Wellcome has awarded £11.4 million to fund the next phase of a doctoral training programme for healthcare professionals across the South West of England and South Wales. The nine-year award will support 25 doctoral fellows to carry out world-class research while continuing their clinical careers.

The funding goes to the GW4 Doctoral Programme for Healthcare Professionals, known as GW4-HP2, a regional consortium led by Cardiff University and bringing together the universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter, with Swansea University joining as a new partner. The award was announced on Tuesday 11 November, with a launch event held at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

What the funding will deliver

The programme is open to healthcare professionals, physicians, dentists and veterinary graduates, offering interdisciplinary PhD training across biomedical discovery science. Research areas include infection and immunity, genetics and genomics, population health, artificial intelligence, big data and quantum technologies.

The award forms part of Wellcome's £155 million investment in the next generation of healthcare professional researchers. It builds on the success of the current GW4 programme by creating a sustained clinical academic pathway, with an integrated package of pre-doctoral, doctoral and postdoctoral support so participants can develop research expertise while progressing in their clinical roles.

A total of £1.2 million has been ringfenced for career development, helping fellows move to the next stage of their academic careers. That support includes help with competitive postdoctoral fellowship applications and securing external funding, alongside NHS-funded Accelerator Fellowships designed to strengthen, retain and nurture clinical research talent across the region.

Widening access to research careers

This phase of the programme will also introduce ten institution-funded Pre-Doctoral Gateway Fellowships, designed to widen participation in clinical academic careers by supporting people from groups currently underrepresented in research. Wellcome-funded career progression primers will provide support at the doctoral research development stage, and annual summer schools will raise awareness of clinical academic career pathways.

Professor Kathryn Peall from Cardiff University, who leads this phase of the GW4-HP2 programme, said the team was delighted to receive Wellcome's continued support as it innovates and develops its training offer.

Astrid Wissenburg, Divisional Director of Research at the University of Exeter, said the investment was a testament to the partnership being strengthened across the regions and the high level of skill and support on offer at the GW4 universities. She added that it would ultimately mean better translation and application of clinical research, which benefits patients in the area.

Melanie Knetsch, Director of GW4, said the sustained investment reflected the strength of the collaborative approach to doctoral training, adding that building research capacity and accelerating the translation of discoveries would help address pressing health challenges and improve health and wellbeing for all.

Why clinical academics matter

Clinical academics combine patient care with research, meaning discoveries made in the laboratory can reach hospital wards more quickly. By training doctors, dentists, vets and other health professionals as researchers, programmes such as GW4-HP2 aim to keep skilled staff in the NHS while strengthening the UK's medical research base.

Further details about the programme, including how to apply, are published on the GW4 Clinical Academic Training website. Sources: University of Exeter and GW4-CAT.

Frequently asked questions

How much has Wellcome awarded? Wellcome has awarded £11.4 million to the GW4 Doctoral Programme for Healthcare Professionals over nine years.

How many fellows will it support? The programme will support 25 doctoral fellows, alongside ten Pre-Doctoral Gateway Fellowships.

Which universities are involved? Cardiff University leads the consortium, with the universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter, and Swansea University as a new partner.