Shelford Group Managing Director David Furness has joined more than 40 prominent figures across the UK health sector committing to reverse the ‘alarming decline’ in clinical academic posts, following a summit convened by the Academy of Medical Sciences in July 2025. The summit brought together experts from across the UK to share national and regional examples of new models for creating clinical academic posts, and to consider how to do this more effectively at scale.
Clinical academics are NHS doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who split their time between treating patients and conducting research to find better ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases. Unlike researchers who work solely in labs, or clinicians who focus only on patient care, clinical academics bridge both worlds – using their direct experience of patient needs to guide research priorities, and bringing the latest scientific discoveries straight to the bedside. They are a vital link that ensures medical breakthroughs reach patients, turning lab discoveries into treatments that save lives. Beyond patient benefits, medical research generates a 25p annual return on every £1 invested, whilst clinical academics attract inward investment and lead to spinout companies.
The coordinated effort, backed by a statement signed by leaders from UK universities, research funders, industry partners, the NHS and UK Government, seeks to address the Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research (OSCHR) reports’ recommendation to increase the number of permanent clinical academic posts, year-on-year. It declares that “despite the financial challenges facing research organisations, we can evidence many recent examples where partnerships have been successful, creative and maximised the potential for investment”.
The statement recognises this as “a shared, UK-wide endeavour” requiring the co-design of schemes and funding partnerships across academia, industry, the NHS and funders.
The signatories have committed to five actions:
- Demonstrating the value of the clinical academic workforce and advocating for new posts, working with patients and the public to raise awareness of opportunities and benefits.
- Prioritising funding for new clinical academic posts of strategic importance to local partnerships and the wider research community, with universities and NHS trusts using local strategies to prioritise bids.
- Adopting a bold, mission-mindset within organisations, with senior leaders championing clinical research as central to care delivery rather than an optional addition.
- Developing and promoting local investment and partnership opportunities across academia, industry, funders and the NHS.
- Addressing specific challenges faced by underrepresented groups, including nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, ethnic minorities and women.