Newcastle celebrates NIHR INSIGHT Research Internship programme success
Monday February 16, 2026
Newcastle Health Research Partnership Academy has marked a milestone in research capacity building with a vibrant celebration event that brought together medical students from the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) INSPIRE scheme alongside nurses, midwifes and allied health professionals from the NIHR INSIGHT (North East & North Cumbria) Research Internship programme.
At the celebration event over 40 members of the community came together. This included presenters, supervisors, programme leads, faculty members and students, for an evening of interdisciplinary research presentations and recognition, to showcase the achievements of this year’s interns. Giving students the opportunity to share findings, build confidence and gain constructive feedback.
“What an amazing interprofessional collaborative event between INSIGHT and INSPIRE!
Professor Annette Hand
These undergraduate internships offered health and care professionals the chance to dip their toe into the world of clinical research and explore what a career with research at its heart might offer. It was brilliant not only to hear about their projects and internship experiences, but also to see their passion for research and how many are already seeking their next training or development opportunity. These individuals are most certainly our research leaders of the future.”
NMAHPS, Pharmacists and Healthcare Scientists Pillar Lead for NHRP Academy
The interns’ experiences were overwhelmingly positive. Joshua Alcaraz completed the programme during his final year as a nursing student, and is now a staff nurse at the Freeman Hospital.
Reflecting on his time in the programme, Joshua, said: “The INSIGHT programme was instrumental in shaping and refining my research interests and connecting me with the right academic and clinical support. It provided protected time, mentorship, and funding, which allowed me to meaningfully engage with research activity, develop practical research skills, and complete my project to a high standard.”
Feedback like this reflects the broader sentiment of the event. The strong enthusiasm from participants and attendees shows that Newcastle is already cultivating the kind of early‑career research culture the NIHR aims to scale across the UK.
A national shift: INSPIRE and INSIGHT come together
The celebration coincides with the National Institute for Health Reseach’s (NIHR) major announcement on 10 February 2026: a UK‑wide expansion of undergraduate research opportunities, bringing the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) INSPIRE scheme (previously focused on doctors and dentists) together with the NIHR INSIGHT programme under a unified national offer.
The expanded programme offers a UK wide, multidisciplinary approach designed to build the future research workforce, by streamlining and broadening access to early research experiences for students across all health and care professions. It will offer a cohesive structure of innovative research engagement activities and masters level research training.
Commenting on the importance of cultivating a collaborative culture regarding early access to research careers, Dr Heidi Stelling, Clinical Research Fellow at Newcastle University and event organiser, said: “We work together in practice, so why not learn and research together from the start?”
“These students are trailblazers, showing how collaboration improves care and builds the future workforce. It’s fantastic to see NIHR championing this approach – we really are better together and I look forward to seeing what the future holds!”
The NIHR emphasises that this unified model will create a simpler, more comprehensive offer to attract students into research careers across clinical and non‑clinical pathways.
Looking ahead
Newcastle is well placed to respond to this new NIHR framework. With the strength of the local programme already evident through a track record that demonstrates both the enthusiasm of students and the capability of local institutions to deliver impactful, well‑received research development opportunities.
Newcastle’s existing model of bringing professions together mirrors the broader interdisciplinary direction the NIHR now advocates, reflecting both regional strengths and future national priorities.
“The celebration event created an inspiring forum – for faculty and students across professions – to connect, share learning and join as One Research Community. It also shows just how strongly Newcastle is positioned to embrace the NIHR’s new unified INSIGHT–INSPIRE framework.”
Professor Gill Vance
Professor of Medical Education at Newcastle University
Broader opportunities for NHRP Academy
NHRP Academy continues to strengthen the early research pipeline through a suite of programmes that support aspiring clinical and academic researchers at every stage of their journey.
The NIHR North East and North Cumbria Health and Care Professionals Internship Programme supports qualified and registered health and care professionals (HCPs) to develop their understanding and skills in research. It offers a practical entry point for those considering research‑active careers, helping participants build confidence, gain mentorship and explore future clinical academic pathways. Applications for the 2026 intake have now closed, but the programme will return for 2027, with details regarding cohort 2 due to be announced soon.
For those looking to progress further, the NIHR North East and North Cumbria INSIGHT Masters Programme offers master’s‑level research training across disciplines, equipping early‑career professionals with the methodological expertise and academic grounding needed to pursue postgraduate research, NIHR fellowships and advanced clinical academic roles. Applications for this year’s cohort are open until 29/05/26.
In addition, this year’s cohort of NIHR North East and North Cumbria INSIGHT Research Internships once again provides undergraduate students and with hands‑on research experience within supportive, multidisciplinary environments. Applications for the term-time internships are open until 12/04/25.
NHRP Academy is also running a competition for current undergraduate students at Newcastle University and Northumbria University, inviting them to submit a piece exploring the question: “What are the barriers and enablers to undergraduate research?”. The winning submissions will help shape locally delivered activities and inform national advocacy through policy.
Together, these programmes and initiatives form a comprehensive pathway that reflects NHRP Academy’s commitment to widening participation, nurturing local talent and building the research leaders of tomorrow.