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UHS Research Leaders
Programme (RLP) awards

The RLP Cohort 5 competition is open for applications until 5pm on Friday 25 October. Successful candidates will start in April 2025. Any researchers substantively employed by UHS can apply.

 

Please see below for details and contact the SoAR Team at RLP@uhs.nhs.uk for more information.  

 

SoAR, on behalf of the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) R&D department, are looking for enthusiastic healthcare professionals employed by UHS who aspire to take the next step in their research career.

 

Supporting our researchers


The RLP was established in 2021 following significant investment from UHS Trust Board. It aims to identify staff of all clinical disciplines with research leadership potential, and provide them with time, training and personal development to enable them to progress towards their agreed research career pathway.

 

It supports UHS healthcare professionals to build a portfolio of research activity that will attract or generate funding, and facilitate research to become a significant and sustainable component of the award holder’s job plan within three years.

 

The RLP programme is open to all healthcare professionals employed (who hold a substantive as opposed to honorary employment contract) by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, including nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals, clinical scientists and doctors.

Protected time for your research


The award enables you to pursue your passion for improving patient care through clinical research. It covers salary costs for at least one day a week (20% whole time equivalent) for up to three years, providing the time you need to take your research to the next level.

You will be facilitated by the RLP team to develop a portfolio of clinical research studies, where possible in as a Principal Investigator (PI) or Chief Investigator (CI), and to develop your own clinical research by applying for a research grant or external research fellowship. The awards are offered competitively.

Types of awards


The RLP has three award types:

 

1. Research Delivery Focused/ Growing PIs: Support to establish/significantly expand a portfolio of externally funded research studies, commercial and non-commercial. Intended to build capacity to enable delivery of clinical research by providing protected time to undertake PI related activities on externally funded NIHR CRN portfolio research studies, supported by a research team funded by external study income.

 

2. Clinical Academic Focused/ Growing CIs: Support to secure external funding and lead a programme of externally funded research, in the context of a clinical academic position. Intended to support healthcare professionals with significant potential to become independent researchers and fulfil the role of CI by generating income through personal fellowships and/or leadership of grant applications.

3. Mixed: A combination of the two awards above, explicitly agreed, with outcomes reflecting the blend. This can be arranged via SoAR. 

Application process

 

Step 1 – Application Forms must be submitted online via Microsoft forms using this link


Step 2 – Annex A and B must be completed and sent to SOAR at RLP@uhs.nhs.uk.

 
We will only accept online application forms. If you don’t complete both steps, then your application will not be processed. 

 

Applications will be reviewed by a panel. Review criteria will primarily focus on the proposed area of focus for the award, and likelihood participation in the RLP will facilitate the individual to generate research income to support their research time beyond the end of the award.

The panel will focus on the suitability of the person, their surrounding research environment (both local and institutional) and their proposed RLP area of focus.

Individuals must have the explicit support of their Research Advisor, Manager and Divisional Clinical Director for their application, who will agree to ensure arrangements are in place for backfill of RLP funded time. Potential applicants are therefore advised to speak to their manager early to ensure this assurance can be provided in the application process.

Please complete the application form and submit to the Southampton Academy of Research via Google forms (see RLP Guidance Notes) by no later than 5.00pm on Friday 25 October. (This includes emailing completed annexes A and B to SoAR). 

 

You can find useful documents here:

Please contact the SoAR Team at RLP@uhs.nhs.uk for more information and how to apply.

Meet our RLP award holders

Cohort 1

Katherine Lachlan

Katherine Lachlan

Clinical Genetics

Dr Katherine Lachlan is a Consultant Clinical Geneticist at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Ahilanandan Dushianthan

Ahilanandan Dushianthan

Intensive Care and Respiratory Medicine

Dr Ahilanandan Dushianthan is an Intensive Care & Respiratory Consultant at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Jessica Bate

Jessica Bate

Paediatric Oncology

Dr Jessica Bate is a Paediatric Oncology Consultant at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Stephen Lim

Stephen Lim

Geriatric Medicine

Dr Stephen Lim is a Consultant Geriatrician at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Mark Banting

Mark Banting

Palliative Medicine

Dr Mark Banting is a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Matthew Wheater

Matthew Wheater

Medical Oncology

Dr Matthew Wheater is a Medical Oncology Consultant at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Bhaskar Somani

Bhaskar Somani

Urological Surgery

Prof Bhaskar Somani is a Professor of Urology and Consultant Urological Surgeon at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Hitasha Rupani

Hitasha Rupani

Respiratory Medicine

Dr Hitasha Rupani is a Consultant Respiratory Physician at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Matthew Guy

Matthew Guy

Healthcare Science and Digital Diabetes

Dr Matthew Guy is a Consultant Clinical Scientist at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Phil Hyde

Phil Hyde

Paediatric Intensive Care

Dr Phil Hyde is a Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Cohort 2

Hannah Markham

Hannah Markham

Histopathology

Hannah Markham is a Consultant Histopathologist at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Cathy McKenzie

Cathy McKenzie

Pharmacy

Dr Cathy McKenzie is a Consultant Pharmacist in Critical Care at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Sophie Fletcher

Sophie Fletcher

Respiratory Medicine

Dr Sophie Fletcher is a Consultant Respiratory Physician at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Boyd Ghosh

Boyd Ghosh

Neurology

Dr Boyd Ghosh is a Consultant Neurologist at University Hospital Southampton and Salisbury District Hospital, and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Luise Marino

Luise Marino

Paediatric Dietetics

Dr Luise Marino is a Clinical Academic Paediatric Dietitian at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Andy Fox

Andy Fox

Pharmacy

Dr Andy Fox is a Consultant Pharmacist for Medicine Safety at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Matthew Stammers

Matthew Stammers

Gastroenterology and Data Science

Dr Matt Stammers is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Cohort 3

Hazel Evans

Respiratory Paediatrics

Dr Hazel Evans is a Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician at University Hospital Southampton, and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Mark Wright

Hepatology

Dr Mark Wright is a Hepatology Consultant at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Thomas Daniels

Respiratory Medicine and Data Science

Dr Thomas Daniels is a Consultant Chest Physician at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Linden Stocker

Foetal Maternal Medicine

Dr Linden Stocker is a Foetal Maternal Medicine Consultant at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Judith Cave

Medical Oncology

Dr Judith Cave is a Medical Oncology Consultant and Associate Director of Medical Education at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). She is the holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Cohort 4

Rebecca Cusack

Critical Care Medicine

Dr Rebecca Cusack is a Consultant and Associate Professor in Critical Care Medicine at University Hospital Southampton and the University of Southampton. She holds a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Tracy Coelho

Paediatric Gastroenterology

Dr Tracy Coelho is a Consultant in Paediatric Gastroenterology at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Sofia Michopoulou

Nuclear Medicine Physics

Dr Sofia Michopoulou is a Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Nuclear Medicine Physics at University Hospital Southampton. She holds a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Peter Cowburn

Cardiology

Dr Peter Cowburn is a Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Andrew Flett

Cardiology

Dr Andrew Flett is a Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

James Douglas

Urological Oncology

Mr James Douglas is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Richard Marigold

Stroke Medicine

Dr Richard Marigold is a Consultant Stroke Physician at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Caroline Anderson

Paediatric Dietetics

Dr Caroline Anderson is a Clinical Academic Paediatric Dietitian at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award.

Mark Johnson

Neonatology

Dr Mark Johnson is a Consultant Neonatologist at University Hospital Southampton and holder of a Research Leaders Programme (RLP) award, supported by the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.

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