Anaesthetics ACF – East of England
Anaesthetics ACF – East of England Academic Clinical Fellowship Advertisement Archive
This is the Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) advertisement used on Oriel for the 2026-27 recruitment round.
The information is presented to help you prepare for your future applications. Please be aware that advertisements, application methods, etc. can change and there is no guarantee that future ACF advertisements will remain the same.
| Entry Levels | ST3, ST4 |
| Applications Opened | Thursday 1 October 2026, 10:00 |
| Applications Closed | Thursday 29 October 2026, 16:00 |
See also the ACF application form questions.
| Training Programme | Anaesthetics |
| Post Type | Academic |
| Post Commencing | August 2027 |
| Duration (months) | 36 |
| Recruitment Lead | East of England |
| Recruiting For | East of England |
| Enquiries | https://heeoe.hee.nhs.uk/recruitment/academic-clinical-fellowships-east-england |
| Enquiries Email | england.recruitment.eoe@nhs.net |
| Applications Opened | Thursday 1 October 2026, 10:00 |
| Applications Closed | Thursday 29 October 2026, 16:00 |
Information
NHS England, East of England
Employer: Anglia Ruskin University/Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Post type: NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship
Specialty/Level: Anaesthesia CT3, ACC4, ST4,
Expected start date: August 2027
Please be advised that this post is in direct competition with Respiratory Medicine applicants and an appointment will only be made in 1 of these specialties.
Applicants for CT3 must be in a current Core Anaesthesia Training programme at CT2 level and have an outcome 1 at their most recent ARCP.
Applicants for ACCS4 must be in a Anaesthesia Training Programme at ACCS3 level and have an outcome 1 at their most recent ARCP
Applicants for ST4 who do not already hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) in the GMC specialty to which they are applying for will be required to undertake the 2027 national clinical recruitment process and attend an assessment/interview for that GMC specialty as appropriate.
Proposed Research:
The ACF will undertake a bespoke training programme, with 25% protected academic time scheduled flexibly to support individual needs and allow development of a high-quality research fellowship application.
Outline the clinical and academic programme post:
Clinical Programme
ACFs participate in the normal specialty resident rotation.
ACFs will be recruited at CT3, ACCS4 or ST4 level and will spend their three years in a clinical training post at Broomfield Hospital. These posts are indistinguishable from the mainstream Anaesthetic CT3, ACCS4, ST4 posts at Broomfield Hospital and involve normal full time on-call commitments.
According to the 2021 Anaesthetic Curriculum they will undertake their Stage 1:3 year if CT3 or ACCS4 and Stage 2 specialty training, during which they will undertake modular attachments to various subspecialty areas of anaesthesia. All are delivered in Broomfield apart from three months of cardiac anaesthesia which is delivered in Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, Basildon and three months of neurosurgical anaesthesia which is delivered at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
In line with national guidance, the East of England School of Anaesthesia expects all residents to use the Royal College of Anaesthetists Life Long Learning platform to evidence progression. Stage 2 structured guidance documents are in place to ensure residents seek all elements of subspecialty training. In line with national guidance, the mentoring, tutoring and annual training review (ARCP) processes will involve representatives from both the Academic and Anaesthetic Departments in Broomfield. The region has a strong track record at the FRCA examination. Regular local and regional Final FRCA teaching is in place as are a number of Simulator Centre training days. There is an expectation that the resident would secure their full Final FRCA prior to embarking on the full time academic module in year three.
The ACF Programme is principally designed to nurture residents wishing to pursue an academic career. In addition, the post also equips the resident with the necessary training to re-enter full time Stage 3 level training in anaesthesia after three years should this be required. Subject to satisfactory ARCP outcome, Stage 3 level training towards a CCT in Anaesthesia could be accommodated within the School’s existing Training Programme. The Region can provide training across the entire range of anaesthetic subspecialty choices, with particular strengths in cardiothoracic anaesthesia, neuroanaesthesia, transplant anaesthesia. In addition, the Region also has existing Special Interest Area Training schemes for subspecialty training in pain medicine, obstetric anaesthesia and intensive care.
Academic Programme
This post has been awarded under the Research Theme Acute respiratory distress syndrome” within the ARU Centre for Biomedical Research and Health Innovation - reflecting the importance of developing innovative approaches to treat acute and life-threatening pulmonary conditions.
