Clinical Research Investment Scheme
The ambition of the Clinical Research Investment Scheme (CRIS) is to invest in and increase the capacity of research-qualified healthcare professionals.
Focusing on experimental medicine and early phase translational research, the CRIS offers healthcare professionals with research experience across the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre’s NHS partner Trusts the chance to unlock protected research time and access vital project funding.
This unique opportunity supports healthcare professionals in senior roles who may have stepped away from research to focus on clinical work.
What we offer
- Protected research time
- Small-scale project funding for research consumables
- Mentorship and comprehensive training from the NIHR Manchester BRC
- Core infrastructure support, including public engagement, digital and methodological advice
- Hands-on skills development in early-phase trials and translational research
CRIS aims to provide an opportunity to those who want to build on their existing skillset to pursue a sustainable career in early phase experimental medicine and provide a catalyst for them to continue in research once the scheme has been completed.
Professor George Moulton, Academic Career Development Lead at Manchester BRC, said: “Our Clinical Research Investment Scheme has received an overwhelming amount of interest which clearly highlights the importance and demand for a scheme of this nature within our research community. It plays a vital role in expanding clinical academic capacity across the next generation of clinical leaders, enabling them to thrive and advance in experimental medicine and early phase translational research across Manchester BRC. We can all look forward to the impactful contributions that will develop from this initiative.”
Following a competitive application and shortlisting process, 4 colleagues were recruited to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)’s Clinical Research Investment Scheme (CRIS), Cohort 2.
Beginning in January 2026, the successful candidates and their projects are:
Nasimah Maricar, Advanced Musculoskeletal Practitioner at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA)
- Project: Knee taping in painful patellofemoral osteoarthritis in ethnic communities
- Theme: Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases
Gemma Owens, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTHTr)
- Project: Infrared spectroscopy of urine for non-invasive detection of endometrial cancer
- Theme: Cancer Precision Medicine
Amin Ali, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at LTHTr
- Project: Exploring the Drivers of Lymph Node Metastasis in Prostate Cancer: Insights from the Tumour Microenvironment
- Theme: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
Rudresh Shukla, Consultant Rheumatologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT)
- Project: Harnessing high throughput proteomic biomarkers and advanced imaging techniques to improve cardiovascular risk assessment in rheumatoid arthritis
- Theme: Next Generation Phenotyping and Diagnostics, Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases and Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine
Nasimah Maricar, the first Allied Health Professional (AHP) on the scheme said: “Getting the NIHR Manchester BRC CRIS award means a lot to me. As an AHP, the pathway post-PhD is less clear, and clinical pressures have provided very limited opportunity for me to develop and mature a competitive research programme of work. This award enables protected time for me to grow as a dedicated researcher, and it will serve as a stepping stone for AHPs like myself to have a clinical research career!”
Gemma Owens, from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “This award marks an exciting next step in my development as an independent clinical researcher. The protected research time and mentorship provided through the Manchester BRC will allow me to expand my methodological and data science skills, while leading a study exploring urine spectroscopy for non-invasive detection of endometrial cancer – research that could ultimately improve diagnostic pathways for women presenting with postmenopausal bleeding. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to work alongside world-leading mentors within the BRC and to contribute to innovation in women’s health across the North West.”
Following a competitive application and shortlisting process, 6 colleagues were recruited to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)’s Clinical Research Investment Scheme (CRIS), Cohort 1.
Three colleagues are fully funded by Manchester BRC, with additional funding from The Christie Charity to support 3 more awardees:
Paul Marsden, Honorary Senior Lecturer and Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine, at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Neural Correlates of Low Dose Opioid Therapy in Refractory Chronic Cough.
- Theme: Respiratory Medicine
Laura Jane Forker, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Cancer Sciences and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: A phase 1 study of carbogen and nicotinamide with stereotactic MR guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) for pancreas cancer.
- Theme: Advanced Radiotherapy
Safwaan Adam, Honorary Senior Lecturer and Consultant Endocrinologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Using home-based salivary testing, predictive modelling and a national registry to improve screening, risk prediction and understand long-term health outcomes.
- Theme: Living With and Beyond Cancer
Kathryn Banfill, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Optimising cardiovascular health in patients with lung cancer – Christie Charity funded.
- Theme: Living With and Beyond Cancer, Advanced Radiotherapy, Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine
Emma Searle, Honorary Senior Lecturer and Consultant Haematologist, at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Trial of Prevention of ImmunoCytokine Adverse events in MyeLoma (TOPICAL) – Christie Charity funded.
- Theme: Cancer Precision Medicine
Paul Sutton, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Cancer Sciences and Consultant Colorectal, Pelvic and Peritoneal Surgeon at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Project: Studying the immune response to total neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer – Christie Charity funded.
- Theme: Living With and Beyond Cancer, Advanced Radiotherapy, Cancer Precision Medicine
Paul Marsden, whose BRC-funded project began in October 2024, said: “The patients I see will be able to take part in cutting-edge translational research in Refractory/Unexplained Chronic Cough, which is an under-recognised and extremely distressing condition with few treatment options. The data from my project will hopefully further our understanding of treatment mechanisms within the central nervous system with an aim to develop new treatments with fewer side effects in the future.”
Laura Jane Forker, whose BRC-funded project began in January 2025, said: “This is an extremely important opportunity for me to be able to continue translational research work alongside my practice as an NHS Consultant. I hope that it will lead to further protected academic time in the future to allow me to pursue research studies to improve radiotherapy for my patients.”