BACD-Castang Fellowships Round 3 (2024)
The BACD-Castang Fellowships aim to identify, support, and develop childhood neurodisability research leaders. Fellowships are available to candidates from a relevant professional discipline (i.e. within neurodisability-related health care, education, or social care, or research).
Round 3 of the BACD-Castang Fellowship Programme commenced in 2024, funded through the BACD-Castang neurodisability research programme.
The successful applicants for Round 3 are:
1. Pipeline Fellowship – for candidates wanting to secure a funded PhD/MD award:
- Claire Higgins, Principal Physiotherapist and Children's Integrated Therapies Lead for Special schools, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Raj Lodh, Consultant Neurodisability Paediatrician, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Fiona McKeown, Neonatal Physiotherapist, NHS Lothian
- Ed Whittaker, Academic Foundation Year 2 Doctor, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- Jemma Wright, Specialty Doctor Community Paediatrics, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
2. Advanced Fellowship – for research-experienced candidates wanting to secure their next award:
- Lesley Katchburian, Consultant Physiotherapist in Paediatric Neurodisability, Great Ormond Street Hospital/ Honorary Lecturer, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
- Jill Massey, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
- Bethan Page, Lecturer in Child Health & Palliative Care, Kings College London
- Rachel Rapson, Consultant Physiotherapist, Children and Family Health Devon
- Samantha Armitage, Children’s Occupational Therapist, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Fellowships included financial support up to the value of £1,000 for each successful candidate to support candidates’ travel, accommodation and subsistence to attend Fellowship events and entry to the 2024 BACD Annual Scientific Meeting.
Over the course of the Fellowship, successful candidates will:
- Generate specific, agreed outputs that advance their own childhood neurodisability research programme, BACD strategic research priorities, and nationally agreed research priorities within the childhood neurodisability community;
- Develop their skills in leading childhood neurodisability research;
- Develop their identity, confidence, and national and international profile as a childhood neurodisability research leader; and
- Develop their knowledge of research funders’ priorities and expectations.