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BHP’s 2026 training programmes open for applications

BHP’s 2026 training programmes open for applications

The next round of recruitment for BHP’s training and development programmes is now underway, with the clinical-academic training team accepting applications until Monday 19 January 2026.

Giving all healthcare staff the opportunity to undertake research for patient benefit is essential for improving patient care and developing NHS services. BHP is proud to provide a route into research for NHS staff at all career stages through a series of tailored training opportunities and fellowships:

  • BHP Starter Fellowships, allowing individuals to start their research career providing cost to cover one year’s salary to undertake a Master’s by Research
  • Clinical Academic Research Partnerships (CARP), to support individuals continue their research careers while delivering clinical service providing salary funding for two programmed activities (PAs) – or 8 hours per week – of protected research time for two years
  • New Consultant Scheme, providing salary funding for two programmed activities (PAs) – or 8 hours per week – of protected research time for three years
  • BHP Clinician Scientist, 50:50 appointments providing an academic consultant post linked with one of our NHS trusts to develop individuals as successful independent clinical researchers

BHP’s Managing Director Professor Lorraine Harper will host two online information and Q&A sessions on our programmes as follows:

  • CARP, New Consultant scheme and BHP Clinician Scientist: Monday 27 October 2025, 11.30-12.30pm
  • BHP Starter Fellowship: Tuesday 4 November 2025, 9.30-10.30am

To receive the joining link, please email icat@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Here’s what some recent participants and alumni had to say…

Dr Joseph Sturman, BHP Starter Fellowship 2023-24

The fellowship has been essential to my career development and I am in no doubt that without it, I would not have been able to embark on a PhD. The fellowship has opened up so many opportunities for collaboration and research both locally and nationally, and I look back on the BHP Starter Fellowship as a pivotal moment in my career.”

Read more from Joseph here

Dr Anna Seale, BHP CARP scheme 2023-25

My advice to anyone applying would be think carefully about what you are going to do, be flexible that things may change as you learn more about your project, use the resources of the academic institutions, and recognise that this is only the start of a longer journey. Just do it!”

Read more from Anna here

Dr Mark Openshaw, BHP New Consultant scheme 2024-26

Having protected time for research – and formal recognition of its value – is essential to progressing my work on circulating tumour DNA. The BHP scheme offered a strong initial opportunity to secure dedicated research time, alongside support from experienced academic clinicians, which made it an ideal platform to help sustain and grow my research career.

Read more from Mark here

Learn more about our programmes and apply

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BHP People – “the ultimate goal is to make research more accessible”

Pardeep Janjua, Research Data and Systems Officer at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, is the Trust’s first recipient of the BHP People recognition award.

We spoke to Pardeep about transitioning from pharmacy to data management, and the challenges and opportunities of scaling his work from SWB across the region more widely.

Q: Can you briefly run us through your career so far and how you came to work at SWB?

PJ: I began my career in clinical trials back in 2012, when I moved from main pharmacy into clinical trials pharmacy. At first, I wasn’t quite sure – clinical trials is a niche field – but after speaking with the team, I really liked the idea of being at the forefront of new medical treatments and I’ve never really looked back. The role provided a fantastic environment to build strong governance skills and develop a solid understanding of clinical trials, especially CTIMPs. Over the years, we started thinking about how to better monitor our performance and evolve our working practices. That led to the development of KPI monitoring and reporting tools, and eventually, Power BI dashboards.

From there, things really took off. During COVID, as many trials stopped, we took the opportunity to review our processes and developed innovative ways of reporting finance, which we showcased regionally and nationally. The natural next step for me was to expand that work beyond pharmacy and I briefly moved to Clinical Trials Facilitator, managing study set up.

However, my passion remained in systems and data to drive improvement. An opportunity came up to join SWB as the Research Systems and Data Officer, and it felt like a perfect fit – the role has given me the freedom to continue innovating, building real-time, practical tools to monitor and manage research activity. Ultimately, the aim is to help deliver research more effectively and efficiently, providing more opportunities for patients to access cutting-edge treatments and therapies.

Q: In your current role, what are some of the tasks and duties you’re involved in most frequently?

