Since its launch in 2016, the Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) Programme has supported 76 clinicians across 10 fellowship intakes, helping to develop the next generation of clinical academic leaders in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine across the island of Ireland.

ICAT 2 has now successfully completed recruitment to five fellowship cohorts, marking an important milestone in the programme’s journey and reflecting a decade of investment in clinical academic training.

As we look to the future, we are working closely with our partners and stakeholders to develop the next phase of clinical academic training on the island of Ireland. Building on the achievements and impact of ICAT to date, we are excited about the opportunities ahead.

As we prepare for the next phase of ICAT, we are delighted to announce new opportunities for healthcare professionals through the newly funded Irish Clinical Academic Training – Accelerating Health Research to Support Ageing Demographics (ICAT-AHEAD) programme.

ICAT-AHEAD will provide clinical academic training opportunities for nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals, doctors, dentists and veterinarians. The programme will run alongside ICAT, with close collaboration between both initiatives, and will be led by Professor Bernadette McGuinness at Queen’s University Belfast.

We are also pleased to welcome Ulster University to the ICAT partnership, expanding the network to seven university partners across the island of Ireland.

“Populations in Ireland and the UK are ageing rapidly. Ageing is not just the passage of time; it is a complex biological process influenced by genetics, environment, lifestyle, social circumstances and healthcare access.

Successful ageing research requires diverse expertise. By bringing together doctors, dentists, veterinarians, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and allied health professionals, ICAT-AHEAD will empower talented healthcare professionals to combine frontline clinical experience with research excellence. We are deeply grateful for Wellcome’s support in helping us develop a more diverse and sustainable clinical academic workforce for the future.”

“ICAT-AHEAD builds on the remarkable success of the ICAT Programme, which has transformed clinical academic training on the island of Ireland by supporting outstanding clinicians to become research leaders.

Over the past decade, ICAT has created a vibrant research community whose graduates are already making important contributions to healthcare research and innovation. We are delighted to welcome Ulster University to the consortium and look forward to creating new opportunities for researchers while improving outcomes for older people.”

ICAT-AHEAD is funded by Wellcome and seven partner universities: Queen’s University Belfast, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ulster University, University College Cork, University of Galway and University College Dublin.

The programme will provide fellow-centred support, including:

• Structured doctoral training
• Bespoke mentoring
• Career development opportunities
• International research placements at centres of excellence

Further details of the first ICAT-AHEAD fellowship call will be announced towards the end of 2026.

You can find more information about the newly funded Wellcome Doctoral Programmes for Healthcare Professionals, including ICAT-AHEAD, here.

Thank you for your continued interest in ICAT. We look forward to sharing further updates as we prepare for the next chapter of clinical academic training on the island of Ireland.