Community pharmacists invited to apply for research training bursaries
The Pharmacy Practice Research Trust is inviting applications from community pharmacists for the 2007 research training bursary scheme funded by the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust.
The trust, which was established by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
in 1999 as an independent research charity, has £40,000 available
annually to support community pharmacists who want to develop skills
in conducting research relating to everyday practice.
Bursary funds are available for three levels of work:
• Level 1 funding is provided to undertake research modules and a small-scale
project. For example, service evaluation to ascertain acceptability to
health professionals or patients, uptake, clinical outcomes or resource
implications (supported by a research organisation such as a higher education
institute, primary care research network or research and development
unit).
• Level 2 funding is provided to upgrade a diploma in clinical or community
pharmacy to an MSc degree. This usually involves undertaking a further
two accredited educational modules (one on research methods) and undertaking
a research project or a practice intervention initiative.
• Level 3 funding is provided to undertake
a non-pharmacy MSc that has relevance to and benefits the world of pharmacy.
Since the bursary scheme was established in 2002, eight community pharmacists
have been funded to pursue research or develop an academic career.
Among them is Tabassum Jafri, who was awarded funding in 2003 to help
her complete an MSc degree in public policy at University College London.
She went on to receive a Galen
Award (see PJ, 13 January, p58) in 2006
to support her PhD on improving medication safety at the University of
Cambridge.
Ms Jafri said of the bursary scheme: “The research bursary gave
me the opportunity to return to study on a full-time basis and gain an
additional non-pharmacy related qualification. It has effectively helped
me to further my career from a community pharmacist to a research pharmacist
and has allowed me to pick up new skills along the way. The scheme has
made it possible for me to undertake a PhD, and I strongly recommend
that community pharmacists take advantage of this opportunity to pursue
their academic or research interests.”
Applications are invited from community pharmacists, pharmacists who
are self-employed (as locums or independent community pharmacists) or
pharmacists employed by small chains of up to 60 registered premises,
who demonstrate a real need for external support to develop their skills
and careers in research. A research training bursary would also
be a continuing professional development opportunity for successful applicants.
The bursary funding can be applied to the following areas: salary (pro
rata for part time) or locum costs; course fees; research costs (up to
a maximum of £500, to include printing, postage and travel); supervision
costs (either from a higher education institution or from a local research
and development unit or network); conference attendance (up to a maximum
of £400 towards attendance and presentation of work at UK conferences).
Further details, application forms and guidance notes are available from
Beth Allen, Research Programme Co-ordinator, Royal Pharmaceutical Society,
1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN (tel 020 7572 2466; e-mail beth.allen@rpsgb.org).
The deadline for completed applications is 25 May 2007 and the trust
will hold interviews on 11 July at the Society’s London headquarters.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal