Funding boost expands healthcare PhD training across the North
The University of Manchester has secured new funding to help more healthcare professionals train as researchers through the Forward North doctoral programme, delivered with the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.
I am delighted that we can continue to offer doctoral training fellowships for healthcare professionals over the next five years
Professor Anne Barton, NIHR BRC: Manchester Director
Building on more than a decade of success, Forward North brings together five leading northern universities to support healthcare professionals to become the next generation of research leaders.
NIHR BRC: Manchester Director, Professor Anne Barton (pictured), is one of Forward North’s eight Academy Directors. She said: “I am delighted that we can continue to offer doctoral training fellowships for healthcare professionals over the next five years.
“By working together across the North, we can help more healthcare staff develop research careers and generate the discoveries and innovations needed to improve patient care and health outcomes.”
The renewed programme builds on a strong track record of supporting healthcare professionals to undertake PhDs.
It will also introduce new pre-doctoral opportunities to help more people enter research, provide enhanced support for early career researchers, and strengthen partnerships with organisations including the Nuffield Foundation, STEM Learning and the Francis Crick Institute.
Through expert mentoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, industry engagement and specialist training, Forward North will help develop future research leaders equipped to tackle some of the North’s biggest health challenges.
A virtual launch event will take place on Tuesday 18 August 2026 from 11.30am to 1.00pm, providing information about the next round of fellowship applications and an opportunity to ask questions. Join the event.
The call for applications is now open. The deadline for Stage 1 applications is Monday 28 September 2026 at 9am. Find out more on the Forward North webpage.