Clinical Academic Training Programme

Five academics standing in a line smiling

Clinical Academic Training Programme

乐播传媒’s Clinical Academic Training Programme (CATP) is part of the NIHR's and supports Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs), Academic Clinical Lecturers (CLs), and other doctors undertaking higher research degrees at the 乐播传媒 during their clinical training.

Our programme is for doctors who wish to include elements of research, teaching or healthcare management in their work to help improve clinical practice in their speciality.

It helps to develop research and transferable skills at each of the key stages during training, with the aim of developing future leaders in research and education.

All clinical academic resident doctors in our programme undertake their research within one of the school's research groups, meet regularly with their research supervisor to plan and interpret their research, work to a personal academic development plan, and access both training in transferable academic skills and our mentorship programme.

Some of our programmes are run as part of the National Institute for Health Research's (NIHR) Integrated Clinical Academic Training Programme and so our application process follows their timeline. All roles are advertised nationally.

The Clinical Academic Training Programme is celebrating its 20th anniversary, a significant milestone in its aim to support and train the clinical academics of the future. In the last 20 years CATP has trained nearly 400 resident doctors in research skills, encouraging then to pursue a career in clinical academia.
See the 20 years of CATP infographic in full

Latest news about the programme

We also offer programmes outside of the NIHR pathway through clinical research fellowships and some clinical lectureships.

As a CL the CATP in 乐播传媒 offered a personal touch and huge flexibility to complete my clinical and academic training in a way that worked for me. The support provided by the programme directors and supporting team was second to none and facilitated my completion of the programme on time, despite the covid pandemic. I would highly recommend undertaking a CL in 乐播传媒.
Tim Ritzmann, Clinical Associate Professor of Paediatric Neuro-Oncology and Cancer Biology

View our 2026 showcase of CATP research

Programmes

Academic Clinical Fellowship

Academic Clinical Lectureship

Other programmes

Entry levels

Following the completion of your F1 and F2 years in the UK Foundation Programme, you can join the CATP at various levels:

As an Academic Clinical Fellow for three to four years of specialist training for those who have just completed the UK Foundation Programme
As an Academic Clinical Lecturer for up to four years for those who are medically qualified, have already completed their doctorate, and are ST3 or higher
As a senior resident doctor in your final speciality training years after completing a PhD or research MD
As a resident doctor taking time out from your clinical training programme to undertake a clinical research fellowship or clinical lectureship

There are also some other programmes which provide routes into CATP when you are in your final year of the UK Foundation Programme.

Testimonials

Gavin Fong

Gavin explains the opportunities available as an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow

Naaventhan Palaniyappan

Naaventhan Palaniyappan, Clinical Associate Professor in Hepatology, explains the mentoring support available

Harriet Delahoy

Harriet Delahoy explains her role in supporting Clinical Academics as the Clinical Academic Training Programme and People Services Coordinator

Meet the team

Professors Shalini Ojha and Rob Dineen are Co-Directors of CATP in 乐播传媒 and Professor David Humes is the Deputy Director. The Specialised Foundation Programme section of the programme is lead by Clinical Associate Professor Fiona Pearce. The programme as a whole is supported by an administration team lead by Harriet Delahoy and supported by Katie Harrison.