Clinical Research Fellowships available for NI Social Workers
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Short term fellowships to support the development and undertaking of clinical research activities in palliative care are now available from the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC).

The clinical research fellowships are targeted at health and social care professionals – including social workers – working in clinical practice in Northern Ireland or in the Republic of Ireland with previous experience of and a commitment to palliative and end of life care research.

Worth 10,000 euro each, the fellowships will assist individuals to protect dedicated time within their clinical commitments in order to complete a small-scale research project/ activity in one of the following broad areas relevant to palliative care:

  • Symptoms/ symptom management
  • Psychosocial support for patients and/or carers
  • Research focused on specific groups and populations
  • Health service research
  • Research informing policy and practice

In particular, the AIIHPC encourage interested individuals to consider projects that reflect the research priorities identified as part of the recently launched Palliative and End of Life Research Priority Setting Project for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (www.aiihpc.org/research).

The purpose of the fellowships is to facilitate individuals to commence or continue a project in their area of interest including, for example:

  • Systematic review
  • Feasibility/pilot study
  • A stage/phase of a larger study
  • Development of a research proposal for funding

This year the AIIHPC will award up to four fellowships, with applications judged on the basis of criteria including the applicant’s potential contribution to research and the scientific merit of the application. In addition, this round of Fellowships will also be awarded on a regional basis, with final decisions informed by the aim of promoting research in parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland that have not previously hosted a fellowship.

Successful applicants will hold a relevant degree/ MSc or have experience in the area of palliative care and must be able to commit to completing the project within a 10 month period, with projects expected to commence by early October 2015. The closing date for applications is August 24 2015. 

For further information visit www.aiihpc.org/research or contact AIIHPC Programme Manager Research Dr Tara Murphy at [email protected] or (00353) (1) 491 2948.