The University of Sunderland has been granted more than £2m of funding by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to establish a Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO) and Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) program to enhance research opportunities for medical students and junior doctors. The allocated funds will be used over the next three years to provide eight Academic Clinical Fellowships, 30 medical student internships, and 30 funded intercalated degrees that equip students with essential academic skills. The CATO and ACF scheme aims to improve patient care and advance medical training, while supporting ongoing research in public health and translating early-stage clinical research into practical healthcare advances.
Scott Wilkes, Head of the School of Medicine, expressed his excitement regarding the grant, stating, “This is game-changing for the School of Medicine and the University. I’m truly excited to see this acorn grow into an oak tree.” A CATO Clinical Academic Director, a CATO Manager, a CATO Administrator (research), and a CATO Administrator (education) will support the program. The CATO and ACF initiative will provide medical undergraduates with research skills essential to develop their academic portfolio and upskill the workforce for the patients’ advantage. According to Dr. Ellen Tullo, a specialty doctor in geriatrics at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Academic and Intercalated Degrees Lead for the School of Medicine, this funding not only recognizes academic potential but also helps make medical healthcare research more impactful while promoting research collaborations. The ultimate objective is to develop research-intensive laboratories and teams that produce outstanding work with a broad range of advantages for patients.
The University of Sunderland has been granted more than £2m of funding by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to establish a Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO) and Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) program to enhance research opportunities for medical students and junior doctors. The allocated funds will be used over the next three years to provide eight Academic Clinical Fellowships, 30 medical student internships, and 30 funded intercalated degrees that equip students with essential academic skills. The CATO and ACF scheme aims to improve patient care and advance medical training, while supporting ongoing research in public health and translating early-stage clinical research into practical healthcare advances.
Scott Wilkes, Head of the School of Medicine, expressed his excitement regarding the grant, stating, “This is game-changing for the School of Medicine and the University. I’m truly excited to see this acorn grow into an oak tree.” A CATO Clinical Academic Director, a CATO Manager, a CATO Administrator (research), and a CATO Administrator (education) will support the program. The CATO and ACF initiative will provide medical undergraduates with research skills essential to develop their academic portfolio and upskill the workforce for the patients’ advantage. According to Dr. Ellen Tullo, a specialty doctor in geriatrics at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Academic and Intercalated Degrees Lead for the School of Medicine, this funding not only recognizes academic potential but also helps make medical healthcare research more impactful while promoting research collaborations. The ultimate objective is to develop research-intensive laboratories and teams that produce outstanding work with a broad range of advantages for patients.