Medical school gets £2m boost to train doctors

Professor Scott Wilkes and Dr Ellen Tullo at the Education Centre at North Tyneside General Hospital in North Shields

More than £2m has been awarded to a university to train doctors in medical research.

The University of Sunderland's School of Medicine will use the cash to provide medical students and junior doctors with "essential research skills".

The funding will create 30 medical student internships and fund 30 degrees.

Professor Scott Wilkes, head of the School of Medicine, said the research funding was "game changing" for the university.

Dr Ellen Tullo, clinical academic and intercalated degrees lead for the School of Medicine, said: “Many NHS doctors are involved in research, but only a small minority will gain a PhD, and become formal clinical academics.

“Our programme is about getting those essential research skills early in a medical undergraduate's career to build up their academic portfolio."

Improving care

The funding has been provided by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).

The money will be used to create eight academic clinical fellowships, 30 medical student internships and 30 funded intercalated degrees. Intercalated degrees include an additional year of study, usually at a Master's level.

The long-term goal will be to use the funds to improve the quality of care for patients and advance medical training.

Professor Scott Wilkes says: “This is game changing for the School of Medicine and the University.

"I’m truly excited to see this acorn grow into an oak tree.”