PJ: My core focus is on developing and maintaining data systems that support clinical research delivery. Building Power BI dashboards, working with data from EDGE, and transforming raw data into meaningful, real-time insights. These dashboards support a wide range of functions: monitoring study set-up; amendment workflows; tracking recruitment; governance; and research finance. Working with all teams engaged in research helps to ensure the data reflects their real-world processes and supports evidence-based decision making.

I am also currently leading a Black Country-wide initiative to scale our reporting platform across all local Trusts. I engage and support different teams across the patch – delivering training, understanding their unique working practices, and helping them embed use of the interactive reports they require. I’m also developing a shared governance framework for research data and reporting. Over the past eight months, we’ve made significant progress, developing a range of reports and working closely with stakeholders to create new processes, working instructions, and reporting methods where none previously existed. Much of this effort involves starting from scratch, which makes it a substantial undertaking.

The idea is that by sharing core elements across trusts, we can expand beyond the project’s initial scope to share best practice and continually evolve how we work. I’ve recently been asked to contribute to the national RDN working group on this.

Everything I do, whether locally at Sandwell or across the region, is geared toward building more efficient, transparent, and responsive systems improving how we deliver research. The ultimate goal is to make research more effective and accessible, offering more opportunities for patients to participate. This not only enhances patient care but also facilitates access to cutting-edge medical technologies, advancements, and treatments through research.

Q: Have you experienced any particular challenges in your role, and how have you overcome them?

PJ: One of the key challenges I’ve faced has been trying to implement new process and embed new systems approach. Whenever you’re introducing or integrating something new, it’s often difficult to showcase the benefits clearly.

Working across the wider region adds another layer of complexity as each Trust and site has its own nuances. The difficult part has been identifying how we develop a shared understanding of each process, how we can standardise core elements, and then how we embed that into working practice. I think we’ve made great strides – we’ve collaboratively identified where there are similarities in how we work and in key areas like finance, we’ve managed to create one shared core process.

Finally, ensuring our datasets are complete and accurate remains vital. We monitor data quality closely with a dedicated report and empower teams to manage their own data queries in real time, which helps spread workload and prevents data issues from building up.

Overall, data management in research is challenging, but through clear communication, collaboration, governance, and technical rigor, we are making meaningful progress, which is very rewarding.

Q: Collaboration seems central to your approach – how have you worked with clinicians, researchers and other colleagues to ensure your datasets and reports meet their needs?

PJ: Collaboration is key to all of the work we’ve done. We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders including clinicians, researchers, governance teams, delivery teams, support services, to develop systems and processes that enable them to carry out their usual working practices without adding extra burdens. The aim is to embed data collection naturally into their workflow so they don’t have to do additional data entry, while still providing relevant reports that deliver the insights they need in a format relevant to them.

Much of this work is done through close one-to-one collaboration – preferably in person because that’s how I truly understand what teams want and need. Regionally, across the Black Country, I engage regularly with governance facilitators, lead nurses, heads of research, finance teams, IT, BI teams, and information governance. For example, some reports have necessitated the need for submission of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), so I ensure that all necessary teams are involved to support the longevity and smooth implementation of our project work. Embedding these processes at the trust level alongside other core services is crucial.

Take the finance teams, for example: we have worked closely with them on implementing a finance tool, uploading costing templates, recording finance data, and reporting it. The process is iterative, we develop the process, collect the data, produce the report, then refine it until it meets their needs.

I also attend specialty lead meetings when possible, providing report demos and updates, sharing the vision, and offering open access to certain principal investigators. Their feedback is invaluable and helps evolve the reports to deliver quicker and more relevant insights.

Without input from all stakeholders, the process simply couldn’t continue. Everyone plays a vital role in making the reports more relevant and ensuring we gain the insights needed for better evidence-based decisions.

Q: What advice would you give to someone weighing up their career options within clinical research?

PJ: For anyone looking to get into clinical research, I’d say it’s an amazing and exciting field. You’re truly at the cutting edge of medical technologies and treatments, contributing to innovations that can make a real difference in patient care.

That said, it’s also hard work. There’s a lot of vital work happening behind the scenes, teams working tirelessly to maintain studies, manage workloads, and keep everything running smoothly. But despite the challenges, it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a culture and a team that’s driving advancements in healthcare.

