Academic oncology and research

Clinical oncology is a research-driven specialty: understanding the science underpinning our practice and demonstrating benefit through clinical trials is how we improve care for our patients. Through the Academic Committee, the College champions clinical oncology researchers by reviewing training, funding research and mentoring at all levels of the career pathway. In this section of the website, you will find information regarding getting involved in research, academic careers and funding as well as links to external sources of information and resources.

Getting involved in research

It is possible to get involved with research at any stage of your career, but there are a number of training schemes with the specific goal of training clinician researchers for the future.  These are most often accessed during specialist training as out of programme experience (OOPE) or as part of the formal academic career path.

There are many clinical researchers throughout the UK who do not hold a formal academic position.  The RCR recognises that this group often face additional challenges maintaining research activity alongside clinical duties and aims to support clinical oncologists at all career grades to get involved with research.

Click on the links above for more information specific to your career stage, links to funding bodies and first hand accounts of life as an clinical oncologist in research.

Please email research@rcr.ac.uk with any queries regarding research or academic queries, or to let us know about any resources you would like to see added to this section of the website.