Our Fellows
The Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) Programme opened its first application call in 2016.
Since opening its first application call in 2016, the Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) Programme has become a leading pathway for developing the next generation of clinical academics in Ireland. Over the past decade, ICAT has attracted 400 applications from trainees across 59 clinical specialties, interviewed 191 outstanding candidates, and supported 76 fellows in combining clinical training with world-class research. The programme’s first graduates completed their PhDs in 2021, and many alumni have since progressed to senior clinical academic fellowships, substantive academic posts, and leadership roles within ICAT itself.
A significant milestone came in 2022 with the expansion of the programme to include dental and veterinary trainees, creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Today, ICAT continues to foster a vibrant community of researchers and clinicians dedicated to advancing healthcare, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening Ireland’s clinical academic workforce.
ICAT is committed to ensuring equitable access to clinical academic training opportunities and regularly monitors diversity and representation across both applicants and appointed fellows. This includes tracking gender balance and the range of clinical specialties represented at each stage of the recruitment process.
Ongoing monitoring helps ensure that the programme reflects the diversity of the healthcare workforce and continues to attract talented trainees from a wide variety of specialties, fostering a rich and collaborative clinical academic community.
