NIHR Clinical Research Network West Midlands Associate Principal Investigator Scheme
This Associate PI Scheme aims to develop junior doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to be PIs of the future. The scheme will increase opportunities for patients to be involved in high quality research to improve care. It also aims to engage, recognise and promote junior doctor, nurse and allied health professional engagement in NIHR portfolio research. The scheme is being rolled out for surgical research studies with the aim that every NIHR Portfolio trial, led or co-supported by the Surgery Specialty, will have an Associate PI at each open site. The Associate PI Scheme has been developed by the West Midlands Research Collaborative, Birmingham Surgical Trials Consortium, Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit and the West Midlands NIHR Clinical Research Network. This scheme has been endorsed by the NIHR Clinical Research Network’s (CRN) Cancer, Surgery and Oral & Dental Specialty Cluster and the Royal College of Surgeons (England).
Within the West Midlands we hope to identify common prerequisites/eligibility for application to an Associate PI role within all of our Partner Organisations to support further role out of this initiative , and identify further local priorities/interest where there would be support for this scheme beyond surgical specialties.
Sponsors
Sponsors of eligible Portfolio studies can apply to join the Associate PI scheme here.
At the moment in order to be eligible for the scheme, the study must be on the NIHR's Portfolio, be a surgical research study and either be led by, or co-managed by the Surgery or ENT Specialties.
Principal Investigators
Anyone interested in registering as an associate PI can complete the application form here .
Victoria Hardy (Research Nurse, CRN WM) provided a first hand account of a secondment role supporting surgical trainees to become more research active. This preceded the launch of the Associate PI scheme within one of our Partnership Organisations.
Within the West Midlands we hope to identify common prerequisites/eligibility for application to an Associate PI role within all of our Partner Organisations to support further role out of this initiative , and identify further local priorities/interest where there would be support for this scheme beyond surgical specialties.