Ultimately, the goal is to improve the experience and outcomes for patients across our trusts. Being able to contribute to that mission and see the tangible impact of your work is what makes clinical research so fulfilling.

The BHP Starter Fellowship – Joseph’s story

The BHP Starter Fellowship – Joseph’s story

Dr Joseph Sturman is a a Kidney Research UK (KRUK) Clinical PhD Fellow investigating how Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) leads to altered immunometabolism and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Ultimately, his aim is to understand how we can modulate immunometabolism to improve the control of infectious diseases in this vulnerable population, using Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as a model pathogen. His PhD funding application to KRUK was successful thanks to the excellent supervisory support and fundamental preliminary data he collected during his BHP Starter Fellowship in 2023 – 2024.

What attracted you to apply for the BHP Starter Fellowship?

I knew I wanted to be actively involved in research after enjoying my intercalated degree in biomedical sciences, but I wanted to focus on acquiring my clinical competencies when I first graduated from medical school. Once I obtained my specialty training number in renal medicine, I decided it was a good time to explore research again, and the BHP Starter Fellowship offered an ideal opportunity to pursue these interests.

What were the benefits of the fellowship?

The BHP Starter Fellowship offered the protected time and opportunities to participate in meaningful research which would otherwise not be possible for a full-time clinical trainee like myself who did not have the privileges of an academic clinical fellowship earlier in their career. The fellowship was therefore an essential springboard for launching my academic career and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity.

Were there any challenges during the fellowship?

The main challenge was the very steep learning curve to acquire new laboratory, bioinformatic and statistical analysis skills rapidly in order to produce meaningful outcomes within 12 months. Nevertheless, the fellowship was extremely well supported, and the supervision was excellent which meant meeting this challenge was achievable and enjoyable.

How much clinical work did you do while undertaking your fellowship?

During my 12-month fellowship, I did not undertake any clinical work. With so many research skills to acquire, I am glad that I took the time away from clinical commitments as the fellowship was a unique opportunity to gain skills that I wouldn’t get again. Re-entering clinical work after 12 months was challenging but also well supported. Now I have acquired essential research skills, I feel more comfortable undertaking some clinical commitments to ensure I do not lose my clinical skills during my PhD. I currently contribute ~20% of my time to the on-call renal registrar rota while undertaking my PhD.

Did the fellowship help with your clinical practice?

I think the fellowship has helped me become a more well-rounded doctor by developing my analytical and decision-making skills. It has also opened opportunities to write reviews on clinical conditions and case reports which has directly furthered my clinical knowledge base.

Do you feel that the fellowship has helped you with your career development and aspirations?

Absolutely! The fellowship has been essential to my career development and I am in no doubt that without it, I would not have been able to embark on a PhD. The fellowship has opened up so many opportunities for collaboration and research both locally and nationally, and I look back on the BHP Starter Fellowship as a pivotal moment in my career.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of applying for a BHP fellowship?

This is a golden opportunity for anyone who wants to be involved with research but hasn’t completed an academic clinical fellow job earlier in their training. I advise contacting potential supervisors at least a year before applying to give you time to work on a project idea and to get your CV in the best possible shape. To be successful, you need to be able to demonstrate a clear commitment to research, and a cohesive project plan with supervisors who are willing to support you, so give yourself time to work on this. I started by approaching potential supervisors, who gave me some small projects to help me demonstrate my commitment to research, and the project plan came together in discussion with them. All this takes time so start thinking about this early. 

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BHP New Consultant scheme – Mark’s story

BHP New Consultant Scheme – Mark’s story

Dr Mark Openshaw is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at BHP founding member University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. His BHP New Consultants award, which commenced in 2024 and will be completed in 2026, is supporting him to deliver his research into the development of circulating tumour DNA for colon cancer.

What attracted you to apply for the BHP New Consultant’s Award?

Having protected time for research – and formal recognition of its value – is essential to progressing my work on circulating tumour DNA. The BHP scheme offered a strong initial opportunity to secure dedicated research time, alongside support from experienced academic clinicians, which made it an ideal platform to help sustain and grow my research career.

What are the main benefits of this award to you?

