Taking the First Steps in Cardiovascular Research

Taking the First Steps in Cardiovascular Research is a full-day live online event hosted by the British Cardiovascular Society, designed to guide early-career cardiologists through the journey of planning, funding, and completing a cardiovascular research project.

An internationally renowned faculty of consultant cardiologists, academic clinical lecturers, and professors lead delegates through the entire research process, from formulating research questions and securing grant funding to navigating research ethics committees, designing trials, and conducting appropriate data analysis.

The day is structured in four interconnected sessions:

Session 1 – Preparing for PhD: Integrating research into your clinical career, building a competitive CV, finding the right supervisor, and understanding different funding sources including clinical research fellowships.

Session 2 – Finding Success in your PhD: Exploring different research pathways (clinical studies, big data and informatics, translational research), developing presentation and manuscript-writing skills.

Session 3 – Sustaining Success after PhD: Learning the value of mentorship, post-PhD career planning, and developing broader professional skills including lay summaries and social media engagement.

Session 4 – Long-term Academic Success: A keynote lecture reflecting on clinical academic careers, with expert panel discussion.

The event includes networking opportunities and breakout workshop streams to maximise relevance and enable connections between registrars and consultants across the UK.

Delegates will leave with a clear roadmap for their research journey, practical understanding of UK postgraduate cardiology research structures, and direct access to experienced research leaders.