The Pharmacy Practice Research Trust (PPRT) is inviting applications from community pharmacists for its 2011 Research Training Bursary Scheme. The scheme is specifically aimed at registered pharmacists working in the community or primary care organisations who want to develop basic experience and skills in health services research.
The PPRT, which has £40,000 available annually through a grant from the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust, supports community pharmacists who can demonstrate a real need for external support to advance their skills and careers in research. There are three levels of awards available:
- Level 1: to undertake one or more taught research modules and a supervised small scale research project.
- Level 2: to upgrade a Diploma in Clinical/Community Pharmacy to an MSc. This usually involves undertaking a further two modules (one in research methods) and a project.
- Level 3: to pursue formal training at Masters level which includes teaching in fields relevant to practice research (e.g. public health, health economics, epidemiology or sociology etc).
Selected courses must include a period of supervised research and preparation of a thesis or dissertation. The bursary could provide support for course fees such as a postgraduate diploma in health research, research costs, salary or locum costs, or conference costs.
Says Beth Allen, Director of the PPRT:
“This unique funding is vital to develop a research active profession which in turn can underpin the development of a strong evidence base needed for pharmacy to support its future aspirations. The PPRT is committed to supporting research capacity and hope that more community pharmacists will be encouraged to apply for a research training grant and follow the examples of our many bursary holders who have already recognised the value of research in their own practice and in a wider professional context.”
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