CFAs: Doctoral Clinical Fellowship Programme (UK)

Deadline: 15-Oct-2026

The Alzheimer’s Research UK Doctoral Clinical Fellowship provides funding for clinically qualified healthcare professionals in the UK who want to undertake doctoral-level research in dementia. The fellowship supports research focused on dementia treatment, diagnosis, and prevention, while helping clinicians develop independent research skills and future careers in dementia science.

Successful applicants can receive up to £400,000 over four years full-time or up to six years part-time to support salary, research costs, training, conferences, patient involvement activities, and clinical practice time.

Overview of the Alzheimer’s Research UK Doctoral Clinical Fellowship

The Alzheimer’s Research UK Doctoral Clinical Fellowship supports healthcare professionals who want to combine clinical expertise with advanced dementia research training.

The fellowship is designed for clinicians who:

• Want to pursue a doctoral research degree
• Have an interest in dementia research
• Are developing their research career
• Need support to gain advanced research skills

The programme helps bridge clinical practice and scientific research by supporting healthcare professionals to investigate important dementia-related questions.

Purpose of the Fellowship Programme

The main purpose of this fellowship is to develop the next generation of clinician researchers in dementia.

The programme aims to:

• Support doctoral-level dementia research
• Develop clinical research expertise
• Improve understanding of dementia
• Encourage future independent researchers
• Strengthen links between healthcare and research

Research Areas Supported

Projects must align with the Alzheimer’s Research UK research strategy and focus on improving dementia outcomes.

Supported research areas include:

Dementia Treatment Research

Projects may explore:

• New therapeutic approaches
• Treatment development
• Clinical interventions
• Improving patient outcomes

Dementia Diagnosis Research

Research may focus on:

• Earlier diagnosis methods
• Diagnostic tools
• Biomarkers
• Clinical assessment approaches

Dementia Prevention Research

Projects may investigate:

• Risk reduction strategies
• Preventive interventions
• Factors influencing dementia development

Clinical Trial Research

The programme particularly welcomes applications involving:

• Interventional clinical trials
• Clinical trial experience
• Research using clinical samples

Applicants interested in gaining experience within clinical trials alongside doctoral research are encouraged to apply.

Funding Amount and Duration

The fellowship provides substantial financial support for doctoral clinical researchers.

Funding details include:

• Maximum award: Up to £400,000
• Full-time fellowship duration: Up to four years
• Part-time fellowship duration: Up to six years

The funding supports both research development and professional training.

What Does the Fellowship Funding Cover?

The award can support several research and career development costs.

Eligible costs include:

Applicant Salary

Funding covers:

• Salary at Specialty Registrar level
• Equivalent university salary scales where appropriate

Research Costs

Funding may support:

• Research activities
• Laboratory work
• Clinical research expenses
• Data collection
• Research materials

Training and Development

Support may include:

• Research skills training
• Professional development activities
• Career development opportunities

Conference and Meeting Costs

Funding can support:

• Conference attendance
• Research meetings
• Scientific networking activities
• Travel and subsistence costs

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)

Funding may support activities that involve:

• Patients
• Families
• Public contributors

PPI activities help ensure dementia research addresses real-world needs.

Clinical Practice Time

Doctoral Clinical Fellows may receive support for justified clinical practice time.

Funding allows:

• Up to 0.2 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) clinical practice time

This enables fellows to maintain appropriate clinical experience during research training.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The fellowship is designed for clinically qualified healthcare professionals working in the UK.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be clinically qualified
• Be active healthcare professionals in the UK
• Be registered with an appropriate professional body
• Be interested in pursuing dementia research

Eligible Professional Backgrounds

Applicants may include:

• Neurologists
• Clinical psychologists
• Nurses
• Allied health professionals
• Other relevant clinical professionals

Applicant Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Limited previous research experience
• No existing PhD qualification
• Potential to become independent researchers
• Interest in a long-term dementia research career

Research Experience Requirements

Applicants should show evidence of research potential through:

• Previous research projects
• Publications
• Conference presentations
• Research outputs

Applicants do not need extensive research experience but should demonstrate progress and commitment.

Career Development Eligibility

The fellowship welcomes:

• Early-stage clinical researchers
• Healthcare professionals transitioning into research
• Individuals returning to research after a career break

Why This Fellowship Matters

Dementia research requires professionals who understand both scientific challenges and patient needs.

This fellowship helps clinicians:

• Develop advanced research expertise
• Contribute to dementia discoveries
• Build future academic careers
• Connect clinical practice with research innovation

Supporting clinician researchers can improve how dementia is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.

How to Apply for the Doctoral Clinical Fellowship

Applicants should prepare a strong research and career development proposal.

Step 1: Develop a Dementia Research Idea

Applicants should identify:

• A clear research question
• Importance of the problem
• Expected contribution to dementia research

Step 2: Align the Proposal With Research Priorities

The project should connect with:

• Dementia treatment
• Diagnosis
• Prevention
• Clinical research

Step 3: Build a Research Training Plan

Applicants should explain:

• Skills they will develop
• Training activities
• Career goals

Step 4: Prepare a Detailed Budget

Applicants should include:

• Salary requirements
• Research costs
• Training expenses
• Travel costs
• Patient involvement costs

Step 5: Demonstrate Research Potential

Applications should highlight:

• Previous research experience
• Publications or presentations
• Motivation for dementia research

Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid

Choosing a Research Topic With Limited Dementia Relevance

Projects should clearly address dementia challenges.

Weak Career Development Plans

Applicants should explain how the fellowship will support future research independence.

Insufficient Preliminary Experience

Applicants should demonstrate evidence of research ability through previous outputs.

Unclear Clinical Research Connection

Clinical applicants should explain how their healthcare experience strengthens the project.

Poor Budget Justification

All requested costs should be clearly linked to project needs.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve their proposals by:

• Developing a focused research question
• Showing clear clinical relevance
• Demonstrating commitment to dementia research
• Including strong supervision arrangements
• Highlighting previous research achievements
• Explaining future career goals
• Including meaningful patient involvement

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Alzheimer’s Research UK Doctoral Clinical Fellowship?

It is a funding programme supporting UK healthcare professionals to undertake doctoral-level dementia research.

How much funding is available?

The fellowship provides up to £400,000 for the full duration of the award.

How long can the fellowship last?

Full-time fellowships are expected to last up to four years, while part-time fellowships may extend up to six years.

Who can apply for this fellowship?

Clinically qualified healthcare professionals working in the UK, such as doctors, nurses, psychologists, and allied health professionals, can apply.

Do applicants need a PhD before applying?

No. Applicants must not already hold a PhD.

Can applicants returning after a career break apply?

Yes. The programme welcomes individuals returning to research after a career break.

What dementia research topics are supported?

Projects focused on dementia treatment, diagnosis, prevention, clinical trials, and related research areas are eligible.

Conclusion

The Alzheimer’s Research UK Doctoral Clinical Fellowship provides an important opportunity for healthcare professionals to develop research careers while addressing major challenges in dementia. By supporting clinician-led doctoral research, the fellowship helps build expertise, improve dementia understanding, and contribute to future advances in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

For more information, visit Alzheimer’s Research UK.