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Mental health research careers encouraged to connect and develop with Travelling Fellowship Fund
10th February 2025
Mental health researchers across Scotland are being invited to enhance their professional development thanks to the return of a Travelling Fellowship Fund
The fund — offered by NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Mental Health Network for a second year — is designed to assist with learning opportunities and career advancement through attendance at key UK and international conferences.
Awards of £250 for UK conferences and £500 for international conferences are available with the Network expecting to fund up to eight UK and four international Fellowships a year to diverse applicants, especially from underrepresented groups, or those working with underrepresented groups.
Around one in four people are estimated to be affected by mental ill-health in any one year so research is vital — as is encouraging the development of a new generation of researchers.
Better understanding the causes and risk factors of mental illnesses can lead to more effective treatments, preventative measures, and improved diagnosis.
Dr Donald MacIntyre, NHS consultant general psychiatrist and NRS Mental Health Director, said: “Mental Health is considered one of the major public health challenges in Scotland and undoubtedly a priority research area. Offering our Travelling Fellowship Fund for a second year reflects that status.
“It is also a clear indication of the successful engagement which the Network experienced in 2024 when we funded 10 applications — a tribute to their quality.
“This year, we are pleased to be renewing that commitment to supporting Scotland’s next generation of researchers in widening understanding, broadening education, and ultimately identifying solutions that can lead to better patient outcomes.
“The fund underlines our need for collaboration at an important time, and the desire to bring key national and international learnings back in order to increase the quality of mental health research.”
The NRS Mental Health Network supports an active mental health research community across Scotland, leading studies in this growing field across areas such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, depression, addictions, and psychosis, while identifying emerging research opportunities.
Network Manager Catherine Deith said: “We consider the fund to be a valuable opportunity for researchers to open themselves up to vital new avenues of thought which can help them to make new connections and accelerate their development.
“Conferences are a great platform for looking at issues with a fresh mindset, to understand where others across the globe or in other parts of the UK are experiencing success, while absorbing and sharing learnings.
“Our Travelling Fellowship Fund can help to make attendance a more viable proposition by helping to assist with financial considerations and allowing professional development ambitions to continue for those with an interest in vital mental health research.”
Applications are invited from:
- Members of the Network Teams channel (you may join and immediately apply)
- Members who are engaged in or can demonstrate commitment to conducting clinical research
- Members who do not have major (e.g. fellowship) external research funding
Fellowship applicants should be able to state clearly how it will support their career development. Those who are successful will be expected to briefly report back issues of interest to the Network.
To apply, please complete the application form and return by email to Catherine.Deith@ed.ac.uk.
Outcomes will be communicated directly with the applicant. Successful applications will be publicised by the Network on the Teams channel, social media, and the NRS Website. Please also note that:
- The Network can book and pay for travel arrangements
- It can also pay conference registration fees in advance or in retrospect
- Successful applicants’ reports on their experiences will be publicised
Last year, the Network received 13 Fellowship applications, with successful applicants attending conferences in the UK and overseas, including:
- Sleep Europe, Seville
- Schizophrenia International Research Society Annual Congress, Florence
- Royal College of Psychiatry International Congress, Edinburgh
- European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress, Milan
- European Congress of Psychiatry, Budapest
- Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference, Derry-Londonderry
Brooke Marron, Core Trainee (Psychiatry) at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde received funding to attend the Royal College of Psychiatry International Congress and said: "It was a great experience to be able to present my project aiming to improve emergency medical care for forensic psychiatry inpatients.
“I was able to speak to lots of delegates about the project to spread my findings, and I also enjoyed hearing the wide variety of talks from speakers all across the world. It was a lovely experience to catch up with familiar faces from throughout my career."
Marie-Christine Opitz, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, attended the Eating Disorder Research Society (EDRS) conference, in Sitges, Spain, and said: “As an early career researcher who conducted her PhD research during the COVID pandemic, I have never been able to attend an international conference in person, which limited my opportunities to engage with other researchers in my field.
“With the support of the NRS Mental Health Network Travelling Fellowship scheme, I was finally able to disseminate my research findings in an international context to build my research networks and gain valuable feedback on my work.
“I deepened my understanding of the developmental psychopathology of eating disorders, learned about the latest treatment approaches, and was inspired by the use of novel technologies to support people with eating disorders in their recovery.”
Marie-Christine had the opportunity of presenting two posters illustrating her own research findings on the association between sleep and disordered eating, adding: “Being able to travel to Sitges was an incredible opportunity for me to extend my professional networks within the eating disorder research community.”
The Mental Health Network operates across Scotland. It aims to create and maintain the best environment for mental health research by increasing research activity across Scotland, diversifying the portfolio of research studies and increasing the participation of patients and clinicians in research.
