New research opportunities for practising AHPs in Scotland

New CAHPR Scotland-GCU ReaCH Fellowships are being offered to AHPs

Glasgow Caledonian University School of Health and Life Sciences' Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) has joined forces with the Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) Scotland to give allied health professionals (AHPs) the chance to get involved in research.

Four, one-year CAHPR Scotland-GCU ReaCH Fellowships are being offered this year to practising AHPs in Scotland, giving them the unique opportunity to work with world-leading experts across 10 different research groups in the University and receive £1,000 towards their research costs. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2024.

ReaCH research groups include Ageing Well, Musculoskeletal Health, Stroke and Neurological Rehabilitation, Child and Adolescent Health, Data Science for the Common Good, Molecular Mechanisms of Long-Term Conditions, Safeguarding Health through Infection Prevention, Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses, Substance Use and Vision Research.

Professor Frederike van Wijck, Co-Director of ReaCH, in the School of Health and Life Sciences, said: "We are delighted to launch this innovative fellowship scheme together with CAHPR Scotland, which aligns beautifully with ReaCH's ethos.

"We want to encourage curious AHPs to engage with high-quality health research that is relevant for their practice. With our rich array of research groups, we look forward to supporting our new Fellows to explore new research areas they might not previously have had a chance to investigate, and enable them to build their confidence and develop partnerships to further their own research careers."

CAHPR Scotland Consortium Lead Dr Chris Seenan, who is also a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, in the University's  said: "CAHPR is the representative voice of 14 allied health professions on research matters. The Council's mission is to develop AHP research, strengthen evidence of the professions' value and impact for enhancing service user and community care.

"This is an excellent new initiative for CAHPR Scotland that will support four AHPs to develop capacity for their research. The mentorship and collaboration from the GCU ReaCH research groups will help the Fellows strengthen their research plans and expose them to new opportunities."

Dr Seenan and is University colleague Dr David Hamilton, who is Co-Lead of the ReaCH Musculoskeletal Health Research Group, have been the driving force behind the new fellowships.

Dr Hamilton, a physiotherapist and Reader in Musculoskeletal Health, who is also part of the CAHRP Scotland leadership team, said: "The motivation behind hosting this fellowship through the research groups in ReaCH is to help practising allied health professionals think outside their professional boundaries and to facilitate methodologies around ideas. We hope that this mentorship and environment will help our fellows progress their research plans and to be competitive in bidding for future research awards."

Those who are interested can apply here: https://cahpr-scotland.mailchimpsites.com/opportunities

A Q&A video has been created to help answer any questions for potential applicants here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/SKomLwonBGU?si=28Wr16nb_KI1euq2.