Academic career development

Ageing and multiple long-term conditions are a priority for the NIHR and the NHS, but people impacted by these conditions remain under-served by the research community, meaning that expanding workforce capacity in this area is vital.

We aim to build capacity through collaborative leadership and training opportunities that will develop a flourishing interdisciplinary pipeline of translational researchers for the future.

 

Our strategy

Our strategy establishes the NIHR BRC: Newcastle as a national centre of excellence committed to the development of a skilled interdisciplinary academic workforce focused on tackling the increasing health and societal challenges of ageing and multiple long-term conditions in the UK.

Our three strategic priorities to support a pipeline of the next generation of research leaders are:

  1. To promote an attractive academic destination for researchers at all career stages, with an emphasis on attracting future innovators​
  2. To build an inclusive faculty of doctoral researchers from a broad range of academic disciplines and professional backgrounds to receive high quality research training​
  3. To establish a community of BRC early career researchers that is supported over critical career hurdles and interfaces with other RCD opportunities within the NIHR Academy and infrastructures

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Newcastle Mentoring Pilot

The NIHR BRC: Newcastle is piloting a new mentoring initiative that aims to support researchers’ personal and professional growth, develop careers and build connections, across the breadth of disciplines within our BRC community.

The BRC Mentoring Pilot aims to:

  • Foster professional growth and collaboration
  • Build a supportive and inclusive network
  • Encourage mutual learning
  • Support interdisciplinary collaboration, as the mentor does not need to be from your discipline
  • Provide resources to support mentoring relationships to maximise success

Find more and apply

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Celebrating NIHR BRC: Newcastle Research Excellence - Research Capacity Building

On Wednesday, 18 March 2026, we welcomed over 200 people to celebrate research excellence across the BRC and the richness and diversity of the people who make this possible.

Over the past two decades, the NIHR has been driving life-changing research for the health and wealth of the nation. It has opened doors for new talent, strengthened research capacity nationally, and ensured evidence generated through world-leading research delivers real benefits for patients, families, and communities.

Our alumni

In this film, our BRC alumni talk about the training and career development opportunities they have received. Our trainees have included pre- and post-doctoral researchers, and include biomedical PhD students and healthcare professionals such as doctors, dentists, healthcare scientists, nurses and allied health professionals.

Our team

The BRC plays a central role in Research Capacity Development initiatives locally and nationally through our dedicated Academic Career Development team.

Dr Arthur Pratt

Arthur is Academic Career Development (ACD) Lead and co-leads our BRC’s Musculoskeletal disease and Inflammation Medicine research Theme. He is passionate about the benefits of supporting non-traditional routes into academia. Arthur works closely with Deputy ACD Lead.

Dr Silvia Del Din

Silvia is the Deputy Academic Career Development (ACD) Lead and is on the BRC’s Leadership Track in the Digital Health, Ageing Innovation and Inclusion research Theme. Silvia is an advocate for Early Career Researchers (ECR) and strives to be a role model for women in STEM.

Cissie Tsang

Training, Education and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager