer in Haematology, University of Newcastle
For more information about our programme or the training that we offer, please contact one of the following staff from each institution.
University of Leeds
Jo Bentley
Email: n4leeds@leeds.ac.uk
The University of Manchester
Dr Saini Manninen
Email: n4manchester@manchester.ac.uk
Newcastle University
Sharon Gilmore
Email: n4academy@newcastle.ac.uk
The University of Sheffield
Jodie Burnham
Email: n4@sheffield.ac.uk
