Applications are now open for the Centre for Translational Medicine (CTM) pre-doctoral Clinical Research Excellence Fellowships (p-CREFs). This scheme offers the equivalent of one year of 100% FTE salary funding to allow protected research time and training for health professionals working in translational medicine.

This can be taken at less than 100% FTE (minimum 50% FTE) and spread over the equivalent time period for Nurses, Midwives, Allied Health Professionals (NMAHPs). Development of external funding applications to support a doctorate is expected during the year and securing further research funding represents a key success metric of the fellowships.

These fellowships are open to all registered health professionals, this includes nurses, midwives, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, healthcare scientists, psychologists and all other registered professions allied to healthcare. We strongly encourage applications from non-medical health professionals; our ambition is to broaden the health professions represented amongst CTM funded fellows, and therefore we are specifically ringfencing fellowships for NMAHPs.

It is anticipated that during the period of the fellowship, candidates will:

  • Prepare a research fellowship application for submission to an external funding body, such as a Research Council, Charity, or NIHR, to support a period of doctoral research.
  • Engage in research and professional development opportunities, including via the CTM, King’s Clinical Academic Training Office, locally in departments, across KHP (including Clinical Academic Groups and programmes) and beyond, to support their development as a researcher.
  • Prepare scientific/research data to present at meetings where relevant opportunities arise.

Strategic fit

The funding scheme seeks to support fellows to develop and deliver on projects in translational clinical research, particularly studies of disease mechanisms in humans and the translation of these insights into early detection and interventions. This includes use of diagnostics and devices, patient-reported outcome measures, and the development of proof of concepts, such as through early phase clinical studies of new treatments and development of advanced therapies (see Figure 1). Fellows’ research projects should align to the priority areas and themes summarised in Figure 1 and demonstrate clear contributions to the strategic priority areas for health research at the King’s Health Partners (KHP) organisations, including how the research will seek to reduce health inequity. Discovery science projects and/or those involving animal work are not eligible.

We particularly encourage applications that:

  • Aim to harness combined strengths across King’s College London faculties and KHP organisations.
  • Bring together multidisciplinary, cross-partner and/or cross-faculty research and expertise, which may be reflected in the supervisory team.
  • Connect mental and physical health (and/or links to the NIHR Maudsley BRC).
  • We aim to encourage applications from all registered health professionals. Our ambition is to broaden the health professions represented amongst CTM funded fellows, and therefore we are specifically ringfencing fellowships for non-medical professionals.

Figure 1: Priority areas for funding:

Priority areas for funding.png

Examples of projects funded by the Centre for Translational Medicine can be found here​​​​​.

Funding available

This scheme provides:

  • A 50% to 100% FTE matched salary for fellows (up to a maximum of £106,813 which includes Salary + On Costs, but not on-call costs), according to the level of experience and professional group.
  • A consumables budget of £5,000 (which can include funds towards PPIE activity). As part of this fellowship, it will be expected you have a budget line for PPIE activity. This may come from the consumables budget or another source but needs to be indicated in the application.
  • A bursary of up to £1,000 towards meeting/conference/advanced training course fees and associated travel and subsistence.
  • Support with costing your funding application: To assist with preparing the financial aspects of your application, King's Clinical Academic Training Office (KCATO) has produced a training video. These are available from the KCATO SharePoint or at this link.
  • Fellowships need to be completed by 31 March 2029.

  • Health professionals (registered with a UK health professional regulatory body) are eligible to apply, including nurses, midwives, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, healthcare scientists, psychologists and all other registered professions allied to healthcare.
  • Applicants who are not currently registered with a UK health professional regulatory body can apply if they are expected to be registered by the time of the interview in January 2026. Researchers/scientists who are not registered health professionals are not eligible
  • Applicants should have a relevant professional qualification or degree with distinction/honours or previous research experience. We recognise the pathway to research and level of experience may differ depending on the profession and this will be taken into consideration.
  • The aim of the fellowships is to provide protected research time embedded and supported in the optimal environment for clinical academic career progression. Fellows should be based wherever is best for the type of research activity, optimal research supervision/ mentoring, support structures/professional development, requirements for professional registration and validation etc.
  • These fellowships are offered at either 12 months full time or up to 24 months for NMAHPS, at less than 100% FTE. Continued clinical activity (up to a maximum of 2 PAs/0.2 FTE/20% of time) is permitted within the 100% FTE matched salary, only when relevant to the research project
  • Applicants must not have registered for, or completed a PhD or MDRes, nor have registered for an MPhil, with the expectation that this will progress to a PhD.
  • This scheme aims to support researchers who are intending to pursue a clinical academic career – i.e. maintain both clinical professional activity and research in the long-term. An outline of how both previous experience/training and future plans demonstrate this is required in the application.
  • These fellowships are designed to support candidates towards embarking on doctoral research, not Masters degrees.

