University of Edinburgh

At a glance

The University of Edinburgh is hosting three early–mid career KJCF Quest Fellowships:

• One clinical fellowship
• Two non-clinical fellowships

Fellows will adopt an integrative approach to systemic physiology and pathology in relation to brain health, with projects spanning any stage of life. Research will focus on preventing, treating or managing multiple long-term conditions, where one of them is neurological.

A platform for multidisciplinary discovery 

The University of Edinburgh sees the KJCF Quest Fellowships as an opportunity to deepen and connect work that is already reshaping how multimorbidity and brain health are understood. Through the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research and the university-wide Edinburgh Neuroscience network, researchers are already connecting across cardiovascular, metabolic, psychiatric and neurological science. Their aim is to foster cross-disciplinary research that connects understanding of the brain, body and mind across the life course to uncover new knowledge and improve lives This fellowship programme creates space to drive forward with this vision, enabling fellows to bring together multiple strands of expertise  and strengthening research that looks at brain health as part of a whole-body system.

It is widely recognised that many of the most pressing health challenges do not exist in isolation. Dementia, serious mental illness, metabolic disease, vascular conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders often intersect in ways that profoundly affect individuals and families. Scotland’s linked health data and long-standing tradition of population research allow these interactions to be studied at scale. By supporting fellows who adopt an integrative approach to systemic physiology and pathology, the programme aims to generate insights that can improve prevention, treatment and management for the many people living with multiple long-term conditions.

The fellowships are designed to strengthen both research and researchers. Each post offers protected time to develop an ambitious programme of work within a vibrant interdisciplinary community. Fellows will be embedded within the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research and Edinburgh Neuroscience, supported by senior mentors, and provided with a funded PhD studentship to accelerate the development of their research group. Clinical fellows will balance research with ongoing clinical practice through established University-NHS partnerships, ensuring that scientific questions remain grounded in real-world settings.

For researchers at an early to mid-career stage, this is an exceptional opportunity. Entry into the Edinburgh Scientific or Clinical Academic Track provides a clear pathway to academic independence and potential tenure following successful review. The fellowship offers not only world-class facilities and national-scale datasets, but also a structured environment designed to help talented researchers grow into leaders capable of shaping the future of multimorbidity and brain health research.