Policy

MB PhD working group

Summary| Working Group Membership| Terms of Reference| Project Downloads

The future of academic medicine in the UK depends on the next generation of outstanding young researchers and clinicians who will be tomorrows leaders in the field.

In order to safeguard the number and quality of clinical academics, recent work has been undertaken by a subcommittee of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) and Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) to create and implement new dedicated academic training programmes which are both attractive and appropriate. The Academy of Medical Sciences welcomes these developments.

Amidst the changing landscape of academic clinical training and career pathways, it should be recognised that a prestigious integrated clinical academic training programme has been in existence for over 15 years. The MB PhD programme allows a selected group of students to develop their basic science skills from BSc to PhD whilst completing their undergraduate medical education. There are currently only two UK universities with formally established MB PhD programmes, however, this model is well developed in the USA and is believed to have assisted in the emergence of US leadership in clinical science.

Given the current assimilation of new and old clinical academic training schemes, the Clinical Academic Careers Committee of the Academy of Medical Sciences considered it timely to convene a MB PhD Working Group to consider the merit and compatibility of the scheme. The working group is chaired by Professor Mike Spyer, FMedSci.

The final position paper has now been published.

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• Professor Mike Spyer FMedSci (Chair): Vice-Provost (Biomedicine) & Dean, University College London
• Professor Patrick Vallance FMedSci: Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline R&D
• Professor Ian Lauder FMedSci: Dean, Leicester Warwick Medical School
• Professor Tim Cox FMedSci: Professor of Medicine, University of Cambridge
• Dr Sarah Tabrizi: Clinician Scientist Fellow, Institute of Neurology, London
• Dr Katie Petty-Saphon: Executive Director, Council of Heads of Medical Schools
• Dr Robin Fears: Policy Consultant to the Academy of Medical Sciences
• Dr Rhys Roberts: Past MB PhD student, University of Cambridge
• Mr Jonathan Roos: Current MB PhD student, University of Cambridge
• Mr Daniel Marks: Current MB PhD student, University College London
• Ms Emma Bennett (Secretariat): Mentoring Officer, AMS
• Dr Suzanne Candy (Secretariat): Senior Officer, Academic Careers, AMS

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To evaluate the MB PhD schemes that currently exist within the UK. To determine where the MB PhD fits within the portfolio of Academic Career pathways and to recommend how the scheme should be organized and sustained in the UK.

In order to achieve this goal the Working Group will:

• Undertake a succinct, high-quality review of the existing MB PhD schemes in the UK.
• Identify what currently does and does not work within UK programmes.
• Make comparisons with the MB PhD programmes of other countries.
• Consider appropriate ways of organizing and funding the scheme.
• Identify the potential for developing the programme within the new Academic Career pathways.
• Advise the UK Clinical Research Collaboration and other stakeholders of the findings of the report and, where appropriate, recommend action.
  

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• MB PhD Position Paper [356.05k]
• Working group summary paper [172.09k]
• Symposium programme [1.88mb]
• Proceedings of symposium [163.07k]
• Call for evidence [84.59k]

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