Fellows will be supervised by scientists and/or clinical researchers with a proven track record of translational research, and previous experience of successful supervision of personal fellowship-holders. Supervisors must be employed by one of the organisations of King’s Health Partners (King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, or South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust), and fellows should be embedded in a vibrant academic environment which will support their clinical academic progress. Dual supervision, including cross-partner and cross-faculty supervision, is strongly welcome.

Successful applicants will have access to a programme of research training and career development through KCATO and other entities across the KHP organisations. This will include mentoring, research skills training, professional development and grant/publication writing support.

  • The first supervisor must be research-active staff member employed by one of the KHP organisations. Second and/or third supervisors, either from within or outside KHP, are permitted.
  • At the point of application, fellows should identify a first and second supervisor as a minimum. At least one supervisor must be a King’s College London employee or hold an adjunct appointment.
  • Supervisors should have a track record of successful supervision of health professional researchers, in supporting them to obtain external competitive fellowship funding.
  • At least one supervisor must be a clinical academic health professional.
  • Supervisors can be the first supervisor for a maximum of one fellowship application but can be second or third supervisor on other applications.
  • At least one supervisor must be a registered health professional/clinical academic.

Postdoctoral researchers without fellowship supervision experience can be supervisors, providing they have experience of supervising shorter projects (e.g. BSc/MSc) and are supported by a more experienced second supervisor. Second supervisors are expected to meet the criteria listed above. Details of the second supervisor must be supplied at the time of application.

Details of supervisors who have expressed interest in supervising a fellow for the 2026/2027 cohort can be found below. Including the professional group(s) supervisors research would be suited to, and which groups they would support a fellowship application from:  Click here to view a list of potential supervisors

You can submit a project with a supervisor who is currently not listed, please ask them to contact the CTM at translationalmedicine@kcl.ac.uk for a link to submit their EOI. Please note that only one application can be submitted by either a prospective fellow or a first supervisor.

Applications will be assessed against a number of criteria including project (e.g. feasibility, strategic fit, contribution to health equity, PPIE, value for money, contribution to patient/community outcomes), person (including research experience and potential, training plan), and place (including local environment and opportunities for academic development, supervisory team, networks and mentoring). Please contact translationalmedicine@kcl.ac.uk if you wish to discuss if your project is within remit.

Application Process and Key Dates

There are two stages for candidates to apply to the p-CREF fellowships.

  1. Candidates review the list of supervisors who have expressed an interest in hosting a fellow in this cohort. Candidates approach potential supervisors, sharing a recent CV and cover statement, to discuss potential projects and hosting arrangements. Fellows and supervisors work up an application form to submit.

Application deadline – Tuesday 25 November 2025 12pm noon UK time.

  1. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interviews.

    Interviews – w/c Monday 19 January 2026

Fellowships start – September 2026, or earlier where applicable.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted through the online form on Qualtrics: Apply here.

We are holding an engagement Q&A session on Tuesday 21 October 2025 2:30pm – 3pm. Please click here to register to attend.

Drop-in sessions on PPIE are available for applicants to support the development of ideas on how to involve PPIE members in early stages of research while writing grant applications.

Dates: 7 October, 22 October, 3 November, 13 November, 25 November, 11 December 2025. All Sessions will be held 12.30pm - 13.30pm. Location: MS Teams. Please go to ‘Upcoming CTM events’ section on the CTM website to sign up and book a time.

Queries can be sent to the CTM team delivering the call via translationalmedicine@kcl.ac.uk

Deadline:
25 November 2025, 12:00pm