Essex to train up next generation of health and social care researchers

The University of Essex will provide research training to dozens of health care experts as part of a national scheme aimed at increasing the number of professionals who undertake research in the health and social care sector in the East of England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research is funding the £34.9m INSIGHT: Inspiring Students into Research scheme, which involves universities in 12 different regions in England.

Essex has been selected as the lead organisation regionally, and will offer 90 research training masters places across three years alongside partner institute, the University of Hertfordshire.

Project lead, Professor Fay Crawford, of Essex’s School of Health and Social Care, said: “This unprecedented opportunity for research training will increase the capacity for research in health and social care across the region.

“It aims to bring benefits for those who use health and care services in the East of England and help achieve better outcomes in health and wellbeing for those who live and work in the area.

“If you have recently registered as a health or social care practitioner and ever wondered whether a career in health and care research might be for you, this is your chance to find out."

The INSIGHT scheme funds engagement activities to introduce students to the wide-ranging benefits from health and care research. 

INSIGHT regional programmes are open to students and recent graduates from registered healthcare professions (not including doctors and dentists), social work professions and public health professions.

Masters studentships can be held full-time or part-time over a two-year period.

The first cohort of places start from September 2024.

Professor Waljit Dhillo, Dean of the NIHR Academy, said: “We know how important early exposure to research is for building capacity within health and social care.

“The INSIGHT programme will offer over 300 funded research masters places per year and provide engagement activities that have the potential to excite and capture the imagination of students at an early stage in their career.

“I’m delighted that we’ll be able to show students all of the benefits that research roles and careers have, both for professionals and within health and care.”