The importance of clinical academia

Despite their importance, clinical academics make up just 5% of the medical workforce and that number is falling. To protect the future of medicine, it’s essential that the sector work together to grow and support this career path.

The impact of clinical academics

• Clinical academics translate cutting-edge research into better diagnosis, treatments, and care. This means NHS patients can gain quicker access to innovative therapies and trials.
• Clinical academics teach the next generation of doctors using the most up-to-date knowledge and practices. They ensure that education stays aligned with real-world clinical advances.
• Their research drives medical breakthroughs and health system improvements. They often identify problems in frontline care and develop evidence-based solutions.
• Clinical academics strengthen collaboration between the NHS and universities. They attract research funding and raise the international reputation of the UK life sciences sector.

How we support the clinical academic workforce

We work closely with partners across the sector to promote and strengthen clinical academic career pathways. Our key initiatives include:

Annual Clinical Academic Survey

We run a yearly survey of the medical clinical academic workforce. This helps universities, hospitals, and funders understand workforce trends and plan effectively for the future of clinical academia.

View the latest survey

Clinical Academic Jobs Forum

We host a free job posting service for medical schools to advertise clinical academic vacancies and connect with talented candidates. 

Search for jobs

Clinical Academic Training & Careers Hub (CATCH)

We manage CATCH, a national resource supporting healthcare professionals interested in clinical academic careers. CATCH features multi-profession guidance, real-life stories, and advice from clinical academics at all career stages.

Visit CATCH