The newly formed Centre for Biomedicine and Health Innovation (CBHI) at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is a multidisciplinary translational research centre bringing together expertise in biomedical science, clinical research and health innovation, with a focus on translating scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, with pulmonary microvascular barrier disruption leading to vascular leak and pulmonary oedema. Our research investigates the role of taste G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in pulmonary vascular function. Having demonstrated that sweet taste receptors (T1R) can protect against endothelial injury in experimental and clinical models of ARDS, we are now investigating bitter taste receptors (T2R) as novel therapeutic targets.
ACFs will contribute to a multidisciplinary programme combining in silico, in vitro and in vivoapproaches, including molecular modelling and drug discovery, receptor pharmacology, pulmonary endothelial biology and preclinical models of ARDS. The project will provide training across molecular and cell biology, pharmacology, computational modelling and experimental respiratory medicine, taking candidates from therapeutic target identification through to preclinical evaluation.
ACFs will benefit from the multidisciplinary environment within CBHI, alongside mentorship across ARU and the wider Cambridge cardiovascular research network. This provides an excellent opportunity to undertake clinically relevant translational research addressing an important unmet need in respiratory and cardiovascular medicine.
Applicants must apply via our online recruitment system, Oriel
The application window opens on Thursday 01 October 2026 at 1000 hours and closes on Thursday 29 October 2026 at 1600 hours
You will not be able to submit your application after this time. Please ensure that you have completed all relevant sections of the application form as missing information will deem your application incomplete and it will not be considered.
Please visit the NHS England, East of England website for the further vacancy information and job description.
Host integrated academic training partnership details.
HEI: Anglia Ruskin University
NHS Organisation: Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
NHSE Local Office: NHS England, East of England
This ACF post is of 3-year duration and carries an academic training number – NTN(a) and will allow the successful candidate to spend 75% of their time in clinical training and 25% in research.
Applications from talented and enthusiastic doctors in training who seek a career combining research, teaching and the care of patients are invited for NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs). The Academic Clinical Fellowship forms a significant part of the NIHR Integrated Academic Training Programme. Fellows will develop skills allowing them to compete successfully for funding to study for a higher degree (MD/PhD). Only applicants who can demonstrate that they have outstanding potential for development as a clinical academic will be considered for this programme.
After this time candidates should have obtained funding for their higher degrees and start work towards these. On completion of the ACF the trainee will either continue their research if external funding has been obtained or enter their designated training programme as a full-time clinical trainee, provided that appropriate clinical competences have been obtained.
Applicants are expected to fulfil the academic person specification available and appropriate clinical person specification.
Applicants that do not already hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) in the GMC specialty to which they are applying will also be required to undertake the national clinical recruitment process and attend an assessment/interview for that GMC specialty as appropriate. For further details please refer to the NIHR Academic Clinical fellowships (Medical) Guidance for Recruitment and Appointment 2027
The qualifications and professional registration requirements plus other eligibility criteria can be found in the person specification. The person specification for this specialty is available from the Specialty Training website which can be accessed from Oriel.
The Postgraduate Dean confirms that these placements and/or programmes will have the required educational and Dean’s approval at the time of entry into the programme.
Before you complete your online application, it is imperative that you download and read the linked documents which can be found in the documents section of the vacancy.
These documents contain specific and detailed information with regards to the application form and process, and the person specification. Please read them thoroughly to ensure that you fill out your application form correctly.
All applicants are required to have essential competences or equivalent depending on the level they are applying for. For more information on competences please refer to the resource bank (https://www.oriel.nhs.uk/Web/ResourceBank) on Oriel.
Please ensure you read and fully understand the contents of the Oriel Applicant User Guide which can be accessed on the recruitment system resource bank before submitting your application. Failure to do so may result in you missing vital information in relation to your application. In submitting an application, applicants confirm that they have read and understood the application guide. You will be unable to change your application once it has been submitted; if you have any questions please ensure you contact the recruitment team at england.recruitment.eoe@nhs.netprior to submitting your application.
Please upload all required evidence of competences to your online application form when completing the application form online. For those experiencing difficulties when uploading evidence, please ensure you contact the recruitment team at england.recruitment.eoe@nhs.net prior to submitting your application.
NHS England – East of England is committed to preventing discrimination and promoting equality. All our hospitals are working towards Equal Opportunities with flexible working practices. We aim to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their age, colour, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion or similar belief, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, trade union membership (or non-membership) or political affiliation.