Health Education England (HEE) Genomics Education Programme (GEP) Research and Innovation Fellowship Scheme 1. Introduction This document describes the Health Education England (HEE) Genomics Education Programme (GEP), Research and Innovation Fellowship Scheme and outlines the strategy for the delivery of HEE GEP funded research fellowship activity to support the 100,000 Genome Project and workforce transformation associated with mainstreaming genomics into the NHS. The objectives of this Fellowship Scheme are to build the capacity and capability of the current NHS workforce allowing it to embrace and actively engage with genomics research and thereby delivering clinical innovation into the NHS. This initiative is a partnership with Genomics England. HEE GEP is funding a small number of Research Secondments and Academic Fellowships across the NHS and the wider genomics community working in partnership with appropriate Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnerships (GeCIPs) within the following priority areas: All GeCIP domain areas (see full list of domains here: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/about-gecip/gecip-domains/ ) Annotation and Validation Multi-omics Cell Free Circulating Tumor DNA analysis Psychosocial impact of genomic testing Pedagogic research pertaining to the 100,000 genomes project Health Economics Three fellowship opportunities are available each requiring the support of line managers, heads of departments and the host organisation (that is, higher education institution, industry or business organisation). Applicants must be employees of the NHS or hold an NHS honorary contract to deliver clinical sessions or services to the NHS 2. Fellowship Scheme The Scheme provides supervised opportunities to engage and expose individuals to the clinical academic research environment through the NHS 100,000 Genome Project. Successful applicants will gain the practical skills to undertake a research project supported by an expert academic supervisor. It is intended that participants will apply their newly learned genomics and research skills within their employing organisation and become genomic champions. 1
The overarching aims of the fellowship scheme are to: attract and retain outstanding individuals who will contribute to patient benefit within the NHS develop research capabilities in genomics at all levels of the NHS in order to enhance and diffuse evidence based genomics practice; provide an opportunity to develop a network of clinical academics so that learning, best practice and innovation in genomics can be shared and disseminated, regionally, nationally and internationally; support the development of clinical skills as well as research skills 2.1. Research Secondments These offer a range of full-time research opportunities for 6-12 months in order to conduct a substantial research project but will not lead to an academic award. Applicants will need to demonstrate how their secondment activity will benefit the NHS in the longer term. 2.2. Doctoral Research Fellowships These fellowships are open to anyone wishing to develop academic genomics research skills. Applicants must be employed by the NHS and will need to register with a recognised Higher Education Institution. The host organisation (university) must provide a research/academic supervisor. The Doctoral Research Fellowship offers 3 years full-time funding (5 or 6 years parttime) to undertake a PhD and is aimed at individuals of outstanding potential. It is anticipated that successful applicants would become independent research leaders in the health system within 6 to 10 years of completing the fellowship award. 2.3. Post-Doctoral Fellowships The Post-Doctoral Fellowships offers 2 years full time funding (or 3 or 4 years part-time) to individuals who are able to demonstrate their potential as researchers but do not, as yet, have sufficient experience to be fully independent. Applicants must evidence success in the form of outputs from doctoral and post-doctoral research, where applicable. Following completion of a Research Fellowship or Secondment, the awardee is expected to be able to show evidence of: Completion of the research proposed in the application, which should lie within the HEE GEP priorities; Award of a PhD (for Doctoral Research Fellowship) or publication journal of a research project in a peer review journal Increased research skills; Increased clinical knowledge and skills where applicable; Involvement in collaborative networking relationships; Dissemination of research findings Where applicable involvement with collecting standard and or additional data sets for example phenotypic data for the 100,000 Genome Project 2
Health Education England through periodic and final report monitoring will seek evidence of the above. 3. The Application Process The HEE GEP Fellowship Scheme is a personal award designed to buy out an individual's salary costs, tuition fees, fund a training and development programme including the attendance at a conference to present a paper, and any other identified research costs required to complete the research project. Fellowships cannot be deferred. The research priority areas for this scheme are listed below. Applicants are required to discuss their chosen research project with their GeCIP Lead where applicable and HEI prior to submitting an application. HEE GEP Research priority areas include: All GeCIP domain areas (see full list of domains here: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/about-gecip/gecip-domains/ ) Annotation and Validation Multi-omics Cell Free Circulating Tumor DNA analysis Psychosocial impact of genomic testing Pedagogic research pertaining to the 100,000 genomes project Health Economics HEE is committed to adding value to the National Health Service benefiting patients and the public. Therefore successful research proposals will be required to demonstrate value for money, as well as being able to communicate results from the research in accessible publications. Proposals can involve: patients; samples or data from patients; members of the public/carers; health technology assessment; health services research; and research into clinical education and training. 4. To apply Applications will be accepted from all registered NHS employed healthcare professionals and should normally have at least 3 years NHS experience. General eligibility applicants should have: relevant academic qualifications: that is a good honors degree in a relevant area, a PhD, a medical degree or eligibility and experience at a level appropriate for registering for a higher degree or secondment evidence of NHS employment or an NHS honorary contract and professional registration the right to study and work in the United Kingdom (if applicable). demonstrable skills in written and spoken English (if applicable). Applicants must be able to provide complete details of their employment history and meet 3
