East of England NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme

The EOE HCP internship programme aims to provide bespoke support to health care professionals based on their stage of research career, from those new to research to those progressing towards clinical academic pathway.

The programme is designed to:

• Support individuals at different stages of research development
• Promote research-informed practice and leadership
• Build research capacity, capability and confidence within the health and care workforce
• Foster a positive and inclusive research culture across the region

The internship supports flexible entry depending on experience and aspirations, structured around four progressive levels:

Stepping into Research

Ideal for those new to research, this pathway introduces foundational research concepts, national training resources (e.g. NIHR Learn), and how research improves care and quality outcomes.

Growing into Research

Supports deeper understanding of integrating research into daily practice, through activities such as literature reviews, shadowing, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.

Research Delivery Leadership

Designed for those with prior research exposure, this pathway includes opportunities to shadow senior researchers, attend ethics panels, and engage in research management and infrastructure.

Clinician/Practitioner Academic Leadership

Targeted at those considering formal academic research careers. Interns will be supported in research design, methods, academic development, and career planning.

What is available through this award?

Interns will have access to a wide range of resources, experiences and support, including:

1. Tailored learning and development plans
2. Formal learning: Webinars, workshops, short courses (face-to-face and online)
3. Bespoke placements: Opportunities across clinical trials units, academic institutions, research parks, and more
4. Mentorships and supervision: One-to-one guidance from experienced clinical academics, researchers, and practitioners
5. Peer support and alumni network: A strong community of practice for networking, collaboration, and shared learning
6. Career conversations: Individualised guidance on career progression and academic opportunities
7. Academic credit opportunities: e.g. credit-bearing modules such as UEA’s Research Practice Portfolio
8. Specialist opportunities may include: Global Health Research Training, Public and Patient Involvement & Engagement (PPIE), Writing for Publication Support, NIHR Learn, MOOCs, Cambridge BRC PPIE Virtual Training, Access to evaluation, QI and research scholarship programmes

Eligibility

You must be registered with one of the regulatory bodies belowplus

• Work in the East of England region in NHS healthcare, social care or public health settings
• Have the signed support from your employer for release for the duration of the programme

Funding

• On average around £10,000 is allocated to each intern for activities to support their growth
• The funding can be used to cover salary backfill and other activities such as research training and development, engagement activities
• Costing the funds will be led by the core team and shared with interns as part of the bespoke programme design process. For the East of England programme, you are not expected to design and cost your activities – this differs to other NIHR funded programmes and some running in other regions. Through a scoping exercise prior to submitting the bid to host this award it was clear that the need in our region was for an earlier stage; support with programmes of activities and fundings therefore are included in the programme design