Programme for Early Researchers in Chiropractic (PERC) (2018, 2019)

The CRC was delighted to launch an 8-week summer internship programme for new chiropractic graduates in July 2018, an initiative to develop potential future researchers at the start of their career.

The Programme for Early Researchers in Chiropractic (PERC) is affiliated with a well-established research internship run by the Versus Arthritis Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis Research at the University of Nottingham, and a network of leading MSK researchers at UK Universities including Oxford, Southampton, Loughborough, Leeds and Bath.

The scheme provides the opportunity for newly graduated chiropractors to work with other new graduate health clinicians, health scientists, and medical students to obtain first-hand experiences of multidisciplinary research environments. Studies investigating the success of the original internship scheme in building research capacity show significant output including a number of peer-reviewed publications and career progression including National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) PhD and MRes Fellowships, Arthritis Research UK PhDs, and positions on national research committees and professional bodies (ref. Naidoo et al, j. Foot and Ankle Research, 2013, 6:15)..

During the 8-week internship, the new graduate interns undertake their own research studies, working alongside professional researchers and academics at the University of South Wales, the University of Southampton, and AECC University College. In addition, they attend weekly interactive training days at each of the participating institutions. They are mentored by experienced researchers in order to develop their skills in research design, conduct, governance and analysis and dissemination activities in a range of health disciplines. Working in such a research-rich environment allows these future chiropractic researchers to develop their skills, and build a unique, interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research network, beneficial not only to them, but to UK chiropractic research capacity in general.

The 8-week internship culminates in a research-dissemination day where the interns present their projects to an audience of professional academics, researchers, funders and key stake-holders in the MSK research community. They continue to engage in research activities, developing as clinical researchers, with presentations made at national and international conferences in the following year.

We have seen five new chiropractic graduates excel in PERC 2018 and 2019, with poster and platform presentations at national and international conferences, and peer-reviewed publications for some. Sadly PERC 2020 was cancelled due to Covid-19, but we look forward to 2021.

Include photos of the interns, links to Savanna publication.

PERC initiative – 2019 – Sam Ogilvie, Perttu Riipinen, Savanna Koebische

    2018 – Anna Marie… H, James Oldham