The UK's status as a world leader in medical research is underpinned by its first class workforce. We want to see the next generation of medical scientists navigate a clear career path, with the right funding opportunities, whether that is in the clinic or the laboratory.
Through our careers policy work, we: monitor the research, healthcare and higher education landscape; respond to changes and challenges in training and career structures; and identify key issues on the horizon where we can shape policy and make a difference to researchers across the biomedical disciplines. Our careers policy work is led by the Academic Careers Committee, which works across the spectrum of clinical and biomedical research careers.
We also work with the Royal Society to support researchers with exceptional talent or promise who wish to work in the UK.
View all careers policy projects.
- Academic leadership workshop: As part of the wider project on 'Enhancing the NHS-academia Interface', the Academy is holding a workshop to convene key stakeholders from across industry, academia and the NHS to explore the current and future requirements for clinical academia leadership. The meeting will reflect on how to develop leaders and innovators that are equipped with the necessary skills to meet emerging healthcare challenges, and to embrace advances in novel practises and technology.
- Team Science: In March 2016, the Academy of Medical Sciences published a working group report on ‘Improving recognition of team science contributions in biomedical research careers’. Two years on, we brought together key stakeholders in a workshop to take stock of the progress and identify the existing challenges and opportunities surrounding team science, in addition to providing a platform to identify opportunities to best support team science for the future.
- Consultation on draft standards for medical education and training: We submitted a joint response with the Wellcome Trust to this 2015 consultation by the General Medical Council.
- Shape of Training: We provided input to the 2013 review, which looked at potential reforms to the structure of postgraduate medical education and training. Having issued an initial response to the report upon its publication, we are now monitoring the development and implementation of the report's recommendations. The Academy wants to see reforms embed research awareness across the medical workforce and nurture future research leaders.
- Redressing the balance: the status and valuation of teaching in academic careers. In June 2014, the Academy published the summary of a joint project following up the implementation of our 2010 report's recommendations. This work was done in conjunction with the Physiological Society, Society of Biology and Heads of University Biosciences (HUBS) (a special interest group of the Society of Biology).
- NHS workforce reforms: the management of education and training was re-organised as part of the 2012 health reforms in England. We fed into the proposals as they progressed and responded to the development of the Bill.