professional health requirements. 4.1 Online Application Applicants will be required to submit their application online. Please discuss proposed research projects as well as your application for HEE GEP funding with your line manager and other relevant individuals. Application Checklist A Personal Statement demonstrating how your experience to date prepares you to undertake Doctoral / Post-Doctoral / Secondment research project, provide details of the University you wish to study at, and state which fellowship you wish to apply for. This statement is useful to explain the rationale of your application (maximum 1000 words). A research proposal* (maximum 4000 words) which explicitly addresses the work you would carry out, detailing how the research will add value to the NHS and patient care. Please ensure that you clearly outline how your objectives or research questions will be addressed. Names and contact details of proposed supervisors should also be included. A current CV (3 pages maximum) to include any relevant publications. 2 full references (1 academic/1 clinical) with full contact details (references can be sent separately. A statement of support from your employer, including details of any additional funding provided by your employer or other organisation to support the research. Evidence from your chosen HEI that they have agreed to host your PhD/ Post-Doctoral / Secondment (if applicable) if you are awarded a fellowship. To include: name, title, brief outline of their research area, contact details. Finance detailed costings approved by an appropriate finance manager or equivalent. Figures to include salary and HEI fees. A flat fee will be given for consumables such as travel costs and resources. Applicants should justify each cost listed. Additional funds will not be available at a later date. Copies of your degree certificates and transcripts, and professional registration details (sent as PDFs). Evidence of English Language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any element, or equivalent) if your first language is not English. 4.2 Research proposals should address: why you wish to undertake this research study; outline what you plan to do for this research; how you will go about your research study; when you plan to start and the proposed end; what you envisage will be the proposed impact of your research. 4.3 Research Ethics Committee (REC) approval All studies involving patients, patient tissue or patient information must obtain the necessary research ethics committee approval before any research is undertaken. 4
5. Assessment of Applications Awards will be made following open competition. Following the submission deadline, the HEE GEP Programme team will check applications for completeness and eligibility and will distribute eligible applications to members of an established Assessment Panel, which will include Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership (GECIP) experts The panel will assess all eligible applications (using the Assessment Criteria below). Applications will be sent for external peer review if deemed necessary. Feedback will be sent to unsuccessful interview applicants after the funding decisions have been made. 5.1 Assessment Criteria The Panel will use the following criteria to assess applicants: 1. The quality and relevance of the applicant's recent and overall experience 2. The quality and relevance of the applicant's research experience and outputs. 3. The evidenced commitment and potential of the applicant to develop as a research academic. 4. The quality of the proposed research, its aims, its relevance to GMC / GeCIP, its suitability as a research project, and its potential to benefit patients and or clinical practice. 5. The extent to which the Fellowship will support the development of the applicant's skills as a clinician / non-clinician as well as an academic. 6. The quality, scope and relevance of the review of existing evidence. 7. The appropriateness and level of patient and public involvement 8. Detailed costings 9. The appropriateness of the proposed supervision. 10. The feasibility and appropriateness of the management and support arrangements proposed by the HEI. 11. The quality of the proposed training and development programme the applicant will undertake. In addition to assessing the above, the panel will also take the appropriateness and value for money of the funds requested into consideration. Applicants are strongly recommended to be mindful of these assessment criteria, and refer to them when developing their application 6. Key Dates 1. Call for Applications week of 1st December 2016 2. Submission Deadline 28th February 2017 3. Interviews week commencing 27 th March 2017 4. Notification of outcome by 7 th April 2017 5
6.1 Responses and Feedback Feedback will be available for unsuccessful interview applicants after the funding decisions have been made. We are only able to provide feedback to interviewed candidates upon request. If your application is successful, you will be sent a Fellowship confirmation letter. You will be required to accept the terms of the fellowship award and to activate the fellowship within three (3) months of receiving it. After your fellowship has been awarded, you will be required to submit end of year updates on your fellowship to the HEE GEP. 7. Confidentiality In the course of your research you may have access to personal or confidential information which must not be disclosed or made available to any other person unless in the performance of your duties or with specific permission from your Centre/ Division /Department. (In particular if your work involves the handling of clinical samples and/or patient data, NHS policies for the maintenance of security and confidentiality of NHS systems and data must be observed). 8. Equal opportunities HEE is committed to providing equality of opportunity in employment, delivery of services and when engaging with people as part of our day-to-day business. Our selection process aims to be fair, consistent and non-discriminatory. 9. Summary of Terms 9.1 Acknowledgement of support In all publications, that is, oral or written reports, poster presentations or publications, the author(s) must acknowledge the financial support of Health Education England (HEE) Genomics Education Programme (GEP) and where possible, display the funded HEE GEP logo. 9.2 Period of Fellowship Fixed Term Fellowship Contract To continue research at a post-doctoral level (2 years) To obtain a PhD by research (3 years) To undertake secondment (6-12 months) The PhD or Post-Doctoral Fellowship may be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time Fellowships are available to undertake research for 3 years (PhD) or 2 years (Post- Doctoral) at 100% WTE. In order to provide an opportunity for talented individuals who, for personal reasons, are unable 6
to undertake full-time research, the Doctoral Research Fellowship is available for 5 or 6 years part-time (i.e. 75% or 60% WTE) or Post Doc for 3 or 4 years. HEE GEP is not able to fund awards of any other duration or profile. Activities outside of the Fellowship are at your discretion and will not be funded by the Fellowship. 9.3 Finance: Applicants are required to discuss their chosen research project with their GeCIP Lead where applicable and HEI prior to submitting an application. All amounts specified in the Fellowship Application Form (FAF) should be inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT) once an application for financial support has been approved a grant will only be awarded when HEE GEP is satisfied that all necessary conditions have been met. The Host institution will be responsible for any expenditure on the Application in excess of the funding stipulated in the FAF. The Host Institution and proposed Fellowship -holder must formally accept the Fellowship as detailed in the FAF and agree to the Schemes conditions. The Fellowship must be activated by the Fellowship -holder within three (3) months from the start date indicated on the FAF. The Host organisation will oversee the financial and the Human Resources elements of the agreed contract, including setting out the details of the arrangements Please note, Government procurement transparency regulations require publication of details of all contracts made with the Department of Health on the Department of Health Website. The Grant termination date is defined by the duration of the award from the activation date In sum, HEE GEP will pay the directly incurred costs of research, That is, salaries including oncosts, a contribution towards travel, subsistence, conference fees and consumables. HEE GEP will not pay either directly allocated (including estate costs) or indirect costs on individual research awards. Awards are provided on the understanding that the host institution will meet directly allocated and indirect costs including lighting heating central support staff salaries, costs of equipment maintenance telephones, copying postage, use of library facilities and general laboratory and office equipment. 9.4 Salary Salary allocation may be used to fund salary, the employer s national insurance contribution and an employer s pension contribution which will not be higher than the rate used by the University Superannuation Scheme or NHS scheme. It must not be used to offset any prior under funding of the pension scheme In the event of maternity, paternity, adoption or sick leave being taken, salary allocation may only be used as cover for the vacant position, rather than for benefit payments for the staff member taking an extended period of leave. It is the responsibility of the Host institution to cover 7
these costs regardless of the fact that the staff member s salary is paid from a grant funded by HEE GEP. 9.4 Equipment Funds for equipment are awarded on the condition that only those items specified on the FAF may be purchased Equipment purchased through a HEE GEP is awarded to the Host Institution specifically for the purpose of the Fellowship -holder s research 9.6 Subsistence Allowance A contribution will be made towards travel, subsistence and conference fees based on figures submitted. Travel should be at standard class only and should be booked as far in advance as possible to take advantage of lower fares. 10. Limitation of liability HEE GEP accepts no responsibility for costs or liabilities incurred in connection with the research or other work funded by the HEE GMC award other than those costs specifically set out in the application. HEE GEP takes no responsibility for expenditure incurred before the award is activated or after the Fellowship award has been closed HEE GEP cannot be responsible for liabilities arising out of the acts or omissions of the Host institution (HEI or organization), the fellowship holder, or others involved in the research or other work funded by the HEE GEP award. The Host institution will be required to indemnify HEE GEP against any costs, claims or liabilities suffered or incurred by HEE GEP as a result of any action, claim or complaint brought by a third party against HEE GEP arising out of or in connection with the research or other work. HEE GEP is not liable for loss or injury caused or deemed to be caused by the use or misuse of any equipment funded under the Fellowship scheme. 11. Variation and Termination HEE GEP reserves the right to withhold or suspend the Fellowship award if it is deemed necessary to do so. HEE GEP reserves the right to terminate the fellowship award with sixty days - notice. Individuals awarded fellowships may terminate their award with sixty days -notice. 12. Application details Thank you for your interest in the HEE GEP Fellowship scheme. It is important that you read the fellowship scheme documentation before completing your application form online. For further information or clarification on any aspect of the Fellowship process please email jacqueline.macdonald-davis@nhs.net 8
If you experience technical issues with your application, please contact jonathan.bowlas@hee.nhs.uk 9