First Steps into Research

APPLICATIONS FOR COHORT 6 (SPRING 2027 START) ARE NOW OPEN!

This is a 12-day structured research experience taken flexibly over 12 months for early career professionals to become embedded in an established research team in higher education and/or the NHS to participate in a broad range of research activities.  The individual will have an identified research mentor who will also provide support to explore career development opportunities beyond the funded period.

We have identified 18 ‘First Steps’ opportunities for application for Cohort 6 (commencing Spring 2027), which are available across four universities and NHS Lothian. Some of the studies may take place in other Health Boards. Full details can be accessed in the table below. These opportunities may not always match a professional’s specialism but should be seen as an opportunity to gain insight and experience into research and to promote the acquisition of transferable knowledge and skills. Some opportunities are at universities outside the Lothian area, however, these should still be considered as much of the contact with the mentor, research team and research activities can be done remotely.

Prospective candidates are also able to propose their own ‘First Steps’ opportunity.  This require extensive engagement with a host research team, a process that would be led by the candidate.  In addition to the standard application form candidates wishing to do this would be required to submit a ‘First Steps into Research Opportunity’ form completed by the host team, which confirms the full details.

Each ‘First Steps’ opportunity will involve the opportunity to achieve a range of relevant Research Development Objectives.

These awards fund the salary costs of 12 days study leave (subject to a cap of £3,500 per award) plus each successful ‘First Steps’ candidate will be awarded access to up to £500 funding that can be put towards a recognised research development opportunity; this could be a Masters level research module, attendance at a research conference, introductory research methods course.  All candidates will be invited to attend Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.

The funding awarded can be applied flexibly over a 12 month period in terms of when the study days are taken.

Applications should be submitted by 18th January 2027.

Application form First Steps Gateway Award – submit to Loth.GatewayAwards@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Please also complete and return an Equal Opportunities Form

Full Terms and Conditions of a First Steps into Research Gateway Award

INSTITUTION	THEME	DETAILS	TARGET GROUP
Edinburgh Napier University	Cardiovascular Health	Cardiovascular Research – Prof Lis Neubeck	All
Edinburgh Napier University	Maternity Care	Who has a caesarian and why? – Dr Martin Sharp	All
Edinburgh Napier University	Respiratory Care	Respiratory Care – Professor Nicola Roberts	All
Edinburgh Napier University	Midwifery	Continuity of Midwifery Care – Prof Yvonne Kuipers and Dr Alix Aitken-Arbuckle	Midwifery
Edinburgh Napier University	Antimicrobial Resistance	Short Duration Antibiotic Therapy for Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis (SHORTER Trial): A Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation of a Randomised Controlled Trial – Dr Gosha Colquhoun, Dr Jamie Smith	All
Edinburgh Napier University	Historical Research (archives)	Researching Scotland’s forgotten 18th century expert midwives: analysis of midwife Mrs Cowper’s birth book – Prof Nicola Ring	All
NHS Lothian	Emergency Department	TERMINAC – Early termination of N-acetylcysteine following paracetamol overdose – Rachel O’Brien and Caroline Blackstock	All
NHS Lothian/University of Edinburgh	Clinical Trials	Edinburgh Clinical Research Facilities – Opportunity to be involved in wide range of clinical trials to suit the individual – Dr Corrienne McCulloch and Lesley Briody	All
NHS Lothian/University of Edinburgh	Paediatric Critical Care	Data driven improvement research in paediatric critical and acute care / IMPACT-ACE programme – [awaiting update] – Dr Milly Lo	All Paediatric
NHS Lothian/University of Edinburgh	Infectious Diseases	Clinical infection research including sexual health, blood borne viruses, microbiology, Covid -19 and emerging infection – Amy Shepherd, Susie Ferguson	All
NHS Lothian	Cancer	Cancer Clinical Trials – Heather McVicars	All
Queen Margaret University	Neuro-affirming Practices	NAIT research programme 2025-2026 focused on neuro-affirming practices in health, education, employment and justice contexts – Dr Marion Rutherford	All
Queen Margaret University	Children with Long Term Conditions	Young People Advisory Group for research in children living with long term conditions – Prof Pelagia Koufaki	All Paediatric
Queen Margaret University	Osteoporosis	Lydia X Osteoporosis project – Dr Gemma Stevenson, Vicki Waga	All
University of Edinburgh	Pharmacy, Social Disadvantage	INterVEntion by phaRmacy technicianS to improve prEscribing and CARE for people with multimorbidities living in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage (INVERSE CARE). – Dr Richard Lowrie	All
University of Edinburgh	Cardiovascular	Adoption of the universal definition and classification of myocardial infarction (ADOPT UDMI) – Dr Amy Ferry	All
University of Edinburgh (Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic)	Neurodegenerative Disorders	RowlingCARE (Clinical, Audit, Research and Evaluation) – Judy Newton, Prof Suvankar Pal and Prof Siddharthan Chandran
University of Strathclyde	Pharmacy, Substance Dependency	Culture Change on the Curriculum (Triple C): Tackling Stigma in the Pharmaceutical Care of Substance Dependency to Support Recovery – Dr Natalie Weir and Dr David Kernaghan	All

First Steps Opportunities 2027

Aims

1. To identify early career NMAHPPS professionals who demonstrate interest and potential for a clinical academic research career
2. To create a rich and realistic introduction to a research career by providing experience of participating in an existing research study or supporting the development of a funding application.
3. To provide mentorship and support regarding the next steps on clinical academic research career pathway.

Target Group

• NMAHPPS employed by NHS Lothian who are keen to develop research relevant skills and knowledge
• Applicants are likely to be early career, however, more experienced NMAHPPs may be considered
• Ideally undergraduate NMAHPPS students should be made aware of the prospect of the award during the final year of their learning programme and should be encouraged to make links with the respective NHS Lothian research leads at an early stage of their employment.

Criteria for Application

• In a substantive post employed by NHS Lothian
• Identification of research interest within personal development plan

Criteria for Award

• Support from immediate line manager to be released for study leave
• Clarification from candidate and line manager that any identified area of research interest is relevant to NHS Lothian priorities

Expected Outcomes

There are a range of outcomes that could arise from this award:

• Engagement in research tasks associated with an ongoing research project (e.g. recruitment, consenting, data collection, data analysis, report writing etc.)
• Participation in systematic reviewing processes (e.g. database searching, screening, data extraction etc.)
• Networking activities (e.g. conference attendance for presenting a poster/abstract etc either as first or co-author etc)
• Named author on publication associated with the research project (this may come at a later stage after the end of the funded award)

Next Steps

• Candidates could be considered for an ongoing academic home with the research team (see Lothian NMAHPPS Clinical and Academic Home Framework)
• There may be opportunities to apply for a Research Masters Gateway award or, if the candidate has sufficient academic experience, a Pre-doctoral Gateway
• Candidates will be invited to join the NMAHPPS Doctoral Network for ongoing peer support and networking