Broadening Horizons
Mentoring Programme

 Empowering early-career researchers interested in translational research. 

Broadening Horizons is a cross-sector mentoring programme designed to support, develop and empower early-career researchers who are interested in translational research. Returning for a third year, this successful programme is now jointly funded by Cancer Research Horizons and Wellcome. 


The aim of Broadening Horizons is to support early career researchers with their professional development and raise awareness of the skills and mindset needed to translate discoveries into practical application for societal benefit. It does this by connecting mentees with mentors from industry, policy and the third sector. The programme gives mentees exposure to opportunities in translating research and provides tools, knowledge and guidance.  

 

Since launch, Broadening Horizons has supported 200 participants from 45 universities and organisations, and we are delighted to be welcoming our third cohort in January 2024. 

Who are the mentees and mentors? 

Mentees:  

UK based, early career researchers which includes post-doctoral and junior group leaders within the first few years of independence and/or on their first permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract. 

At the current time, this programme is not intended for PhD students    

 

Mentors:  

We welcome mentors with diverse backgrounds across health and life research from those at companies developing health-related innovations (e.g. therapeutics, vaccines, medical devices, digital health products) to those in public health, the arts, humanities, social sciences, and bioethics. 

Mentors should have an interest in mentoring early-career researchers from academic institutions and have some experiences of academic research, so are required to have a PhD to participate in the programme, but not necessarily post-doctoral experience. 

Both mentors and mentees strongly advocate for the programme

As validated externally by Aleron* mentees from the 2021- 2022 Broadening Horizons cohort reported that the programme had helped them to understand, interact and collaborate with industry, policy and third sector party organisations. Whilst supporting the development of mentees, several mentors also recognised benefits for their own development. Across both year one and year two, on average 84% of mentees and 72% of mentors would recommend the Broadening Horizons programme to a colleague. 


Programme dates

  • 20th February 2024

  • 19th March 2024

  • 22nd May 2024

  • 16th July 2024

  • 24th September 2024

  • "If you want to translate your work from the lab to industry, a network is the key... the bigger the network the higher the chances of success."

    A mentee

  • "My mentor played an important role in supporting and achieving my goals."

    A mentee

How to be a part of this programme…

The Broadening Horizons programme welcomes both organisations and individual participants.   

Industry organisations can register for the programme by clicking here

Mentors can submit their profile forms here

Early-career researchers can express their interest directly by submitting the form here

For more information or to sign up for the programme, contact the Broadening Horizons Client Partner,
Lubaid Khan at lubaid.khan@moving-ahead.org