A diabetes research training scheme for GPs has been launched as part of a joint venture between Diabetes UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
The Diabetes UK-RCGP Academic Fellowship in General Practice will provide support to help GPs who have completed vocational training within the last five years undertake training in research at a UK higher education institution, providing it is relevant to diabetes research.
GPs play a vital role in supporting diabetes management in primary care and in the diagnosis and treatment of people with diabetes; there are 2.8 million people in the UK with diabetes and an estimated 850,000 people with Type 2 diabetes who are unaware they have the condition.
But, despite their importance, there is a lack of opportunities for GPs to receive research training to answer important questions and help improve the early diagnosis and management of diabetes in a primary care setting.
Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK, said: “GPs are key in delivering essential improvements in the diagnosis, management and treatment of diabetes and through this fellowship, Diabetes UK and the RCGP aim to support promising research-focused GPs in gaining the research training they need to help improve the lives of people living with diabetes further.”
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