Paediatric Critical Care Research Incubator

I am a doctoral candidate and clinical-academic researcher investigating the diagnostic accuracy of a novel test for lung infections in critically ill children. I was fortunate to attend the NIHR Doctoral Training Camp in July 2026…  I attended as a member of the NIHR-supported Paediatric Critical Care Research Incubator, which has supported my academic development through a variety of activities, particularly its fellowship writing retreat. The NIHR Doctoral Training Camp 2026 was an excellent opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from across the NIHR who work in research areas different from my own. The camp centred on preparing, submitting, and presenting a fictional Programme Grant application within 48 hours as part of a newly assembled multidisciplinary team. After developing a research question, team members took on different roles to meet the demanding deadline. I was responsible for developing the evidence base for the application and presenting our proposal to the wider doctoral camp attendees and an NIHR expert panel. Although the pressure of producing a Programme Grant application within such a short timeframe felt very real, the overall ethos of the camp was highly collegiate. Working alongside nine colleagues, we learnt from each other’s experiences and expertise while collaborating towards a shared goal. The camp provided several important learning opportunities. First, it demonstrated what a focused team can achieve in a very short period when working towards a common objective. Second, it provided valuable insight into the practicalities of developing a Programme Grant application, ensuring that all sections—including the background, methodology, patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), and finances—are fully aligned to produce a coherent and competitive proposal. Finally, the camp highlighted the importance of effective presentation skills, particularly the value of a concise “elevator pitch”. Being able to communicate a well-developed research idea with a compelling opening can capture the attention of potential collaborators or funders and create opportunities for more detailed discussions. Overall, this was a highly valuable experience, both personally and professionally… and  I am grateful to the NIHR-supported Paediatric Critical Care Research Incubator for providing me with the opportunity to attend.

2026 marks an auspicious year for reflection for the PCC Research Incubator. Since its official launch in Spring 2024,  the team has since designed and delivered several initiatives aimed at boosting PCC researchers training and capability,   chiefly including our “Introduction to Grant Writing Workshop” ,  regular PPIE-led sessions providing feedback on research proposals  and  the residential   Fellowship Writing Retreat, not forgetting the more recent  Pilot Mentorship Scheme (12 months,  still ongoing). With less than 12 months left to the Incubator funding, it is pleasing to know these opportunities have attracted excellent feedback (anonymous collection) from attendees/users. This has prompted us to look deeply at Impact  these  initiatives had and what success looks like from the Incubator viewpoint. In other words, in these 2 years what material difference have we made to individual researchers? Luckily, some of you have taken the initiative to let us know, unbid, what the PCC Research Incubator support meant for you as researchers and since there is no better way to do this, the following extract, received from  Dr Gayathri Subramanian    is shared here: “On behalf of our team, I am writing to thank the NIHR-Supported PCC Research Incubator for supporting our RfPB ‘ACTS-Advancing Care Through Spectrum- Actionable Palliative Care Paediatric Critical Care’- which has now been submitted for the NIHR RfPB call Nov 2025. Personally, as I shared in the Fellowship Writing Workshop this week, it’s been a full circle- I attended the research grant writing workshop in February this year, and now, in November, I find myself having taken that learning through to a completed submission. The educational offerings provided by the PCC Research Incubator were instrumental in various ways- from shaping a strong application to helping me build a network of supportive, like-minded colleagues committed to advancing paediatric critical care research. Prof Ramnarayan’s mentorship through this process built my confidence and helped me navigate my first baby steps in this very complicated world of research (seen from the perspective of a mid-career NHS clinician and early career hoping to be NIHR researcher). Our team’s engagement with the Incubator’s PPIE group was particularly transformative and pivotal in changing the application to weave patient’s and family’s voice in the application. Their insights defined objectives, design and dissemination of the study. This collaboration has elevated the relevance and integrity of our research, and we feel privileged to have had access to this resource. As a clinician who is ultimately responsible for translating research into practice, I strongly believe that stakeholder-driven, well-supported research is safest for the patients I care for. The PCC Research Incubator plays a vital role in enabling this- through its PPIE group, educational programmes, infrastructure to foster collaboration, and mentorship in a field (PCC) that is underrepresented. I believe that continued NIHR funding for the PCC Incubator is not just an investment in research capacity- it also reflects NIHR’s commitment to inclusive, impactful science that reflects the needs of paediatric critical care patients and their families. I hope this support continues, so that future researchers can benefit from the same guidance and community that helped bring our project to life”    Dr Gayathri Subramanian Consultant PICU, RMCH