On 1st October2026, fellows, supervisors, partners and stakeholders from across the Midlands came together in Nottingham for the 2026 Midlands Mental Health & Neuroscience PhD Programme for Healthcare Professionals Showcase. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our clinical academic fellows, share emerging research, and strengthen connections across our growing research community.
Hosted at the Crowne Plaza Nottingham, the Showcase highlighted the breadth and impact of research being undertaken across mental health and neuroscience. Throughout the day, attendees heard presentations spanning topics including dementia care, traumatic brain injury, intellectual disabilities and mental health, support for children and young people, neuroimaging, adolescent mental health, personality disorders, and visual health. The programme reflected the diverse expertise and interdisciplinary approaches that characterise our doctoral community.
We were delighted to welcome Professor Jane Coad as our keynote speaker. Professor Coad shared insights into the development of clinical academic careers for healthcare professionals and highlighted the importance of creating sustainable research pathways that enable clinicians to lead innovation and improve patient care. Her inspiring address set the tone for a day focused on research excellence, collaboration and future opportunities.
A particular highlight was hearing directly from fellows at different stages of their doctoral journeys. From first-year research pitches to final-year presentations showcasing completed and near-completed work, attendees gained valuable insight into the challenges, achievements and real-world impact of clinical academic research, showcasing the passion, talent and commitment of our fellows.
The Showcase also marked an important milestone for the programme as we celebrated our renewal and looked ahead to the next chapter as Midlands+ MHN DTP. With expanded opportunities for collaboration across partner institutions and healthcare organisations, the future is bright for healthcare professionals seeking to combine clinical practice with high-quality research.
