The Clinical Academic Training Programme (CATP) was developed by the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) and the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, as a pathway to provide academic clinical training opportunities.  This programme was created as part of Modernising Medical Careers/National Co-ordinating Centre for Research Capacity Programme of Integrated Academic Training to address the need to attract and train clinical academics. There is an increasing need to equip medical graduates with the skills required to undertake basic and clinical discovery research and to translate the benefits of such research to improvements in treatment for patients. 

Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has an international reputation in academic medicine and the strategic vision of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences is to develop and promote a world-class, research-led medical community.  Following graduation from medical school the first step on the Clinical Academic Training pathway is the Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) (Previously known as Academic Foundation Programme), which is recruited to by the Northern Ireland Foundation School (NIFS) based at NIMDTA.  Further information on the recruitment process is available on the NIMDTA webpages. 

Recognising the need for the development of a cohort of appropriately qualified medical graduates, we are offering a research intensive, student oriented Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) Year 2 Programme, with the option of completing a  Certificate in Academic Medicine, that will provide high quality candidates with the research skills required to further develop their careers.  These skills are of benefit regardless of the chosen career.