The award provides a unique combination of structured research time and financial support, including funding for consumables. The three-year allocation of a protected research day enables me to carry out hands-on lab work and fully engage in grant writing, collaboration, and strategic research meetings – activities that are vital to advancing my research programme.

How challenging has it been to protect your research time?

Balancing research with clinical responsibilities is always a challenge. That said, with support from my Clinical Service Lead, I’ve been able to formally include a full research day in my job plan by reducing some clinical duties. It does require discipline to ensure that clinical work doesn’t spill over into research time, but having it clearly defined in the job plan makes a significant difference.

Do you feel that the award is supporting your career development and aspirations?

Absolutely. Without this dedicated research time, I would not have the capacity to meaningfully progress my research. The award has been instrumental in supporting my academic development and enabling the pursuit of longer-term research goals.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of applying for a BHP award?

Start by refining your research question and connecting early with a supportive senior academic who shares your interests. Speak to previous awardees to understand the process and expectations. If possible, begin developing your project now – laying that groundwork can make a huge difference when the fellowship starts.

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The BHP Starter Fellowship – Anna’s story

Anna Price

Dr Anna Price, ST3 in Renal Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, undertook a Birmingham Health Partners Starter Fellowship in 2015-2016 and is currently undertaking a PhD at University of Birmingham. We spoke to Anna about her thoughts on her fellowship experience.

What attracted you to the BHP Starter Fellowship?

During my undergraduate intercalation I became involved in cardio renal research. I thoroughly enjoyed it and knew from that point on I wanted to do a PhD. After completing an Academic Foundation Programme I was unsuccessful obtaining an Academic Clinical Fellowship. In Core Medical Training the clinical workload was naturally busy and the MRCP and medical curriculum became all consuming. Research projects became squeezed into early mornings and late nights. I was fortunate enough to meet my current supervisor in my cardiology rotation and we made an application to the British Heart Foundation but unfortunately this was unsuccessful.

I applied for speciality training in Renal Medicine but felt like the opportunities to do research were dwindling away. I became resigned to a career without research when the BHP fellowship flyer was emailed to me. The fellowship was a unique opportunity to gain independent funding to complete a PhD on a topic of my choosing. It gave me the break I had been waiting for.

What were the benefits of the Fellowship?

The BHP fellowship gave me dedicated time to make several funding applications and successfully fund my study consumables and time out of programme for three years. Within my BHP fellowship year I was awarded three grants including a personal British Heart Foundation Clinical Training Fellowship totalling £249,000. I have had the time to set up my study protocol, gain ethical approval, buy equipment and learn the skills required to hit the ground running.

Were there any challenges during the fellowship?

This was my golden opportunity to achieve ongoing funding so there was some pressure, this was the biggest hurdle. Most of my colleagues already had funding and were well on their way with a project. It can be frustrating at times waiting for news on grant applications!

How much clinical work did you do while undertaking the fellowship?

During the fellowship I took up half a slot on the on call Renal registrar rota at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. All of my on call commitments are outside of normal working hours i.e. lates, nights and weekends so they don’t interfere with patient recruitment. It does allow me to keep up my clinical skills and in the long run I know it will be much less daunting when I return to training.

Did the fellowship help with your clinical practice?

The fellowship has taught me perseverance and persistence. My confidence has grown and I have more self-belief that I can work through challenges and find my own solutions. I approach research papers in a completely different way now. I am more critical of the methodology used and I don’t take findings at face value.

Do you feel the fellowship has helped with your career development and aspirations?

It has reaffirmed my desire to have a career in Academic Medicine. Completing a PhD is the first step in achieving that goal. Being involved in an established research group has given me experience in clinical trials and multi-centre studies. I have been lucky enough to work with some of the best academics in their field. I have really enjoyed aspects of research that I didn’t think I would such as statistics. I have also been able to explore sub specialities such as hypertension which I hadn’t considered before.

What advice would you give to a prospective applicant?

  1. Identify a supervisor who shares your academic interests and will support you during your research. Someone you can develop a good rapport with is important as you will be working with them closely for a number of years.
  2. Review potential funders early and be aware of grant deadlines (there may only be one application cycle per year).
  3. Develop your project proposal as much as you can. Use existing funding application forms to guide you.