The East of England Neurology Training Programme
This combines training for a CCT in neurology with a period of research towards a higher degree.
Neurology training in the East of England deanery is the only neurology training scheme in the country focused on academic neurology. All trainees receive 4 years of clinical training and (usually) 3 years of a funded PhD position. There are currently 21 East Anglian Neurology Training Fellows, of whom two are on intermediate training fellowships from the Wellcome Trust and one is an NIHR clinical lecturer.
Clinical Training
Neurological training in East Anglia is flexible and distributed in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital , Queen’s Hospital, Romford and the NationalHospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square. All trainees will spend 8-12 months at Queen Square, 12-18 months at either Romford or Norwich and the remainder at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. During research periods, trainees are required to spend some time in the general neurology clinics of local district general hospitals. There are opportunities for research fellows to take part in the on-call neurology rota at Addenbrooke’s. Clinical and research training are integrated. It can be possible, for instance, to do “blocks” of research for 12-18 months separated by clinical attachments. This can be desirable for conducting epidemiological surveys or setting up trials. It is not normally helpful to interrupt a laboratory project in this way.
Research Training
Fellows without a PhD are expected to do three years of research towards a PhD, under the supervision of one of the academic neurologists, although joint-supervision from other Cambridge neuroscientists is encouraged. Within neurology, the research themes are multiple sclerosis (Alastair Compston, Alasdair Coles, Stephen Sawcer), Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease (Roger Barker), neurodegenerative disorders (Maria-GraziaSpillantiniand James Rowe) and stroke (Elizabeth Warburton). All research students have access to the clinical neuroscience graduate training scheme, which is run by Professor Joe Herbert. This includes a regular seminar series, mentorship and training in laboratory and clinical techniques, as well as research management, across all the disciplines working within neurosciences. Cambridge Neuroscience ( is an umbrella organization which brings together all researchers in Cambridge working on the nervous system. Clinical trainees on our fellowship scheme have access to supervision and collaboration from any of these researchers.
You are strongly encouraged to make inquiries about the available research projects and make contact with potential research supervisors prior to interview.
Fellows who already have a PhDare welcome, but their PhD is not necessarily an advantage at interview. For such people, there are various options. Please express a preference at interview.
a) Completing clinical training without further research (we have allowed this once or twice) in which case the length of training will be 5 years
b) Funding one year of research from our programme in order to allow you to apply for an intermediate fellowship (the most common option)
c) Funding three years of post-doctoral research (we have done this twice)
In the case of b) or c) above, prospective approval from the SAC (Neurology) will need to be sought if the trainee wishes to gain a year towards their clinical training ie shorten their clinical training from 5 to 4 years.
Any enquiries to: Alasdair Coles, STC Chairman:
Tejal Mitchell, Training Programme Director: March 2013