Capacity Development

Workstream leads

Research focus

The Capacity Development workstream is a cornerstone of the Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission, designed to strengthen the UK’s mental health research infrastructure. Its primary focus is to build a sustainable and skilled research workforce capable of delivering high-quality, translational mental health research.

By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, healthcare, and industry, the workstream supports the MH-TRC Mission’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health, Data and Digital, Early Psychosis, and Mood Disorders workstreams, as well as two demonstrator sites: the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC) and the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre (MHM MTC).

This initiative addresses critical gaps in the mental health research landscape, including limited training opportunities, insufficient funding, and a shortage of research-active professionals. It aims to create a dynamic and responsive research environment that can meet the evolving needs of the sector and accelerate the translation of mental health research into practice.

Regional context

Operating across the UK, the Capacity Development workstream plays a pivotal role in supporting regional centres of excellence. M-RIC, based in Liverpool, and the MHM MTC, based in Birmingham, serve as demonstrator sites for innovative, industry-aligned research. These centres are strategically positioned to deliver regionally tailored programmes that reflect local population needs while contributing to national research objectives.

The workstream collaborates with key partners such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the NIHR Incubator for Mental Health Research to ensure the dissemination of training and development opportunities. This collaborative approach enables the alignment of regional efforts with national priorities, fostering a cohesive and inclusive mental health research ecosystem.

Research aims

The Capacity Development workstream aims to expand the mental health research workforce, enhance research capability, and support the delivery of MH-TRC Mission objectives. Its strategic goals, guided by 3 work packages, include:

• Increasing research active mental health workforce capacity: £3.4 million has so far been spent to facilitate the growth of research-active clinicians and professionals such as research nurses, research fellows and informatic engineers capable of conducting early-phase, industry-supported studies across the UK.

• Supporting Strategic Delivery: Mapping existing capacity-building interventions to identify gaps and inform future strategies. See PDF: MHM Capacity Development Scoping Report, which looks at the current barriers and enables of mental health research in the UK. We have also recently published an opinion piece to Brain journal, comparing research delivery practices within NHS relative to private sectors and what can we learn from the differences.

• Enhancing Research Capability: Developing bespoke training programmes such as our GROW Researcher Development Programme and Courses and Conferences funding call to equip researchers with the skills and knowledge required to produce rigorous and impactful research.

Impact

The Capacity Development workstream is instrumental in transforming the UK’s mental health research landscape. By addressing systemic barriers and investing in workforce development, it enables the delivery of high-impact research that informs policy, improves clinical practice, and drives innovation. We have successfully delivered programmes aimed at offering tailored career development for early-career researchers and fostering the next generation of mental health research leaders:

• Research Post funding to grow workforce capacity within the MH-TRC Mission: £3.4 million has been allocated to support MH-TRC Mission’s workstreams and demonstrator sites by funding research posts.

• Increasing research active mental health workforce capacity: A recent success included funding 13 new research programme activities across the UK for the Early Psychosis PUMA Platform Trial alongside funding 7 industry internships, partnering with organisations such as Careloop Health and AKRIVIA Health.

• The GROW Researcher Development Programme: Provided early career researchers with the opportunity to engage in one-to-one coaching sessions, peer support and interactive workshops.

• Fully funded Master’s in Clinical Research Delivery for mental health professionals: In partnership with the University of Exeter and Kings College London, we have successfully funded 11 MSc places in clinical research delivery. By investing in training for mental health professionals, we are not only strengthening individual career trajectories but also embedding research capacity within mental health service, ensuring that innovation and improvement are driven by those closest to patient care.

• Co-Production of a new NHS service: At Capacity Development we have funded several research programmed activities for Associate Professor in Primary Care, Vibhore Prasad, which successfully led to the co-production of a new NHS primary care depression research clinic in Nottingham.

• Courses and Conferences Funding Call: Our currently ongoing courses and conferences funding call provides early career researchers, linked to the MH-TRC Mission, the opportunity to apply for conference and course fee and travel support. This funding call also offers the opportunity to apply for up to 50% of your PhD co-funding. To date, we have co-funded 5 PhD’s alongside a variety of different course opportunities for early career researchers across the UK. This has empowered researchers to build essential skills, expand their networks, and gain visibility within the mental health research community. 

• Foundation Year 2 (FY2) Medics Mental Health Research Taster Days Programme: We have successfully engaged 26 FY2 medics across 11 clinical academic centres throughout the UK. This initiative provided a valuable opportunity for programme attendees to explore careers in mental health research, build meaningful connections within the mental health research community and strengthen their research capabilities.

Through its strategic interventions, the workstream ensures that mental health research is not only more widely conducted but also more effectively translated into real-world outcomes, ultimately contributing to improved mental health care across the UK.

More details about ongoing Capacity Development workstream initiatives can be requested at: MHM-Capacity@manchester.ac.uk.