Job title (including specialty)
Academic Clinical Fellowship in Adult Psychiatry
Duration of the Post
Fixed term appointment for 3 years
Lead NHS Hospital/Trust in which training will take place
Years 1 - 3 (ST1/ST2/ST3): Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust/
West Midlands Core Psychiatry Training Placement
Research institutions in which training will take place
Section of Neurotrauma and Neurodegeneration, School of Clinical & Experimental
Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham
What arrangement of day release or block release will be used for protected
research time
There will be 25% dedicated research activity through out the three year CT training,
equating to one day per week with a flexible 3 week inset in Year 1-3
During the dedicated research activity the ACF will spend time in various research
groups within the department of psychiatry and collaborators in psychology,
pharmacology, neurotrauma and neurodegeneration, getting exposure to the wide
range of research environments in the Section and insights into the various research
disciplines covered, including laboratory based and clinical research and clinical trial
work. The aim of the research placements in Years 1 and 2 is to allow the ACF to
acquire research skills and to have the opportunity to generate preliminary
data/publications in support of a Research Training Fellowship Application (to
MRC/Wellcome/Other Charities) that will be prepared for submission in Year 3.
In addition, there will be the opportunity to register for a MRes or MSc course by
completing an individual project or through participating in the variety of taught
courses, with several of these delivered employing distance-learning techniques.
Description of research component of programme (up to 500 words)
In our ACF programme we aim to select motivated and capable trainees and provide
them with high quality training and research exposure so that they will be well
equipped to successfully attain an externally funded PhD programme at the end of
their fellowship.
Psychiatry research in Birmingham takes place within the School of Clinical and
Experimental Medicine, bringing together world class clinical and experimental
scientists with expertise in diverse research methodologies. Encompassing studies in
clinical studies, molecular and cellular aspects of neuroscience, through to
neuroimaging and neuronal networks research is based in the National Centre for
Mental Health. The aim of our research is to further understanding of mental illness
and neurobiology to inform and advance translational work that will lead to patient
benefit. In addition to the formal groups listed below, collaborations and potential
collaborative projects span neurology, psychology, philosophy, pharmacology and
sport and exercise science.
1
Research themes include –
Mood Disorders: Group leader: Dr Lisa Jones. The Mood Disorders Research
Group focuses on investigations of bipolar disorder (manic depression) and other
related affective and psychotic illnesses, such as schizoaffective disorder, major
depression and puerperal psychosis (postpartum psychosis). Our broad aims are to
investigate genetic and other factors that may contribute to the causes of these
illnesses.
Neuropsychiatry: Group leader: Dr Andrea Cavanna. The Neuropsychiatry
Research focuses on clinical conditions at the interface between neurology and
psychiatry. This group includes the Michael Trimble Neuropsychiatry Research
Group, established in 2009 to encourage neuropsychiatry research based in clinical
practice, especially among junior researchers
Schizophrenia and Psychosis: Group leader: Dr Rachel Upthegrove. This group
collaborates on studies investigating outcomes and risk in schizophrenia and
affective psychosis including biological, neuroimaging, social and phenomenological
investigation of early psychosis and outcomes.
Neurotrauma: Group leader: Prof Toni Belli This group has basic research and
translational work, addressing the challenges of military and civilian trauma in clinical
studies at the NIHR SRMRC, the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit and the Wellcome
Trust Clinical Research Facility.
Dr Rachel Upthegrove will act as academic mentor/supervisor for the ACF throughout
the appointment, with co-opting of additional academic supervisors depending on the
research area(s) chosen. The dedicated research time will be designed to facilitate
the successful development and execution of projects that are likely to generate
preliminary results that can be used for a Research Training Fellowship application,
which should be compiled towards the end of the 2nd year. Intensive support will be
given during this period for the preparation and submission of a grant for a PhD or
equivalent post to be commenced immediately after the completion of the ACF post.
Description of clinical component of programme (up to 500 words)
This is a full-time post intended to provide clearly defined periods during which the
ACF will obtain both a clinical and academic training. The ACF will spend 75% of
their time in clinical training with 25% dedicated to an academic training programme
for a period of three years in the expectation that they will proceed to a higher
academic degree (PhD or equivalent).
The ACF will additionally attend the MRCPsych training course and Psychotherapy
supervision as required by the curriculum.
Academic Lead (University) for the IAP Programme
2
Professor Lorraine Harper, University of Birmingham
Academic Supervisor (University) details
Dr Rachel Upthegrove, University of Birmingham
Educational Supervisor (Trust) details
Dr Jayne Greening Consultant Psychiatrist, Director of Medical Education, BSMHFT
Clinical Supervisor(s) (Trust) details
Deanery Programme Training Director details
Dr Jayne Greening Consultant Psychiatrist, Director of Medical Education, BSMHFT
Dr Chis Murphy, Consultant Psychiatrist, West Midlands Deanery
Confirmation that ACF posts attract an NTN (a)
Agreement with Postgraduate Dean and Specialty Chair West Midlands Deanery
3