Published on: 7 August 2025
The growing reputation of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) as a leader in health and social care research has been boosted with it being selected with lead academic partner Keele University to host a prestigious national programme.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded MPFT the honour of hosting its West Midlands Health Care Professional Internship Programme.
The programme will support 23 Health Care Professional (HCP) interns each year from across the region. Backed by a network of partner organisations, including NHS Trusts and Higher Education Institutions, the internship will provide a valuable opportunity to strengthen research capacity across the West Midlands.
Dr Andrew Finney, NIHR Senior Research Leader (Nursing) at MPFT and Reader in Nursing Research at Keele University, will lead the programme. Dr Finney said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the Trust to provide a launchpad for developing research careers across the HCP workforce. With our partner institutions it will provide the platform for the interns to develop the ‘research bug’ and to be competitive for future awards such as Master of Research, Pre-Doctoral or Doctoral opportunities.”
The internship is open to all HCPs (excluding Medicine and Dentistry) within the West Midlands and offers four distinct development pathways: Stepping into Research, Growing in Research, Leadership in Research Delivery, and Clinician/Academic Leadership in Research. Participants will benefit from 30 days of funded research time, salary backfill, a personalised internship schedule, research shadowing, access to mentorship or supervision, and support to work on or propose their own achievable research project.
Neil Carr, MPFT Chief Executive, welcomed the award, saying: “We are proud to be hosting the NIHR West Midlands Health Care Professional Internship Programme in partnership with Keele University. This award recognises our ongoing commitment to championing research and supporting the development of the region’s health and care professionals. By offering time, support, and expert guidance, this programme will help build a stronger, more research-active workforce, driving improvements in care and outcomes across the West Midlands.”
Ruth Lambley-Burke, Director of Research and Innovation and Associate Director of Medical Directorate Operations at MPFT, added: “We’re thrilled that MPFT’s Research and Innovation department is hosting this fantastic programme. Working with our partners across the region, this programme provides a fantastic opportunity in creating a supportive pathway for those looking to grow their research careers. This is an investment in our people, in ideas, and in the development of our research and clinical leaders of the future.”
A webinar for prospective interns and mentors or supervisors will be held on 18 September - registration is now open: https://
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