Clinician Researcher Academy
Shaping future clinical leaders-influencing healthcare and research.
Connecting the two worlds of research and patient care
The QIMR Berghofer-Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) Clinician Researcher Academy supports the development and coordination of research collaborations, and the career development, professional development, academic training and mentorship of clinician researchers.
A clinician researcher is a registered clinician who works in clinical practice but also maintains an active clinical or preclinical research program.
"Our research rotation breaks new ground in Australia, giving junior doctors the unique chance to start on a pathway to become future clinician scientist leaders who will drive innovation and revolutionise healthcare."
Professor Elizabeth Powell, Clinical Director, QIMR Berghofer
How are we achieving this?
Our Academy is a partnership with RBWH, Metro North Health and Queensland Health to co-design and integrate research training and collaborations with the health workforce.
QIMR Berghofer and RBWH have launched Australia's first clinical research rotation - a program that immerses junior doctors in the research world with hands on training in research methodology, study design, data analysis and evidence-based medicine at QIMR Berghofer over a 10-12 week period.
The research rotation will nurture future clinical leaders, providing tools to integrate scientific discovery and patient care, producing highly-skilled, well-rounded medical professionals.
Why is clinical research important?
Research and innovation are critical for a high-performing health system, to ensure the future health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
Clinician researchers have a key role in bridging the gap between clinical practice and research, driving the application of new discoveries to real-world healthcare settings.
"By blending research with clinical practice, we empower doctors to transform patient outcomes."
-Professor Fabienne Mackay, Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer
"Clinician researchers are so vital because everything that we do is based on evidence. And it's such a must to be able to develop those research skills."
-Dr Joel Dulhunty, Director of Research, RBWH
Junior doctor research rotations available in 2026
What are our focus areas?
- Joint academic and clinical appointments between QIMR Berghofer and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
- Junior doctor research rotations to build ground-up collaborations and a clinical higher degree research pipeline.
- Partner research-orientated clinicians with world-class researchers to advance clinical questions and ideas with research excellence.
- Training and resources for research, innovation and leadership skills development.
- Enhance research collaborations that leverage existing Queensland Health capabilities and infrastructure.
- Structured engagement opportunities including joint workshops and research forums.
- Contribute to health staff orientation and teaching sessions.
- Support the retention of clinician researchers actively engaged in research.
- Access to cutting-edge resources, renowned scientists and key networks.
- Collaborative research opportunities.
- Access to our world-leading Scientific Services. These include genome informatics, statistics and research design, research software, programming and high-performance computing, metabolomics, sample processing, sequencing and NATA-accredited flow cytometry, and histology.
- Training by our Scientific Services teams, in the use of specialist equipment, techniques and research methodologies.
- Institute seminars. The Institute offers a weekly Faculty seminar series and regularly hosts national and international experts as guest speakers who share the latest research findings and methods across a range of health and medical research topics.
- A professional team to support higher degree research students, to assist in navigating the PhD journey, mentoring advice and skill development to pursue a research career with the highest levels of integrity and scholarship.
- A skilled team to support grant and fellowship pitching, development and submission.
Advancing careers of Clinician Researchers
Clinician researchers share their experience
Professional Development
QIMR Berghofer has a dedicated learning and development team to support Clinician Researchers in developing the critical skills they will need to have a successful career in medical research. The team act as the central hub for professional development across the Institute by coordinating training, curating learning pathways, and connecting Clinician Researchers with high quality development experiences.
Clinician Researchers at QIMR Berghofer have access to a suite of online learning through the Institute’s Kineo portal, including foundational modules on:
- Delivering impactful scientific presentations,
- Preparing for interviews
- Project management
To find out more about professional development opportunities at QIMR Berghofer, please contact Julian Jennings, Learning and Organisational Development Manager.
What would you like to explore?
Participate as a clinician researcher
Please email Professor Powell to arrange a time to discuss the clinician researcher program at QIMR Berghofer
Bring your expertise as a partner
Please email Professor Powell to arrange a time to discuss your contribution to the clinician researcher program at QIMR Berghofer
Support the future health and well-being of Queenslanders by funding clinician researchers
For more information, please contact the Academy's Clinical Director, Professor Elizabeth Powell.
Professor Powell is the Institute’s inaugural Clinical Director. She is a Hepatologist and Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. She is also Director of the network Centre for Liver Disease Research and Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Queensland.
Professor Powell oversees the Institute’s Clinician Researcher strategy and Academy. She promotes the career development, professional development, academic training, and mentorship for clinician researchers. She works to facilitate meaningful partnerships between QIMR Berghofer and research-orientated clinicians.